Above is the golden fall color on the swamp white oak (Quercus bicolor) which was just glowing with some morning light from behind this specimen in the woodland walk garden. We enjoyed this day as much as the last two with a similar warm up to 70 degrees F and plenty of sunshine. The gardens continue to maintain lots of autumn color and we did see a couple visitors touring the gardens. The last Story & Stroll program was this morning and participants toured the gardens as well. The kids sure seemed to enjoy the gardens and were mesmerized by all the Holiday Lights Show (HLS) elements that have been set up already. The grounds staff had a great day and our volunteers continued with our important garden clean-up efforts.
Our grounds crew of Terry, Big John, Cindy, Bob K. and Larry H. all did a great job today and again, the primary focus continues to be the HLS set-up. Terry and John put up lots of displays today and the boat they are hauling (seen above) was later rowed out by me from the gazebo to transfer Bob K. from the U.S.S. Ginger seen directly below. This is the first time we’ll have a floating display for the HLS and it is situated exactly where the Russo Family Fountain is normally located (cleaned and hauled away for winter storage). Bob also put lights on arches and had some other duties. Larry H. was a decorating machine today and focused on putting up lights on trees that we picked up last Thursday. Cindy (second photo down) finished placing and wiring the luminaries (half gallon milk jugs) and will shift to some other projects soon. That photo gives an idea of just a small portion (10%?) of the luminaries she’s been working on over the past two weeks. I was able to run cords most of the day but have to keep our volunteers organized and on track with gardening and other tasks.