The day started out bearably warm but became quite stifling very quickly with temperatures reaching over 90 degree F!  While it was a productive morning, those remaining in the afternoon (mostly grounds staff) focused on watering duties.  In fact, that was the order of the day for our grounds staff of Big John, Cindy, Trevor, Larry O. and me.  There was some planting and other tasks occurring but everyone had their share of watering and that will continue through the week until some rain hopefully materializes.  We are about 75% planted thus far which is a record for June 12th although there is plenty more to install over the coming weeks.  We can’t let our new plantings dry out obviously so supplemental watering is our priority.  Nice shot above of ‘Queen of Denmark’ rose (Rosa) with a nice scent!

China Snow® Peking lilac (Syringa pekinensis ‘Morton’) – woody tree

‘Orange Marmalade’ hybrid lily (Lilium hybrida) – perennial

‘Claude Shride’ Martagon lily (Lilium martagon) – perennial

Our volunteers did a great job today and came in despite the quick warming outside and stifling heat which arrived by mid morning!  Eva and Kathy (above) did a nice job weeding in the woodland walk garden.  Steve E. and Derrick worked on tidying up after some major stump grinding (Friday) in the arboretum while Josef and Garrett also helped with this project but moved on to mulching and shifting plants around in our yard (for ease of watering!) as well.  Bob C. and Ron R. were out tidying up paths while both Dr. Gredler and Rollie did their mowing rounds.  Dick H. ran to the dump when he wasn’t helping others and Jim, Steve J., Dave T. and Ron Y. worked on various carpentry projects.  Ron P. continued to repair lights for the Holiday Light Show (HLS) and Vern popped by later.  Alan and Bob K. did a great job clearing bulb debris and weeds from our east border while Cheryl P., Greg P., Kristin and Stan all did an excellent job in the Japanese garden.  Maury cleaned up his water features and ran some errands.  Marv tidied up his moss gardens, Shirley H. planted and Kay tidied up her area as well.  Gary worked on checking over our laser engraver (for labels) which is having some issues.  Don and Pearl planted their assigned garden area and we also saw Peg (labels), Barb (Giant Aquarium), Becky, Phil and many others.

Steve J. (left) and Jim D. worked on replacing some decking boards on the observation pier

Josef (left) and Garrett were buddies today and accomplished a lot

Don and Pearl did a great job planting their assigned garden area today in the heat

Shirley H. doing some plantin’ today

Marcia L. with a bird’s eye view of her English cottage garden!

Marv coming back from maintaining his moss garden areas

Kay (above) keeps her area exceptionally tidy in the shade garden

‘Sun King’ Japanese spikenard (Aralia cordata) – perennial

‘Obsidian’ coral bells (Heuchera) – perennial

‘Sarastro’ bellflower (Campanula hybrida) – perennial

Scarlet Beauty™ sweetspire (Itea virginica ‘Morton’) smelling fragrant – woody shrub

‘Solar Eclipse’ variegated Japanese tree lilac (Syringa reticulata) – woody tree (in back)

variegated fiveleaf aralia (Eleutherococcus sieboldianus ‘Variegatus’) – woody shrub

Nice shot of ‘Blue Ice’ hybrid bluestar (Amsonia hybrida) seen directly above.  I lacked the energy to keep up with the blog last Wednesday, Thursday and Friday so wanted to include some images from late last week.  I wont remember all the names of our excellent volunteers who, along with our dedicated grounds staff, did a great job out in the gardens.  We continue to plant in earnest and are trying to keep everything watered.  It has been a whirlwind to say the least!  Thanks to all!

tatting fern (Athyrium filix-femina ‘Frizelliae’) – perennial

‘Pure Silver’ speedwell (Veronica incana) – perennial

prairie smoke (Geum triflorum) – perennial

Decadence® ‘Blueberry Sundae’ false indigo (Baptisia hybrida) – perennial

Vicky O. has been a planting machine

Terri and Sandi have been weeding and planting in the gazebo garden

folks from Mercy Health System came and helped out last Wednesday!

Dr. Gredler continues to be our Superintendent of Sod

Doris (above)

Dick P. (above) is installing our next wave of memorial bricks

Mercy Health System volunteers

Jerusalem sage (Phlomis tuberosa ‘Amazone’) – perennial

Decadence® ‘Cherries Jubilee’ false indigo (Baptisia hybrida) – perennial

‘Rooguchi’ clematis (Clematis integrifolia) – perennial

the Giant Aquarium (above and below) is looking great!

this young family was seen out for a stroll…

Josef and Debbie (directly above)   They were two of over twenty eight volunteers that helped out at some point this morning for our Saturday Work Day (not including our wonderful Janesville Area Herb Society which also was out gardening).  Josef and Debbie have recently moved to Janesville from Duluth, MN where they owned and operated a nursery.  I know them prior to their move as we’ve purchased plants from them in the past and are excited that they are now local (and already volunteering!).  Other planting volunteers included Arnie, Leslie, Cheryl D., Sue, Andrea, Brian, Mary W., Barb, Maggie, Hal and Doris.  We also had eight members of the WI/IL Chapter of the North American Rock Garden Society on hand to help weed and plant in the alpine garden under Iza’s guidance.  Their crew also included Joy, Ed, Damon, Jane, Dave and others.  We also had four moms with their girl scout daughters do some planting along with Chris, Tess and another volunteer.  We planted four smaller areas and finished some others.  It was hot and dry and watering was vital and accomplished primarily by Big John.  Larry O. and Bill were out doing their thing (watering containers, tidying wedding sites, checking garbage, etc.) and Sue and Steve were our Garden Ambassadors earlier in the day (see below).  The Janesville Area Herb Society had a brief meeting followed by planting and watering in their three garden sections.  It was a very successful day.  We still have one more Wednesday evening (6 pm – 8 pm) planting parties (RSVP required) and next Saturday (June 17th) is our last Saturday Volunteer planting opportunity.  The top photo is a clump of white Martagon lilies (Lilium martagon ‘Albiflorum’).

eight members (some off camera!) of the WI/IL Chapter of the North American Rock Garden Society were on hand to weed and plant in our alpine garden today!

four girl scouts (like the young lady above) worked with their moms on a planting project this morning!

our top notch Garden Ambassadors, Sue and Steve E.

Nice shot directly above of ‘Phoenix Pink’ beardtongue (Penstemon hartwegii) in the Hummingbird Haven theme in the Nancy Yahr Memorial Children’s Garden.  This plant is one of thousands and thousands that have been installed in the last two weeks with many more yet to be planted.  We’re making great progress with planting but have to make sure we also focus on weeding and watering as both of those tasks have become increasingly more important as well.  The gardens continue to look excellent although the constant drifting and billowing of cottonwood (Populus deltoides) seeds fluttering in the breeze is an interesting sensation to observe and experience first hand when you breathe some in or get it caught in your eyes, nose and ears!  Unfortunately, we think we have a bumper crop of these seeds and will have to be diligent with their removal after germination.

Our grounds staff had a busy day.  Big John set up sprinklers, ran the rented edger in MANY locations and helped tidy up those same edges. Cindy watered, planted, cut back bulb foliage; mostly with a strong focus in the Hummingbird Haven theme.  Larry H. watered and spent lots of time in the entrance garden in front of the Parker Education Center preparing it for planting later in the week.  Larry O. helped with many projects, watered containers, unloaded deliveries and watered the entire yard.  Trevor did a whole lot of watering today and helped rototill and prepare another bed for planting.  Bobby K. had quite a bit of troubleshooting and continues to spend significant time getting the Giant Aquarium ready to go.  I was able to tour the entire garden, pull together more plants for planting and caught up with a whole lot of paperwork as well.

‘Caspian Blue’ false indigo (Baptisia australis) – perennial

Star of Persia (Allium christophii) – perennial

‘Moon Frost’ Canadian hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) – woody tree

climbing hydrangea (Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris) in bloom! – woody vine

We had an unbelievable turnout of volunteers (like Ron R. above) today!  In lieu of listing their myriad tasks, I’d like to simply thank Ron R., Lloyd, Bob C., Bob K., Alan, Greg P., Cheryl P., Stan, Kristin, Jenny, Dave, Peg, Steve E., Garrett, Derrick, Dennis, Dr. Gredler, Rollie, Maury, Ron Y., Steve J., Jim, Dave, Vern, Dick P., Dick H., Kathy P., Eva, Shirley H., Marv, Kay, Del, Ron P., Bill O. and anyone else I missed.  That’s 34 volunteers which is an exceptional turnout for a Monday – or any day for that matter!  Duties ranged from tidying, weeding, cutting back bulb foliage, building a boulder wall, carpentry and much more.

CIndy B. (above) had a strong focus on planting and primping today in the Nancy Yahr Memorial Children’s Garden

Dr. Gredler (our Superintendent of Sod) mowing (above)

Alan (left) and Steve – above

Eva, Shirley and Kathy P. (left to right)

Marv B. in his moss garden

Serious Black™ ground clematis (Clematis recta ‘Lime Close’) – perennial

variegated horseradish (Armoracia rusticana ‘Variegata’) – perennial

snow-in-summer (Cerastium tomentosum) – perennial

valerian (Valeriana officinalis) with globeflower (Trollius europaeus) – perennials

‘Brownie Points’ false indigo (Baptisia hybrida) – perennial

‘Misty Lace’ compact goatsbeard (Aruncus hybrida) – perennial

some totally white leaves of variegated Norway maple (Acer platanoides ‘Drummondii’) – woody tree

‘Guinea Fowl’ compact goatsbeard (Aruncus hybrida) – perennial

The weather stayed clear this morning and we had a very productive and efficient volunteer work day.  We focused on the front entrance garden slope and had over 25 volunteers helping out.  A group of eight Mercy Health System employees helped out today which made a huge difference.  Aside from their help, we also had Hal & Doris (top photo), Barb, Andrea, Pete, Sue C., Lily, Tina, Mary D., Brian, Ken, Nancy, Gena, Jody, Cheryl D., Mary W., Arnie and Maggie.  Big John, Larry and Bill O. were on hand to help as well.  Maryam brought donuts and we had a super day.