Busy as Bees – A Manic Monday

Nice shot directly above of spiderwort (Tradescantia sp.) which is blooming prolifically throughout the gardens…primarily due to it reseeding around here and there!  It is beautiful though.  To say it was a crazy day is an understatement.  We had a entire slew of volunteers in today working on a wide range of projects including planting, sweeping, weeding, fountain installation, mowing, Japanese fence repair, StoryWalk preparations, etc.  I wont have the time or energy to list everything that happened today but our volunteer role call today included Ron R., Derrick, Lloyd, Steve, Dennis, Dr. Gredler, Stan, Kristin, Eva, Kathy P., Cathy E., Mike P., Kevin C., Shirley H., Ron Y., Dave, Jim, Vern, Steve, Alan, Bob K., Dick H., Dick P., Maury, Dylan, Flannery, Sandi, Barb C., Marleen, Marlene, Mary D. and many more.  That’s over 30+ volunteers on a Monday!  We also saw Marsha M., Gary, Herb, Dan, Mario and many others today.  It was crazy but lots was accomplished.  Our excellent grounds staff of Shania, Alex, Big John, Cindy, Terry, Janice, Larry H., Bobby K. and me all had plenty of tasks as well.

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

goatsbeard (Aruncus dioicus) – perennial

Campfire® Fireburst burr marigolds (Bidens hybrida ‘KOIBID1510’) – annual

SunPatiens® Compact Tropical Rose interspecific impatiens (Impatiens hybrida) – annual

variegated horseradish (Armoracia rusticana ‘Variegata’) – perennial

‘Amber Moon’ false spirea (Astilbe chinensis) – perennial

‘Ivory Silk’ Japanese tree lilac (Syringa reticulata) – woody tree

above and below are some shots of our new fountain being set in to place with lots of elbow grease (and me in charge of photography)

Maury filling the new fountain above…

Sandi, Barb, Marlene, Mary D. and Marleen (from left to right) getting ready for the grand opening of our StoryWalk display/program this Wednesday in partnership with the Hedberg Public Library.  Great team effort here!

Barb C. above (photo from Sandi S., thanks!) has been the ringleader with this StoryWalk set-up

Star of Persia (Allium christophii) with lady’s mantle (Alchemilla mollis) – perennials

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

prairie smoke (Geum triflorum) – perennial

blue globe allium (Allium azureum) – perennial (reseeds!)

Bobby K. (above) working on the Russo Family Fountain – he is a VERY handy guy to have around

aging petals (formerly white) of a hybrid magnolia (Magnolia sieboldii x tripetala) – woody tree

Kristin and Stan (excellent caretakers of the Japanese garden)

‘Orange Marmalade’ Martagon lily (Lilium martagon) – perennial