Crisp Spring Color

Today had a cool start and it warmed to a comfortable 75 degrees F with plenty of sunshine.  Nice shot above of the vivid new growth on a ‘Red Obelisk’ columnar European beech (Fagus sylvatica) near the French Formal Garden and alpine garden.  It was a smaller crew today.  Cindy, Bobby K., Alex and I held down the fort today with a focus on our usual Friday activities of checking watering needs (including many new baskets and planted containers), processing incoming plants, mowing and much more. Our gardening volunteers included Kathy, Eva and Lloyd although we also saw Barb C., Sandi and some others today.  It was a relatively quiet day although we saw lots of visitors out in the gardens and the spring colors are quite vibrant with all of the fresh growth and shift of peak coloration from tulips (Tulipa) to ornamental onions (Allium) throughout the gardens.  I spent the day laying out plants in two areas for our first (of five!) Volunteer Planting Workdays (8 am – 12 noon Saturday!).

‘Nugget’ golden hops vine (Humulus lupulus) – perennial vine

emerging foliage of golden meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria ‘Aurea’) – perennial

‘Red Dragon’ contorted filbert (Corylus avellana) – woody tree

our early peonies (Paeonia) are starting! – above and two below (unknown varieties) – perennial

‘Purple Haze’ filbert (Corylus hybrida) – woody tree

pink lily-of-the-valley (Convallaria majalis ‘Rosea’) – perennial

foliage of ‘Herman’s Pride’ yellow archangel (Lamiastrum galeobdolon) – perennial

variegated moor grass (Molinia caerulea ‘Variegata’) emerging…- perennial

variegated wayfaringtree viburnum (Viburnum lantana ‘Variegatum’) – woody tree

‘Rainbow’s End’ dwarf Alberta spruce (Picea glauca) – woody tree

bloom of the ‘Sunflower’ paw paw (Asimina triloba) – woody tree