Day of Caring

The rain held off today until about 3 pm which was timely as we were able to have a very successful volunteer contribution this morning as part of the United Way Day of Caring.  We had 11 volunteers (from Kerry Foods and ABC Supply) come help and rake leaves in our woodland walk garden this morning.  Above are two of the volunteers that made amazing progress in an area formerly smothered by cottonwood (Populus deltoides) leaves.  The group was collecting leaves so quickly, it took Kathy, Eva, Alex and I all morning running five carts back and forth with leaves!  Their work is much appreciated and it was nice to share the gardens with these volunteers, many of whom had not yet visited!  Other staff today included Big John and Larry H. who both, aside from some small projects, focused on Holiday Light Show (HLS) set-up efforts.  We also saw Bill O., Mary Kay T., Ron P., Maury F., Steve J., Laura B. and many others today.  The rain was certainly welcome later in the day as while it was overcast and cool, we hadn’t had much rain in a couple weeks aside from the .5″ yesterday and whatever we get over the coming days.

‘Mura Kumo morning glory (Ipomoea nil) – annual vine

Short’s aster (Aster shortii) – perennial

‘Flat White Boer’ pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo var. pepo) – annual

garden huckleberry (Solanum melanocerasum) – annual

‘Peter Harrison’ michaelmas daisy (Symphyotrichum novi-belgii) – perennial

‘Canary Wings’ begonia (Begonia hybrida) – annual

‘Arrested Development’ smooth blue aster (Aster laevis) – perennial

‘Purpurascens’ garden sage (Salvia officinalis) – tender perennial

sunset mallow (Abelmoschus manihot) – annual

‘The Giant’ autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale) – perennial

set-up for the Holiday Light Show (HLS) continues in the woodland walk (John’s ladder today)

Strawberry Sundae® panicled hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata ‘Rensun’) – woody shrub

big patch of yellow waxy bells (Kirengeshoma palmata) – perennial