Fog & Frost to Start the Day!

This morning was absolutely beautiful with hoar frost covering everything including the bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) above and spider web at the top!  The frost melted off quickly and we had a decent day for late season gardening, indoor projects and continued progress toward the completion of set-up for the Holiday Light Show (HLS). We hope to be done by the end of the week!  The entire grounds staff of Big John, Terry, Larry H., Cindy, Larry O. and myself all worked on HLS related tasks.  Our volunteers of Kathy, Eva, Bob K., Alan, Dennis, Steve E. Ron Y., Vern, Jim, Dave T., Steve, Dick H., Dr. Gredler, Maury, Rollie, Bill O. and some others all had a wide range of duties both inside and outside.  We also saw Vicki O., Maryam and some others.  While our gardening season may be coming to an end, facilitating and ultimately taking down the HLS will become the next monumental task extending well in to 2018!

‘Aurea Jakobsen’ Norway spruce (Picea abies) this morning – woody tree

the prairie this morning!

above and below are arrangements that Cindy B. put together about 10 days ago and they looked great with frost this morning!

‘Border Bandit’ Japanese silver grass (Miscanthus sinensis) – perennial

Bob K. (left) and Alan keeping busy today

Big John hanging “light balls” today

‘Summer Cascade’ weeping river birch (Betula nigra) – woody tree

Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) with some frost this morning – perennial

Goldspire™ ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba ‘Blagon’) after leaf drop! – woody tree

crabapple (Malus) with maiden grass (Miscanthus sp.) on a frosty morning

end of the season for ‘Indian Summer’ gloriosa daisy (Rudbeckia hirta) – annual

‘Fire Frost’ foamy bells (xHeucherella) – perennial

nice fall color on cranberry cotoneaster (Cotoneaster apiculatus) – woody shrub