HLS Set-Up ASAP

We continue to focus our efforts on getting the Holiday Light Show (HLS) up and ready to go for our opening evening in 23 short days on November 24th (Black Friday).  The top photo shows my little “trailer of fun” which I drive around daily.  We’ve actually been setting up the HLS since August and this event, when smaller, used to involve a later set-up but the scale and scope of the show over the past couple of years has necessitated an earlier start.  The photo above shows two yews (Taxus) that Larry H. covered in deer protection netting back in August and applied the lights shortly thereafter.  The event doubled in size three years ago and continues to grow in scope and importance as our biggest fundraising event.  We have a great pace going and thankfully the drizzle didn’t start until later this afternoon!  It was another smaller crew today with Larry H., Larry O. and myself at the gardens as grounds folks and our excellent garden volunteers included Dennis, Steve E., Kathy, Eva, Brian, Urban, Steve, Peg and Vern.  We also saw Matt P., Art H., Bill O. and a couple others today.  Below are some late season images as I attempt to capture some color before a hard frost finally hits us!

‘Single Apricot Korean’ chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum hybrida) – perennial

fall color of three-flower maple (Acer triflorum) – woody tree

new photographic angle of the observation pier…

fall color on ‘Sandra’ vernal witchhazel (Hamamelis vernalis) – large woody shrub / small tree

March of the Arches with Larry O. (left) and Dennis

‘Brass Lantern’ foamy bells (xHeucherella) – perennial

European ginger (Asarum europaeum) – perennial

fruits on a female ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) – woody tree

‘Royal Flush’ monkshood (Aconitum carmichaelii) still going! – perennial

‘Indian Summer’ gloriosa daisy (Rudbeckia hirta) withstanding three very light frosts – annual

reblooming of great coneflower (Rudbeckia maxima) – perennial

HLS set-up going well – A-“cord”-ing to me…(get it?)