OBG on SUN

Today was extremely busy at work and I’m not sure I even had time to take a photo.  This week is busy with our Rhythm & Blooms musical event Tuesday night, our Community Appreciation Day and Wellness Garden dedication on Wednesday and our lecture on Monarchs on Thursday night (6:30 pm).  This Saturday is also our Home Garden Tour!  A busy week ahead!  I did, however, include a whole bunch of photos I took yesterday (Sunday) at Olbrich Botanical Gardens (OBG) in Madison, WI.  My older daughter and I enjoyed a visit to one of my favorite gardens so I thought I’d share some color from that wonderful visit.  Today at RBG we had a very heavy, humid and relatively hot day but lots was accomplished.  Our grounds staff included Cindy, Janice, Big John, Larry H., Terry, Shania, Ibhar and myself.  With some nice rain on Friday night in to Saturday morning this weekend, the gardens are still nicely damp although we continue to augment watering as needed.  The staff had myriad tasks and our volunteer crew of Eva, Steve, Robert, Bob K., Ron R., Ron Y., Dave T., Vern, Steve, Jim, Dr. Gredler, Rollie, Maury, Dick H., Barb C., Nancy M., two RECAPPERS and many more kept busy throughout this oppressive day!

one of many great gravel gardens at OBG (above)

huge agave (I believe) in this neat planter (‘Golden Sunshine’ willow in the back…)

Thai Pavilion garden above and two below

‘Little Honey’ oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) – woody shrub

golden raintree (Koelreuteria paniculata) – woody tree

‘Blue Shadow’ witchalder (Fothergilla x intermedia) – woody shrub

‘Green Ball’ sweet William (Dianthus barbatus) – annual

cool container

‘Arabella’ clematis (Clematis sp.) – perennial vine

‘Strawberry Candy’ daylily (Hemerocallis) – perennial

‘Zowie! Yellow Flame’ zinnia (Zinnia elegans) – annual

‘Wellington Bronze’ raspwort (Haloragis erecta) – annual

‘Golden Shadow’ golden paper mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera) – tender tropical

cool extended use of a failing crabapple (Malus sp.)!

herb garden (above and below)

neat information cart in the herb garden – cool!

buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) – woody shrub

‘Joey’ pink mulla-mulla (Ptilotus exaltatus) – annual

showy and large cabbage palms (Cordyline sp.) – tropicals

purple prairie clover (Dalea purpurea) – perennial