Pre-Summer Temps Arrive!

Nice shot directly above of bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) peaking today in the woodland walk garden.  The temperature outside reached 80 degrees F which will certainly encourage more plants to peek out and emerge!  As is the case with Mondays, we had a very busy day.  Our grounds staff of Janice, Cindy, Big John, Terry, Larry H., Larry O., Bobby K. and I were all busy with myriad projects which included spring preparations, gardening and some advance work for looming events like our Spring Plant Sale coming on Mother’s Day weekend.  We had both female RECAPPERS (working with Nancy) and male RECAPPERS (working with Jim H. and Jason).  There was so much action going on, it would be tough to list it all here but our awesome volunteers of Kathy, Derrick, Alan, Steve E., Ron R., Ron Y., Dave, Jim, Vern, Maury, Dr. Gredler, Nancy, Jim H., Jason, Tani, Dick H. all did a great job.  We also saw Rollie, Brian, Bev and many others today.  Lots accomplished!  At the bottom are some shots from Friday where we had some excellent help from students from the Oakhill Christian High School.  They did a great job.

Dutchman’s breeches (Dicentra cucullaria) – perennial

white Siberian squill (Scilla siberica) – perennial bulb

interesting ground level flowers of wild ginger (Asarum canadense) above – perennial

marsh marigold (Caltha palustris) – perennial

magnolia (Magnolia sp., unknown variety) looking good above in the Japanese garden

daffodils (Narcissus) galore!

Urban (above) is almost done with his “winter” pruning!

Shawn W. (our aquatic guy) was cleaning the koi pond today

Bobby K. and Ron R. (above) started placing the Garden Art Project frogs today!

Alan (above) painting himself in to a corner?

‘Royal Star’ magnolia (Magnolia stellata) – woody tree

‘Blue Sunrise’ perennial geranium (Geranium sp.) – perennial

pasque flowers (Pulsatilla vulgaris) continue to look awesome! – perennial (above)

daffodils (Narcissus) are at peak around the gardens which is later than usual

The photo above and two below were taken last Friday during a wonderful volunteer work session with students from Oakhill Christian High School here in Janesville.  Students from this school have been coming to help out every spring and fall for at least the last 10 years or so and their teacher (Kath) has been a great supporter of the gardens and keeps the kids moving.  Janice and Kathy P. worked with the gang on a MAJOR mulching project and kudos to Larry H. who spent most of last Thursday stockpiling these massive piles of mulch!  Great progress achieved!