Productive Despite the Drizzle!

Today was very productive despite some light drizzle we had later in the day.  The forecast looks damp for the next couple of days but we did finally see some sunshine today as well.  Neat photo above of the eye of the same Garden Art Project fish seen below.  This is one of 28 beautiful art pieces out in the gardens that will look even more exciting once plants are installed around them!  We had a great turnout of volunteers today although our Rotary Work Day this afternoon was thwarted by the rain but we’ll catch up shortly.

The grounds crew had a busy day out in the gardens.  Cindy organized, hauled and dropped off our Coleus Collection for planting and then worked on tidying, weeding and matching labels to newly arrived plants.  Big John rototilled, went on a plant pick-up run, mowed and installed three of our culvert pipe planters.  Larry O. also push mowed and worked on flagging irrigation heads for our aeration program, hauled materials, sorted plants and had other duties as well.  Bobby K. helped re-mount one of the garden art projects, installed the “squirrel gate” in the English cottage garden and prepared to install our signs for the Story Walk program which promotes the story Commotion in the Ocean by Giles Andreae.  Trevor continued lifting tulips, mowed and worked on some other projects as well.  I’m shifting in to full gear for getting plants placed out in the gardens for installation! We had a super day!

cutleaf Japanese emperor oak (Quercus dentata “Pinnatifida’) – woody tree

‘Starlite’  Prairieblues™ false indigo (Baptisia x bicolor) – perennial

‘Carolina Moolight’ false indigo (Baptisia hybrida) – perennial

‘Taylor’s Sunburst’ lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta var. latifolia) – woody tree

lots of ‘Mt. Everest’ ornamental onions (Allium) are peaking right now!

variegated weigela (Weigela florida ‘Variegata’) – woody shrub

Volunteers had a great day out in the gardens.  Above are Alan (foreground), Bob K. and Lloyd all lifting tulips (Tulipa) out front with Trevor.  We replant tulips every year in this space so this removal will also help clear the area for planting very soon!  Ron R. and Bob C. worked on tidying and mulching the tree rings in the arboretum. Dr. Gredler and Rollie worked on mowing while Maury ran errands. Becky did a great job re-lettering one of our quote benches.  Dennis and Garrett continue their excellent progress on rebuilding the north path retaining wall.  Ron P. continued repairing lights for the Holiday Light Show (HLS) while Dave, Vern, Jim, Steve and Ron Y. had plenty of carpentry projects.  Dick H. ran to the dump and had some other projects while Bill O. came in to tweak some of the mowers.  Kristin and Stan were out tidying the Japanese garden.  Barb C. worked in the Giant Aquarium and we had Eva, Kathy and Shirley weeding in the reception garden. Kay was in to tidy up here area and we also saw Mark S., Jim H., two RECAPPERS and many others.

Shirley (above)

Kathy (above)

Eva (above)

Bob C. (left) and Ron R. mulching in the arboretum

Garrett (left) and Dennis

Kay (above)

dark and glossy foliage of ‘Tortuosa Purpurea’ European beech (Fagus sylvatica) – woody tree

yellow fumitory (Corydalis lutea) – perennial

‘Excelsior’ Spanish bluebells (Hyacinthoides hispanica) – perennial

‘Popcorn’ doublefile viburnum (Viburnum plicatum f. plicatum) – woody shrub

ornamental onion (Allium giganteum) – perennial

‘Chartreuse Wiggles’ plantain lily (Hosta) – perennial

‘Running Tapestry’ foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia) – perennial

planting of our Coleus Collection (60 varieties!) was delayed today due to rain….we’ll hopefully get at it tomorrow!

this purple obelisk sure “pops” visually with adjacent ‘Purple Sensation’ ornamental onions (Allium) and golden kerria (Kerria japonica) in the back

maidenhair fern (Adiantum pedatum) – perennial

‘Nugget’ ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius) – woody shrub