Seasonable and 74 degrees F

With welcome rain looming later in the week, we took advantage of another warm and mild April day.  The tulips (Tulipa) in front of the Parker Education Center continue to look excellent like the variety ‘Lightning Sun’ above.  These 100 varieties continue to be almost two weeks early so come soon to check them out as most will be done before Mother’s Day!  It seems like I’m photographing almost daily out front to capture all of these beautiful varieties.  We saw lots of guests today throughout the gardens which continue to look spectacular.

 

The grounds staff always has a busy day!  Cindy planted pansies, weeded and tidied in multiple locations.  Larry H. did some composting, spread peat moss and had some other tasks.  Big John pressure washed some target objects to tidy them up for spring, planted, filled more containers with our custom soil mix and installed some new benches.  Janice worked in the Heirloom Garden, did the cutting display and continues to work on some ongoing projects.  I focused on some timely desk work and the promotion for some looming educational events and our Spring Plant Sale.

‘Golden Parade’ tulip (Tulipa)

‘Boston’ tulip (Tulipa)

‘Hocus Pocus’ tulip (Tulipa) – one of the tallest at 36″ tall!

‘Apricot Foxx’ tulip (Tulipa)

‘Burning Heart’ tulip (Tulipa)

‘Salmon Impression’ tulip (Tulipa)

‘Sunset Miami’ tulip (Tulipa)

Nice shot above of twinleaf (Jeffersonia diphylla) in our woodland walk garden. I was remiss in my “volunteer photography” today but we did have some excellent help out in the gardens.  Kathy P. and Eva, both veterans, were joined by Cathy and Connie (both rookies).  This productive foursome weeded in two large areas and had no shortage of weeds to target as they are emerging quickly.  Cheryl D. did her usual excellent job of tidying in the Japanese garden and Steve E. continued his mulching in the woodland walk garden.  Peg was in to work on repairing and replacing plant labels and Maury ran errands for us.  We also saw Maryam, Mark S. and many others today.

‘Caramel’ coral bells (Heuchera) – perennial

‘All Gold’ golden Hakone grass (Hakonechloa macra) – perennial

lots of pasque flowers (Pulstatilla vulgaris) in the alpine garden – perennials

checkered fritillary (Fritillaria meleagris) – perennial

Golden Shadows® pagoda dogwood (Cornus alternifolia ‘Wstackman’) – woody tree

‘Fen’s Ruby’ spurge (Euphorbia cyparissias) – perennial

‘Butterflies’ magnolia (Magnolia hybrida) – woody tree

Valentine® bleeding heart (Lamprocapnos spectabilis ‘Hordival’) – perennial

golden hops vine (Humulus lupulus ‘Nugget’) – perennial vine

grape hyacinths (Muscari armeniacum) amongst golden creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia ‘Goldilocks’)

the Japanese garden this morning (above)

a nice view from the Azumaya towards the pond

both entrances in to the Japanese garden (above and below) look excellent right now!