Sunshine Abounds

It was another perfect October day today with sunshine and a high temperature around 74 degrees F.  The gardens continue to look exceptional with most of our annuals still looking good and our late season perennials, ornamental grasses and early fall color completing the autumn scene. Nice shot above of ‘Dark Opal’ basil (Ocimum basilicum) in one of our raised planters.  This plant wont like the looming cold this month but is hanging in there for now!  We had a great volunteer turnout today and saw many guests out in the gardens.

Our grounds staff of Cindy, Larry O. and Larry H. kept busy with a wide range of tasks.  The gardens were still wet from rainfall on Tuesday night and with looming showers over the next two days, we hope the gardens stay wet.  Cindy focused on garden tidying and container watering.  Both Larrys mowed and Larry O. helped with watering and other projects while Larry H. (see further below) continues to make daily significant progress with Holiday Light Show (HLS) set-up duties.  I’m still trapped with desk work but will be slinging cords next week to start my six weeks of running extension cords for the HLS.

fall color begins on Tiger Eyes® golden sumac (Rhus typhina ‘Bailtiger’) – woody shrub

big patch of Megawatt™ Pink Bronze Leaf begonia (Begonia hybrida) – annual

blooms of ‘Autumn Bride’ coral bells (Heuchera villosa) – perennial

‘Premium Sun Crimson Gold’ coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides) – annual

fruits of Korean mountain ash (Sorbus alnifolia) – woody tree

‘Sparkle White’ gaura (Gaura lindheimeri) – tender perennial

‘Indian Summer’ gloriosa daisy (Rudbeckia hirta) – annual

We had a nice volunteer turnout today.  Above is Ron Y. working on renovating an antique sleigh for our Holiday Light Show (HLS).  This will be a neat, new addition to the event!  Nearby were Jim, Dave, Vern (seen below lettering a new memorial bench) and Steve.  The guys continued working on their carpentry projects.  Ron P. is back at his HLS repairs!  Dick H. made some dump runs while Maury ran errands.  Lloyd went out to collect leaves while Alan and Bob K. worked on a couple different projects.  Kathy, Eva, Suzy and Vera tidied up in the woodland walk garden and were joined by Brian.  Dick P. continued installing bricks and both Rollie and Dr. Gredler did their mowing rounds.  We also saw Maryam, Hayley, Vicky O., Mary Kay, Lisa I. and many others today!

Vern the Southpaw in front with Ron P. in the back

Larry H. has been a HLS set-up machine with significant progress daily!

peek-a-boo plant (Spilanthes oleracea) – annual

‘Ginger Love’ fountain grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides) – perennial

lemon bergamot (Monarda citriodora) – annual

one of our annual beds (above)

double dolphin wall fountain with surrounding Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) – woody vine

‘Phoenix Red’ beardtongue (Penstemon hartwegii) – annual

the North point garden (above)

interesting fall spotting (every year!) on ‘Autumn Moon’ fullmoon maple (Acer shirasawanum) – woody tree

intensifying autumn colors on ‘Wetumpka Red’ Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) – woody tree

Ivory Halo® tatarian dogwood (Cornus alba ‘Bailhalo’) – woody shrub

‘Firecracker’ variegated fuchsia (Fuchsia triphylla) – annual