T-Shirt Weather?

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The temperature reached 70 degrees F today and it was delightful!  Even the morning was quite mild and we all took advantage of the weather to continue working on garden clean-up and final preparations for the Holiday Light Show (HLS).  I enjoyed likely my last day of 2016 wearing a t-shirt out in the gardens.  Above is the fall color on Sunjoy® Gold Pillar barberry (Berberis thunbergii ‘Maria’).  The grounds staff of Larry H., Larry O., Bobby K. and I all worked on HLS projects and tasks.  Our volunteers worked on a wide range of gardening, HLS and carpentry projects among other things.  Volunteers today included Kathy, Eva, Liz, Gene, Bob K., Alan, Ron Y., Jim, Dave, Steve J., Maury, Dr. Gredler, Vicki, Steve, Cheryl D. and many others.  Cindy and her daughter Kristen were out enjoying the garden as were many other visitors.  Work progresses on our flagstone path project in the English cottage garden (see below).  Tomorrow looks nice although the weekend looks sour.  We’ve enjoyed the warmest fall I can remember!

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dried flower heads on Little Lime® panicled hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata ‘Jane’) – woody shrub

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weeping hornbeam (Carpinus betulus ‘Pendula’) – woody tree

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fall color on hornbeam maple (Acer carpinifolium) – woody tree

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fall color on cutleaf European beech (Fagus sylvatica ‘Asplenifolia’) – woody tree

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Larry “The Ladder Man” Holterman putting up more lights out front!

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Bob K. (left) and Alan installing deer fencing

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Kristen and Cindy enjoying the day

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Vicki and Steve

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the new flagstone project in the English cottage garden is progressing nicely!

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looks like modern art!? – new railings for the gazebo built by our Grumpy carpenters!

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fall color on unknown Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) – woody tree

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fall needle color on American larch (Larix laricina) – deciduous conifer (note lights on the trunk!)

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fall/winter foliage color on PJM rhododendron (Rhododendron hybrida) – woody shrub

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‘Nana’ compact hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) – woody tree

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intensifying winter stem color on ‘Flame’ willow (Salix hybrida) – woody shrub