Terrific Tuesday

img_7079

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, the weather was again beautiful!  The morning was chilly but the day warmed to 60 degrees F with plenty of sunshine.  I’m glad I had my camera with me all day as I ran cords so I could catch some great, late season color and interest.  Above is the ‘Sunny Delight’ Hakone grass (Hakonechloa macra) with some fall color.  We continue to see some visitors out in the gardens and they are getting a sneak peak at our Holiday Light Show (HLS) set-up which is roughly 86.4% complete!  The grounds staff focused on the HLS for the majority of the day although our volunteers continue to be so helpful with the garden clean-up efforts that we need to ignore so we can have the HLS ready to go.

Larry H. and Cindy worked on securing icicle lights for a good portion of the day.  Larry moved on to more decorating and Cindy also had some late season shrub planting.  Big John continued to haul out more displays and other elements for the HLS.  This morning we hauled and secured a 20′ tall balsam fir in the English cottage garden as a centerpiece.  This tree is beautiful (and heavy!) and was donated by our grounds guy Terry “Chokehold” Neal.  We’ll put a lot of LED lights on this tree very shortly and it will really glow in that garden space.  Bobby K. had all sorts of projects related to the HLS and continues to upgrade and improve our power for this event with many of his ideas and efforts!  I ran cords.  We also saw Larry O. today.

img_7080

fall color on weeping larch (Larix decidua ‘Pendula’) – deciduous conifer

img_7085

fall color on a rhododendron (Rhododendron sp.) – woody shrub

img_7086

fall color on variegated Japanese zelkova (Zelkova serrata ‘Goshiki’) – woody tree

img_7090

fall color yellowing on wild ginger (Asarum canadense) amongst fallen leaves – perennial

img_7091

the kale (Brassica oleracea) sure enjoys this weather!

img_7084

Our volunteers had an active day outside!   Above are Eva (left) and Kathy who are scouring the gardens for more perennials to cut back and are collecting additional debris and leaves.  Alan (below) and Bob K. were in to collect more leaves and Bill O. did some mowing and leaf mulching in select locations.  John J. and Steve L. finished installing icicle lights in the Japanese garden and Vicki and Steve did some decorating with greens for the HLS as well.  Maury went on a gas run for us and we also saw Mark S., Polly, Marsha M. and many others today.  The day could not have been more beautiful and we’ll enjoy this late September weather as long as possible (Saturday looks cold and wet!).

img_7094

Alan M. (above)

img_7107

Steve and Vicki

img_7101

Polly (above) was tidying up and arranging Santa’s house for the HLS

img_7093

we have a lot more empty crates then full ones with lights for the HLS!

img_7095

fall color on Fireball® burning bush (Euonymus alatus ‘Select’) – woody shrub

img_7097

‘Silver Tower’ maiden grass (Miscanthus sinensis) – perennial

img_7104

work is progressing on a donor-funded project in the English cottage garden with gravel paths being replaced by flagstone

img_7102

the Olsen Pavilion is hooked up and ready to go (above…center pole)

img_7103

Big John was involved with a professional photo shoot – this being his casual shot

img_7106

our druid statue in the reception garden has an intense look!

img_7110

‘Citronelle’ coral bells (Heuchera) – perennial

img_7112

‘Red Lightning’ coral bells (Heuchera) – perennial

img_7114

‘Circus’ coral bells (Heuchera) – perennial