The Day in Madison

I was at work for a couple of hours this morning to make sure the Golden Kiwanis Tree Sale and our own Compost/Pansy/Daylily Division Sale got off to a good start.  Janice helped get things set-up and we appreciate the volunteer help of Joy, El, Barb and Peg for this event today. The Golden Kiwanis group ran their sale separately but helped load compost for us which was nice.  Maury, Jon J., Dick H. and many of the other members were around.  Cindy, Big John and Terry held down the fort today and had lots of gardening tasks in preparation for the weekend. Jim brought in four RECAPPERS that worked on a wide range of projects including helping haul back the remains of two large spruce trees that Dick H. has been slicing and dicing.  Many of the folks above thankfully took care of a large (unexpected) plant delivery for the Spring Plant Sale (including many of our herbs!).  Kathy, Eva and Kay were there to garden this morning and I’m sure there were many others around too!
I was on Wisconsin Public Radio today on the Larry Meiller Show which I’ve done maybe a dozen times over the years.  Larry is a super neat guy and the show is always a great outreach tool to attract future visitors and supporters.  I was able to promote our looming Spring Plant Sale and exciting collections this year as well.  We also handled lots of gardening questions from around the state with a huge focus on how to engage children out in the gardens.  I then headed over to Olbrich Botanical Garden and enjoyed a stroll with plenty of photography involved…I ran in to many of their grounds staff including Mark S., Christian H. and Philip.  I rarely get to visit this early in the season so was able to see some plants I haven’t noted in the past….Nice to be back home but back to working the sale on Saturday!  Some highlights of my mini-adventure can be seen below…
cool tulips at peak around the Capitol grounds
 tough badgers guarding State Street
I visited the Botany Department Garden which is beautiful
 clove currant (Ribes odoratum) – very fragrant shrub!
 ‘Green Spice’ coral bells (Heuchera) – perennial
Olbrich Botanical Gardens (Rose Garden above)

 

 neat use of dogwood branches as plant supports
 neat redbud (Cercis canadensis) in container (above)

 

 variegated lilac (Syringa vulgaris ‘Aucubaefolia’)
 ‘Spring Yellow’ false forget-me-not (Brunnera macrophylla) – perennial
‘Gravetye Giant’ summer snowflake (Leucojum aestivum) patch
 lettuces (Lactuca) in the herb garden (yummy)
 woodland area looking great
 Dutchman’s breeches (Dicentra cucullaria)
 bulb lawn with lots of checkered fritillary (Fritillaria meleagris)
yellow fairy bells (Disporum flavens) – perennial