Three Gardens and a Radio Show

On a dark and drizzly, October-like Friday, I headed up to Madison for a couple of purposes.  My primary purpose was to go on Larry Meiller’s Garden Talk show on Wisconsin Public Radio (hosted by Jill with Larry off on vacation) to discuss the gardens and other topics.  My secondary purpose was to meet with Mike M. to work out some final logistics for our Horticulture Therapy Symposium (Gardening for Life) which is next Wednesday, August 9th (final registration on Monday, August 7th!).  The weather was quite cool and I’m glad I had a hooded sweatshirt as the day stayed cool throughout.  I arrived in Madison early enough to visit the Botany Garden as well as Allen Centennial Garden.  Both of these lovely gardens are on the UW-Madison campus.  After the radio show, which went well, and lunch with Mike, I stopped by Olbrich Botanical Garden (Madison, WI) on the way home to see how things were looking.  The garden was packed with families and kids going in to the Blooming Butterflies exhibit/event in the conservatory.  I enjoyed the gardens and took plenty of photos throughout the day to get my plant fix.  I left RBG in good hands with Cindy, Bobby K. and Trevor.  I’m sure we had excellent volunteer support as well to get ready for a mild and sunny weekend which should be quite busy (including two weddings).

UW Botany Garden (above and below)

Agriculture Hall with the annual vinca (Catharanthus) “UW”!

massive bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa) on Linden Drive across from the Horticulture Building and greenhouses – love those lower branches (with a sign to not climb on the tree too!)

old Dean of Agriculture residence (future offices) at Allen Centennial Gardens – UW Madison campus (above and two below)

Olbrich was looking great (above and rest below…)

rattlesnake master (Eryngium yuccifolium) with ‘Forest Pansy’ redbud (Cercis canadensis)

cool new building at OBG made of reclaimed barn lumber and boards

Korean angelica (Angelica gigas) – biennial

Thai pavilion at OBG

Herb garden at OBG

‘Monet Moment’ hybrid cardinal flower (Lobelia hybrida) – perennial

‘Mynelle’s Starfish’ daylily (Hemerocallis) – perennial