Wednesday Fun

I love this time of year.  It was another cool start to the day but we all shed layers quickly as the sun came out and along with a light breeze, the day was beautiful and around 70 degrees F.  The arched bridge above is already festooned with lights for the Holiday Light Show (HLS) and our preparations are continuing in earnest.  We saw lots of visitors today including kids who enjoyed our fall programs with Marlene and Barb.  While the weather looks cooler next week (still no frost), we’re moving ahead with removals as we need to continue with the momentum for our HLS set-up!  We’ve probably removed 50% of the annuals thus far with the rest to be cleared throughout next week.  Our grounds staff of Larry O., Larry H., Bobby K. and I all had various duties including significant HLS related tasks.  Janice was also in to work with the Chestnut House volunteers.

fall color on Beaver Creek® witchalder (Fothergilla gardenii ‘KLMtwo’) – woody shrub

one of four visitors to the compost pile (nibbling on composting pumpkins!)

Above are Kathy (left) and Eva coming back with one of many loads of debris.  Removing annuals and cutting back perennials was the order of the day and we also had Steve E., Kay and Vicky O. doing the same thing.  Lots of debris came back for the compost pile. Greg and Cheryl P. did a nice job tidying up the Japanese garden which included lots of leaf raking.  Gena, Myrt, Nancy, Mary and Patty worked with Lisa I. on a big project in the daylily collection with some removals and many new additions.  Jim had the help of three RECAPPERS and the guys cut back and dug up all of our bananas which will be ready for winter storage soon.  The Chestnut House volunteers (see below) were in action today too!  We also saw many others today which was quite busy.

the Chestnut House volunteers (above and below) processing their vegetables

Victoria (above)

monkshood (Aconitum carmichaelii) blooming nicely right now – perennial

neat double Adirondack chair made by our Grumpies (out by the gazebo)

shot from beneath a weeping Alaskan cypress (Xanthocyparis nootkatensis) – woody tree

maidenhair fern (Adiantum pedatum) – perennial

‘Chartreuse Wiggles’ plantain lily (Hosta) – perennial

golden fall color on Japanese spikenard (Aralia cordata) – perennial

‘Dark Beauty’ toadlily (Tricyrtis formosana) – perennial

the Chestnut House volunteers did a great job picking produce today including the peppers (Capsicum) seen above and below!