Mid-Week Accomplishments

What the heck is the picture above you may ask? I know, I usually start with a pretty flower pictures but this image is just as beautiful. This is our current project of replenishing the dry gravel sea in the Japanese garden. In the background is the new gravel that we're spreading over the filter fabric (wrinkly looking stuff) and working towards the foreground. This is a laborious process; both the excavation and refilling. Access is at one point and our gravel pile is 50 yards away. This involves the replacement of about 100,000 lbs. of gravel. We should be done tomorrow.

Marv and Terry did a great job edging an "island" in the gravel sea and did myriad other tasks. They are a good team. Tony and Rick continued to replace rocks and gravel in areas that were flooded and were there was still lots of nasty sediment. They'll continue to work over the next couple of weeks on flood-related issues. Kay did a great job weeding and hauling debris for two other volunteers. Dr. Gredler, Bill and Dick H. all helped out today as well. It was a nice day to tackle these projects.

Neat grass above to the left. This variegated maiden grass (Miscanthus sinensis 'Dixieland') has a nice, clean variegation on narrow foliage. The arching form is nice but should be accounted for when you space other plants around a grass like this. The ornamental grasses are really starting to look nice as they do every year at this time. Check out gaps in your garden where the color and texture of an ornamental grass might help this time of year and/or perhaps thru the winter. There are lots of hardy choices! Neat lantern shot to the right (taken today). I'll be off camping with my wife and little one so no posts for awhile. Go plant some bulbs this weekend!