No rain today but overcast and a bit cool. Above picture shows some of our many volunteers today. Oakhill Christian School sent down 25 teenagers to help with dividing daylilies and they did a great job. Thank goodness for Janice as she organized, supervised and motivated the group. They divided about 20 daylily varieties into a couple hundred plants and also did some weeding around the gardens. They were a nice bunch of volunteers and se
emed to genuinely want to help out and do a nice job. We appreciate their efforts. Jim H. also brought four RECAPPERS that have been working on composting and mulching in the Japanese garden. They also pounded posts for our future tomatoes and did a nice job overall. Nice shot to the left of 'West Point' tulips in front of variegated feather reed grass (Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Avalanche'). The tulips are peaking a bit early but our late season batches are just showing color. Should be a good weekend for prom pictures here. To the right is a nice shot of Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica) that has emerged thru turf, is blooming nice and will go dormant in a couple weeks. Marv & Terry helped prepare for our workday tomorrow and worked on an edging job. Marianne and Margaret potted up some neat tropical plants inside then did some significant weeding in the English cottage garden along with the help of Kay and Bob. The group actually removed some perennials that had reseeded prolifically t
hroughout that garden (garden phlox, sea holly, etc.). After the kids left, Janice worked on some weeding and put out our tomato signs in anticipation of planting in a couple of weeks. Jenny popped by to work on some labeling and it was nice to have Jim W. here again to work his rototiller magic (see below). There are drawbacks to rototilling too much but in this case, we're working in more organic matter for our annual beds. Unfortunately, we've just stirred up weed seeds and will see a haze of green shortly. That's part of the routine!
hroughout that garden (garden phlox, sea holly, etc.). After the kids left, Janice worked on some weeding and put out our tomato signs in anticipation of planting in a couple of weeks. Jenny popped by to work on some labeling and it was nice to have Jim W. here again to work his rototiller magic (see below). There are drawbacks to rototilling too much but in this case, we're working in more organic matter for our annual beds. Unfortunately, we've just stirred up weed seeds and will see a haze of green shortly. That's part of the routine!My favorite part of early May is seeing emerging plants and their best, brightest and most vigorous growth. We'll have plenty of time later to get bitter about lankiness, poor growth, insect issues, disease, deadheading, invasiveness, etc. Just enjoy that fresh growth. See at the bottom for the golden tansy (Tanacetum vulgare 'Isla Gold') that while a moderate spreader, it has wonderful color and texture.
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