Pre-Winterization

We spent an overcast day continuing to remove annuals and cut down perennials. Our planting, with the exception of a couple thousand bulbs, is done for the year. Normally we would leave some perennials up for winter interest but we have so many holiday displays for our lights show and cords, it's easier to cut back these plants and navigate across more open spaces. The image above (taken yesterday) exhibits the nice fall color of a burning bush (Euonymus alatus) in full sun and also attests to its durability under heavy pruning to keep that tight mound. Marv and Terry shear this shrub (and many others) twice per year and I love the form. We leave many woody plants in their natural forms but those heavily pruned specimens add drama to the landscape as the shapes "pop out" visually. Some of the fall colors are really starting to peak with moosewood (Acer pensylvanicum) to the above left and three-flowered maple (Acer triflorum) to the right. The smaller maples have some nice color and are looking good in the Japanese garden. I'll have some pictures soon of those with the bright red fall color (almost at peak).

Kay, Heidi and Barb came it today to work in both the English cottage garden and sunken garden. They targeted any remaining annual removal and continued to cut down perennials and tidy up. Janice worked with the ladies and kept busy with gardening tasks and even worked on some lights for the Holiday Lights show. Bill helped Dr. Gredler level an area with topsoil and continued with leaf collection along the paths. Little Jerry is still pruning in the Japanese garden and Larry worked primarily on planting yews and installing silt fence today. We also saw Dr. Yahr, Jumbo Jim, Maury and Vern. I've been at my desk catching up on presentations, billing and other items in my various "to do" stacks. This job could easily be 100% desk work but I'm determined to avert that possiblity. The two shots below really show the appeal of the Japanese garden this time of year.