What a nice day today. It was a bit windy but the warmth allowed me to spray herbicide on some of our earliest weeds that also have a headstart. I targeted our brick paths, patios and other garden features that are impossible to hand weed. With all the heat, the weeds are sprouting quickly and in some colder, wetter springs, I can't do this until late April. We'll take advantage of the weather for sure! This is the earliest I've sprayed herbicide but it should "take" nicely. I carried my camera around with me and shot the 'Jetfire' daffodils (
Narcissus) above in the sunken garden as I walked by this morning. I saw many visitors today out in the gardens enjoying the weather and I noticed even more plants in bloom around the gardens. The image below is of the Lenten Rose (
Helleborus niger) on the tail end of its bloom period. This plant was in an earlier blog when the flower tepals (not petals) were white but have now turned a pastel pink.
We had lots of help today. Jumbo Jim brought down four RECAPPERS, two of which can be seen below. These guys worked on cleaning debris out of the Japanese garden, digging holes and the two fellas below dug out all the rock/plants in this cylinder spillway. This was a monumental task but the intent is to reseal the interior of this feature to minimize future mortar issues (that were just addressed on the exterior). Kay (see further below) was out tidying up as was Bill. The gardens look so much better than two weeks ago and that is thanks to our dedicated volunteers. The grounds staff starts back next week although Little Jerry started already. Looking forward to having the gang back (Marv, Marianne, Terry, Janice and Jenny) with the addition of Big John. The entire grounds staff has been volunteering thru the winter and spring as well.
There was a lot of activity at the Horticulture Center today with deliveries of cannas and other packages. Dr. Gredler worked on his lawns and Marianne was here to continue her alpine garden (Scottish alpine too) relabeling project
. Marv came in this morning to repair sideboards on one of the vehicles and we also saw Julie, Vern, Dave and some others. Janice worked on her moss island with some pre-emergent weed control and was continuing work on an epic project; our memorial tree listings. There is still lots of catching up to do with various databases. With over 400 memorial trees out in the gardens, we continue to track information on these plants so they can be located and identified as needed in an efficient manner. More blooms to the left starting on the Corneliancherry dogwood (
Cornus mas 'Golden Glory') in the Scottish garden. This small tree is one of the first to bloom and will become a "haze of yellow" for a week or so but is a tough, reliable tree with glossy, insect/disease resistant foliage and edible fruits late in the season. Below is the start of the wind anemone (
Anemone blanda 'Blue Shades') in the Scottish garden. I am a huge fan of these bulbs as they have such large flowers for such a short plant (fall planted bulb). More decorated daisies are arriving daily. The bottom daisy is titled, "Fanciful Feathered Friends & Flowers" and was painted by five individuals in an art class taught by Pat Tobin at the Janesville Senior Center. We're increasingly impressed with the quality and originality of these unique pieces of art and look forward to displaying them out in the garden (by early May).
. Marv came in this morning to repair sideboards on one of the vehicles and we also saw Julie, Vern, Dave and some others. Janice worked on her moss island with some pre-emergent weed control and was continuing work on an epic project; our memorial tree listings. There is still lots of catching up to do with various databases. With over 400 memorial trees out in the gardens, we continue to track information on these plants so they can be located and identified as needed in an efficient manner. More blooms to the left starting on the Corneliancherry dogwood (Cornus mas 'Golden Glory') in the Scottish garden. This small tree is one of the first to bloom and will become a "haze of yellow" for a week or so but is a tough, reliable tree with glossy, insect/disease resistant foliage and edible fruits late in the season. Below is the start of the wind anemone (Anemone blanda 'Blue Shades') in the Scottish garden. I am a huge fan of these bulbs as they have such large flowers for such a short plant (fall planted bulb). More decorated daisies are arriving daily. The bottom daisy is titled, "Fanciful Feathered Friends & Flowers" and was painted by five individuals in an art class taught by Pat Tobin at the Janesville Senior Center. We're increasingly impressed with the quality and originality of these unique pieces of art and look forward to displaying them out in the garden (by early May).
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