Rotary Botanical Gardens - Hort Blog

Lots in bloom today including the dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) above which is quite exquisite when viewed up close. There was palpable excitement and energy out in the gardens with our grounds staff and volunteer activities considering the perfect weather day and plenty to accomplish. Marv, Marianne, Janice and Terry all started today with John tomorrow and Jenny Wednesday. Everyone kept busy and worked on various projects. Marv and Terry leveled benches, put out obelisks, composted, etc. while Janice and Marianne cut back roses as needed. Both ladies worked on other projects and Marianne put together a nice cutting display; our first for 2010. Little Jerry pruned and tidied up while Larry led the charge with composting the front of the building with Gary, Ron, Bill and Bob (see below). Access was tricky (lots of emerging tulips too) so the guys spread the compost entirely by buckets and did a nice job topdressing the entrance garden that was in dire need of some soil improvements. Del and Roger swept up the sunken garden and started mulching the woodland walk garden. The composting crew later helped mulch and the carpenters (Dave, Jim, Vern and Bob A.) kept busy with projects, including mounting more of the plywood daisies which continue to be the topic of conversation around here as they arrive. Very neat. See "Ocean Fun" at the bottom. It is amazing how original and unique each of the daisies is and we continue to process them for eventual placement out in the gardens. Shirley was here to do some weeding and Bill O. came in to clean up our stump grinding messes. We also saw Barb, Mike, Chuck, Dave, Bev, George and Deb over here today. Dr. Gredler continued his lawn work and is aerating lawns in advance of the coming (and welcome) rains this week. I was on the north path this morning and caught some neat shots thru the weeping willows (Salix) of our observation pier and arched bridge. It was truly a delightful day out there and we look forward to a nice spring. In talking with Mike, we've determined that many plants out in the gardens are 1.5-2 weeks ahead of schedule and in some cases, even further ahead. The warmer microclimates are showing some plants even three weeks ahead (like the magnolia below). This is one of the star magnolias (Magnolia stellata) and is near the main building and some warm asphalt. While many of the daffodils (Narcissus sp.) are at peak or beyond, I caught the unique 'Rip Van Winkle' just starting to peak but still showing hints of green on the petals. Beneath 'Rip Van Winkle' is grape hyacinth (Muscari latifolium) in bloom along the woodland walk shoreline and not too far away (next picture down) in the woodland walk are many Dutchman's breeches (Dicentra cucullaria) with its conspicuous white "pantaloons" and lacy foliage. Fun.