Refocusing

Nice shot above of our golden English oak (Quercus robur 'Concordia') in the Scottish garden that was a 2' twig when planted 10 years ago and is now about 12' tall! This variety originated in Belgium at Van Geert's Nursery around 1843. Looking good and certainly an eye-catcher. It does turn "chartreusy" in summer though. Most visitors don't appreciate what we have in the Scottish garden which includes a highland and lowland (moor) section as well as over 200 plant species native to Scotland. Jan, our volunteer in that area, has always done a nice job maintaining that space. When we revised that garden 10 years ago, we sent our plan to the Royal Botanic Garden at Edinburgh and their horticulturists approved the plant content and thought our "rugged layout" was nice. I'm sure they had to get a map out to find Janesville! Many nursery owners in Scotland also sent plants and there are still some neat little treasures in that space. Two more plants that I photographed in the Scottish garden can be seen here. To the left is variegated moor grass (Molinia caerulea 'Variegata') with carpet bugle (Ajuga pyramidalis) in the background with blue flower spikes. To the right are the beautiful English bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) that while planted many years ago in this space by the hundreds, have really started to look good in recent years.

Today was another crazy day around the gardens as we shifted out of "plant sale mode" in to our gardening mode. The grounds crew and some Grumpies dismantled some of the plant sale elements but we will be having a clearance sale (30% off plants and seeds only) this Saturday, May 22nd from 9 am until noon. There are enough plants left that we'd like to extend the sale and any final remnants will go to community gardens and those in need. Marv and Terry did a nice job installing our last three culvert planters in front of the building and ran for plants as well. Larry started pumping out the koi pond for cleaning (a two day endeavor) and weed whipped. Little Jerry worked in the Japanese garden while Janice bounced around with weeding and various tasks. I was able to get out with herbicide to address our increasing weed problem after last weeks rain and Marianne, among other things, led Shirley, Mary and Mary thru the iris beds for tidying and they sure look good with the ornamental onions (Allium 'Purple Sensation') hovering over the rows (see below).The Grumpies accomplished lots of work today with guys working on lifting tulips, taking down the plant sale parking lot, digging out perennials in two large areas that will be renovated, mulching, installing the fence, "air edging", carpentry, etc. I could give the "play by play" but suffice it to say that the guys (Rollie, Big John, Dick P., Dick H., Dr. Yahr, Dr. Gredler, Bill, Ron W., Ron B., Gary, Charlie, Bob T., Bob A., Bob C., Vern, Del, Urban, Dave and Jim) did a wonderful job on myriad tasks. We also saw Dave, Chuck, Rose and many others today. We had some other visitors as well with Shelly B. from the Janesville Gazette (http://gazettextra.com/) at the gardens to get information on upcoming events (irises and peonies) and Eric was here to do some filming for a video on the gardens. We saw plenty of visitors and are quite pleased with the appearance of the gardens at this point in time. Marv and Terry started our epic series of trips today (for tropicals) that will be followed with seven other trips this week for most of our plants. With upcoming volunteer days that involve plenty of planting, we need our full palette here so we can roll with it. Included in close proximity are some other neat plants out in the garden today. To the left is the gasplant (Dictamnus albus 'Rubra') that is always striking this time of year with gorgeous blossoms. I avoid the foliage as I've had a horrible, "poison ivy-like" reaction when I've brushed by the foliage (rashes, etc.). To the right is the vivid spring foliage of 'Coppertina' ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius) which has some nice "orangey" overtones. At the bottom is the bloom from one of our hybrid magnolias that is part Oyama magnolia (Magnolia sieboldii). I just love the blooms and am actually surprised it has survived our climate for the past seven years.