Today marks the start of a new month as well as a major shift in our efforts out in the gardens. This morning was ano
ther frosty one as seen throughout this blog. I love frost crystals on the flowering kale (
Brassica) as seen above and that kale will continue to look good after many frosts and even tougher weather. To the left is a coral bells (
Heuchera 'Molly Bush') with a tinge of frost too. While the morning was a bit nippy, it warmed up nicely in to the mid 50
degrees F with ample sunshine. This is nice weather for any sort of work in the gardens. While we continue to remove spent annuals from around the gardens and continue to prune back perennials, we are also shifting more focus on the Holiday Lights Show set-up. Our intent, weather permitting, is to have the entire show up in the next 2-3 weeks which will allow time for testing and tweaking prior to the first showing at the Taste of Chocolate Event on December 4th [call Polly at (608) 752-3885 ext. 16 for more details]. Some major evidence in this "transformation" can be seen particularly today with more displays going up and the addition of 1/2 gallon milk jug luminaries (to the right) by Jenny and Marianne. The luminaries are a nice addition to the event but take some time and planning in regards to their layout and orientation for power access. Each of those jugs will have their own C7 bulb. Janice worked on decorating obelisks, repairing lights and started cutting back perennials in the English cottage garden. Marv and Terry did primarily lights but also tilled in our cover crops displays. Little Jerry pruned and collected debris all day while Larry assembled the "Olsen Pavilion" which involves posts, rope and lights throughout the entire reception garden. I ran another 1,000 feet or so of cords and will continue to create the "spiderweb of power" which only seems to impress me for some reason!
Today was another very solid volunteer day with plenty of Grumpies and Grumpettes. Seen above is a bulb planting operation down in the children's garden. Del, Pat, Ron B. and Bob C. sunk their teeth in t
o planting over 2,000 tulips throughout this garden space. They did a great job and we utilized many of our remaining bulbs to assure a huge splash of color in that garden in May. The shot directly above shows our "grouping hole" as we dig larger holes for closely planted bulbs that will be nice clu
mps in spring. The soil wasn't too bad and the guys did well. Rollie and Urban tore out and hauled more annuals and helped keep up with piles that were accumulating elsewhere. Dick H. worked on putting up lights while Tom continued to replace/repair some of our electrical outlets (perfect timing for the lights show!). Big John helped Dr. Gredler secure the sideboards on the dump truck although both guys moved on to other projects as well. Vern, Dave T., Bob A., Jim and Roger worked on some carpentry projects and will be constructing some "all accessible" planters yet this fall (for use next year). Robin and Mary continued to remove plants in the sunken and reception gardens and were joined by Shirley after she did some major clean-up in the color rooms garden. Magda and Sara were out clearing their garden space and planting bulbs as well. We also saw Maury, Gary and many others. It was a busy day. Above, and to the left, is the transitioning stem color of the 'Flame' willow (
Salix hybrida) that has green stems in the summer that get increasingly red as the temperature dips. These shrubs are holding the severe slope along the west side of our visitors center and will hold that brilliant red stem color all winter. Cut back severly in spring, they will rebound in height to 8' or so and do the same thing again. To the right are the blooms of my favorite aster. This is 'Raydon's Favorite' (
Aster oblongifolius) which I first saw at Boerner Botanical Gardens (Hales Corners, WI) years ago in large drifts in the middle of October. It looked (and looks) top notch and isn't too tall and floppy (30" or so). My tribute to the beauty of frost is below. Note the frost on the lamb's ears (
Stachys byzantina) and the clutter of ginkgo (
Ginkgo biloba) leaves fluttering to the ground quickly after the cold temperatures. This week will be fast and furious, although I could describe any week with those terms! I gave a presentation today to the Noon Rotary Club and it was well received. Many of the members are current volunteers, Board Members and supporters. I got a nice ovation that should really be for all our volunteers and grounds staff that work with such enthusiasm and are the real "lifeblood" of the gardens. We're fortunate to have such great volunteers but are also blesssed with a top notch grounds staff (Larry, Marv, Terry, Janice, Marianne, Big John, Little Jerry and Jenny).
Today marks the start of a new month as well as a major shift in our efforts out in the gardens. This morning was ano
ther frosty one as seen throughout this blog. I love frost crystals on the flowering kale (Brassica) as seen above and that kale will continue to look good after many frosts and even tougher weather. To the left is a coral bells (Heuchera 'Molly Bush') with a tinge of frost too. While the morning was a bit nippy, it warmed up nicely in to the mid 50 
degrees F with ample sunshine. This is nice weather for any sort of work in the gardens. While we continue to remove spent annuals from around the gardens and continue to prune back perennials, we are also shifting more focus on the Holiday Lights Show set-up. Our intent, weather permitting, is to have the entire show up in the next 2-3 weeks which will allow time for testing and tweaking prior to the first showing at the Taste of Chocolate Event on December 4th [call Polly at (608) 752-3885 ext. 16 for more details]. Some major evidence in this "transformation" can be seen particularly today with more displays going up and the addition of 1/2 gallon milk jug luminaries (to the right) by Jenny and Marianne. The luminaries are a nice addition to the event but take some time and planning in regards to their layout and orientation for power access. Each of those jugs will have their own C7 bulb. Janice worked on decorating obelisks, repairing lights and started cutting back perennials in the English cottage garden. Marv and Terry did primarily lights but also tilled in our cover crops displays. Little Jerry pruned and collected debris all day while Larry assembled the "Olsen Pavilion" which involves posts, rope and lights throughout the entire reception garden. I ran another 1,000 feet or so of cords and will continue to create the "spiderweb of power" which only seems to impress me for some reason! 
o planting over 2,000 tulips throughout this garden space. They did a great job and we utilized many of our remaining bulbs to assure a huge splash of color in that garden in May. The shot directly above shows our "grouping hole" as we dig larger holes for closely planted bulbs that will be nice clu
mps in spring. The soil wasn't too bad and the guys did well. Rollie and Urban tore out and hauled more annuals and helped keep up with piles that were accumulating elsewhere. Dick H. worked on putting up lights while Tom continued to replace/repair some of our electrical outlets (perfect timing for the lights show!). Big John helped Dr. Gredler secure the sideboards on the dump truck although both guys moved on to other projects as well. Vern, Dave T., Bob A., Jim and Roger worked on some carpentry projects and will be constructing some "all accessible" planters yet this fall (for use next year). Robin and Mary continued to remove plants in the sunken and reception gardens and were joined by Shirley after she did some major clean-up in the color rooms garden. Magda and Sara were out clearing their garden space and planting bulbs as well. We also saw Maury, Gary and many others. It was a busy day. Above, and to the left, is the transitioning stem color of the 'Flame' willow (Salix hybrida) that has green stems in the summer that get increasingly red as the temperature dips. These shrubs are holding the severe slope along the west side of our visitors center and will hold that brilliant red stem color all winter. Cut back severly in spring, they will rebound in height to 8' or so and do the same thing again. To the right are the blooms of my favorite aster. This is 'Raydon's Favorite' (Aster oblongifolius) which I first saw at Boerner Botanical Gardens (Hales Corners, WI) years ago in large drifts in the middle of October. It looked (and looks) top notch and isn't too tall and floppy (30" or so). My tribute to the beauty of frost is below. Note the frost on the lamb's ears (Stachys byzantina) and the clutter of ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) leaves fluttering to the ground quickly after the cold temperatures. This week will be fast and furious, although I could describe any week with those terms! I gave a presentation today to the Noon Rotary Club and it was well received. Many of the members are current volunteers, Board Members and supporters. I got a nice ovation that should really be for all our volunteers and grounds staff that work with such enthusiasm and are the real "lifeblood" of the gardens. We're fortunate to have such great volunteers but are also blesssed with a top notch grounds staff (Larry, Marv, Terry, Janice, Marianne, Big John, Little Jerry and Jenny).
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