Fluff to Slush to Ice

We had about 2" of fluff come down last night which really wasn't much trouble to remove this morning. The sculpture to the left (on reception garden wall facing the sunken garden) looks real happy about the weather! Bill and I cleared the snow with blowers and shovels in about 2 hours in preparations for a rental this evening that will have access to the Holiday Lights Show. Bill is a huge help and thank goodness for his commitment to the gardens. Big John was over at the other building and did some shoveling as well. We offer the lights show (for an additional fee) as part of these evening rentals and I think there are 25o people coming to the engagement tonight. The weather tomorrow will be warm (35 degrees F) with slushy rain. However, the temperatures then go frigid on Sunday and Monday. We always get worried about ice forming on the paths but will deal with it accordingly next week before the lights show opens on Friday, December 17th. To the right are just some of many deer tracks out in the gardens today. Free dining. I'll have to do a more exhaustive walk thru the gardens next week and see what trouble they might be causing. There is no shame in their game (which is survival, not spite I hope!).

Aside from Bill coming in today, Little Jerry, Marv, Marianne and Sue M. all stopped by in the morning. Dr. Gredler was again hard at work restaining some of our garden benches. Urban came in to trim some crabapples near the horticulture center and Maury was here running errands (which is extremely helpful for us). Big John stopped by the Horticulture Center as did Art and Dick H. It was a relatively quiet day and I've been tackling my ever-growing list of spring preparations and returning phone calls. There is not a challenge this time of year keeping busy. Below is a tall Japanese silver grass (Miscanthus sinensis 'Silver Tower') in the reception garden that I photographed today.