Today was very pleasant outside with highs in the upper 70 degrees F or so. Of course, it will get warmer this week with more brutal temperatures on Wednesday a
nd Thursday. The fact that the rain missed us this past weekend will affect our tasks as we are now falling behind on watering duties. We can only run so much irrigation, sprinklers, etc. at one time and are starting to address woody plants that are showing severe wilting. We had a great day today though with plenty of volunteer assistance. Above are Roy, Cindy (orange) and Mary in the distance accomplishing some serious planting in our "hardest to plant" garden (azalea/rhododendron garden). This garden area has some severe slopes, marginal soils and many obstacles. Shirley was just off camera also planting in that same area. Directly above is the orange milkweed (Asclepias curassavica 'Silky Gold') which is in our our orange themed border planting in the larch area. This annual will get close to 4
' tall and will be a significant butterfly magnet while also offering some solid flower interest. To the above right is my second load of annuals that were hauled out to our last large garden berm still awaiting plants. Our team above (sans Shirley who shifted to watering) also worked on this berm with Janice and her volunteers from the Chestnut House. To the left and lower right are just some of the many talented helpers we had this morning and at the bottom is the Chestnut House gang in front of the oak leaf garden art project that they created.We had a nice Grumpy turnout today as we
ll. Russ and Del hauled shredded bark all morning and did a nice job mulching many areas near the Parker Education Center. Bob C. and Urban helped water the yard and both moved on to other projects as well. Ron W., Ron B. and Lloyd (new Grumpy) did a nice job tidying up paths which could be a full time job around RBG! Rollie and Dick P. installed a large brick for a dedication today and Rollie moved on to some mulching as well. Stan was working in the Japanese garden as was Karen M. Dick H. helped with a gas run (with Rollie) and assisted where he was needed. Jim, Vern and Bob A. had some projects as well and are currently working on a secret project (to be revealed shortly!). Gary worked on some labels and has a good plan for replacing many of our bench plaques as well. Bill O. was in later to help Dr. Gredler collect some debris from the pond and Dr. Gredler had a full morning of mowing as well. We also saw Dr. Yahr, Rose, Maury, Hal, Corky, Joan, Jean and many others today. Lynn was in the English cottage garden planting and watering too. Directly below is the glowing orange bloom cluster of the 'Orange Appeal' geranium (Pelargonium x hortorum) which is also featured in our orange themed border. Now that is bright!
Our 2012 Ornamental Edible & Compact Vegetable Collection (seen above) is a huge success. It's filling in nicely and I've talked to many visitors that are re
ally enjoying the displays and plants in this space. It's still filling in but looking better every day. While most visitors stroll thru the gardens and enjoy each space, we're really seeing everyone pause at this garden to explore with a little more attention to detail. That, to me, makes this garden extremely successful (and educational). To the right is another shot of the barley (Hordeum vulgare) which is one of eight plants that are being featured in our Grains of the World collection. This collection is also replicated at the Rock County Farm and in containers that Janice will use later for education. To the left is the showy bottlebrush buckeye (Aesculus par
viflora) just starting to bloom. While this large shrub will colonize a space (think thicket), it sure offers some solid summer interest out in the garden.
ll. Russ and Del hauled shredded bark all morning and did a nice job mulching many areas near the Parker Education Center. Bob C. and Urban helped water the yard and both moved on to other projects as well. Ron W., Ron B. and Lloyd (new Grumpy) did a nice job tidying up paths which could be a full time job around RBG! Rollie and Dick P. installed a large brick for a dedication today and Rollie moved on to some mulching as well. Stan was working in the Japanese garden as was Karen M. Dick H. helped with a gas run (with Rollie) and assisted where he was needed. Jim, Vern and Bob A. had some projects as well and are currently working on a secret project (to be revealed shortly!). Gary worked on some labels and has a good plan for replacing many of our bench plaques as well. Bill O. was in later to help Dr. Gredler collect some debris from the pond and Dr. Gredler had a full morning of mowing as well. We also saw Dr. Yahr, Rose, Maury, Hal, Corky, Joan, Jean and many others today. Lynn was in the English cottage garden planting and watering too. Directly below is the glowing orange bloom cluster of the 'Orange Appeal' geranium (Pelargonium x hortorum) which is also featured in our orange themed border. Now that is bright!Our 2012 Ornamental Edible & Compact Vegetable Collection (seen above) is a huge success. It's filling in nicely and I've talked to many visitors that are re
ally enjoying the displays and plants in this space. It's still filling in but looking better every day. While most visitors stroll thru the gardens and enjoy each space, we're really seeing everyone pause at this garden to explore with a little more attention to detail. That, to me, makes this garden extremely successful (and educational). To the right is another shot of the barley (Hordeum vulgare) which is one of eight plants that are being featured in our Grains of the World collection. This collection is also replicated at the Rock County Farm and in containers that Janice will use later for education. To the left is the showy bottlebrush buckeye (Aesculus par
viflora) just starting to bloom. While this large shrub will colonize a space (think thicket), it sure offers some solid summer interest out in the garden.I'm glad the grounds staff had a brief respite from the 90 degree F days (for now) and we all enjoyed the weather out in the gardens. Watering, of course, was on everyone's list and we had irrigation, sprinklers and hand watering occuring throughout the entire day. Marv and Terry shifted around many sprinklers and did the mammoth task of fertilizing all of our containers. The guys also started shearing our boxwood (Buxus 'Green Velvet') hedges in the formal gardens. Their new electric shears are pretty nice and the hedges are looking quite nice. Marianne did some major weeding in the North point garden and did a nice job tidying, weeding, planting (filler a
nnuals) and watering the entrance garden in front of the Parker Education Center. She also did her cutting display and consolidated many of our yard plants this morning. Big John had his share of sprinklers to set-up and move around. He also hand-watered, fertilized and did some weedwhipping. Larry pumped out and cleaned up the sunken pool which has had some issues this year with debris and water quality. Larry also kept the irrigation zones running and helped with many other watering challenges. He and John also helped with shifting some benches later in the day. Pat was in to continue his painting on the main building. I hauled plants out this morning and bounced between projects. I am starting to see the proverbial "light at the end of the tunnel" in regards to our annual planting but we still have plenty of work over the next two weeks. To the right is the 'Flower Fiesta' daylily (Hemerocallis) looking nice in our daylily collection. This collection, organized and evaluated by our volunteer Lisa I., is a National Display Garden for the American Hemerocallis Society. Directly below is the 'Happy Hour Peppermint' moss rose (Portulaca) which is one of many varieties blooming strongly in the 2012 Moss Rose Collection (65 varieties). At the bottom are the Chestnut House Volunteers today (great job!) with their art project (leaf). 
nnuals) and watering the entrance garden in front of the Parker Education Center. She also did her cutting display and consolidated many of our yard plants this morning. Big John had his share of sprinklers to set-up and move around. He also hand-watered, fertilized and did some weedwhipping. Larry pumped out and cleaned up the sunken pool which has had some issues this year with debris and water quality. Larry also kept the irrigation zones running and helped with many other watering challenges. He and John also helped with shifting some benches later in the day. Pat was in to continue his painting on the main building. I hauled plants out this morning and bounced between projects. I am starting to see the proverbial "light at the end of the tunnel" in regards to our annual planting but we still have plenty of work over the next two weeks. To the right is the 'Flower Fiesta' daylily (Hemerocallis) looking nice in our daylily collection. This collection, organized and evaluated by our volunteer Lisa I., is a National Display Garden for the American Hemerocallis Society. Directly below is the 'Happy Hour Peppermint' moss rose (Portulaca) which is one of many varieties blooming strongly in the 2012 Moss Rose Collection (65 varieties). At the bottom are the Chestnut House Volunteers today (great job!) with their art project (leaf).
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