11,520 More Plants Arrive

Have you ever wondered what 11,520 plants look like?  Well, double what you see above and that's what I picked up today from one of our growers over in Brodhead, WI.  These were exciting and fruitful trips as the block of plants above are all the varieties (65?) for our Cosmos Collection.  The other load included plants for other collections and displays.  We hope to plant these in the coming days.  The trailer below is quite handy and will be on the road daily over the coming weeks.  I made both plant runs this morning so I can select and haul plants based on collection and the "proximity" to planting time.  In essence, I'm bulking up on plants that we can install over the next two Saturdays (May 24th and May 31st) at our Volunteer Workdays (8 am until 12 noon). 

The grounds staff sure put in their time today.  Big John and Larry helped Bob K. further with his trenching project (see some of the photos further below from yesterday).  This new electrical service will be hooked to a brand new fountain to be installed next week in our small pond.  Funded by a donation, this fountain will be an aesthetic and functional addition to that pond and not only add beauty but will provide some help with water aeration and circulation.  John also worked on rototilling, watering and myriad other projects.  Larry also did some mowing and his usual "morning rounds" to check water features.  Pat finished up his securing of Giant Obelisk #2 and moved on to mowing and edging.  Janice worked on mowing, the cutting display, weed control in the moss garden, watering and other duties.  Cindy had multiple areas to tidy up and moved to major watering in the yard including all the new arrivals from today.  Cheryl did some early watering and focused her attention in the Japanese garden which needed some help.  Aside from my two trips, I'm just trying to keep my head above water and get ready for the next day!  More nice weather on the way though!  We saw a good sized tour come through the gardens as well.  Below are some more recent plant shots from the garden.

'Akebono' barrenwort (Epimedium hybrida)

'Sun King' golden Japanese spikenard (Aralia cordata)

Jacob's ladder (Polemonium reptans) in full bloom

Bob K. above assaulting a tree root

Terry (yesterday) helping with the trenching

 renting a trencher was certainly helpful

We had a great volunteer turnout particularly this morning.  Above is Ron K. who spent most of the morning planting perennials in the woodland walk garden which he has tended for his third year in a row.  He does a nice job for sure!  Kay, Eva and Kathy came in for more weeding and tidying in the entrance garden and Nancy Yahr Memorial Children's Garden.  Dr. Gredler and Bill O. came in for mowing duties and Urban was in for some more pruning.  Mary H. and her daughter Kathy came in for some planting in their assigned garden. We also saw Ray, Dr. Yahr and many others today.  Below are some additional shots from the gardens from yesterday and today.

'Aureola' Japanese Hakone grass (Hakonechloa macra)

'Tiramisu' coral bells (Heuchera)

white bleeding heart (Dicentra spectabilis 'Alba')

'June Fever' plantain lily (Hosta)

I saw this neat bike planter for years just outside of Brodhead, WI (east of town on Hwy 11) and had to get a photo.  I tried to take it for a spin but it was secured quite well.  Neat!