Peak Color Continues

 

Above is one of my better photos (taken this morning) of the All-America Selections (AAS) Display Garden which features our "Pollinator's Paradise" theme in the Nancy Yahr Memorial Children's Garden.  This garden is truly at peak and is being enjoyed by our visitors immensely.  With this collection entered in the Landscape Design competition by AAS, we'll be submitting more photos and information soon in pursuit of our three-peat victory after winning 1st place in 2012 and 2013.  Further below are some other garden shots from this busy morning which included lots of staff and volunteer activity out in the gardens.  We continue to prepare for the upcoming Fall Plant Sale but have a full month of heavy visitation to accommodate and prepare for daily.  Some more rain would be nice too!!!

 

formal annual sections

sunken garden

a portion of the Jungle Garden

the Thomas Jefferson Collection is at peak too!

We had a great turnout of Grumpies today and two Grumpettes.  Above is Del peeling label stickers which is a never ending chore.  Below is Pat M. mulching near the gazebo garden.  Pat had many other projects as well.  Ron Y., Jim, Vern and Bob K. worked on finishing up our obelisks (for sale!) and other carpentry projects.  Dr. Gredler did his mowing rounds and Bill O. was in for some odds and ends.  Bob C. (second photo down) watered the Thomas Jefferson Collection and helped with some edging later in the morning.  Gary S. also helped with this edging project (fifth photo down, to the left) and helped Big John finish up.  Maury worked on our gutter repairs at the Horticulture Center and ran errands.  The third photo down shows Shirley who was a weeding whirlwind in three different garden areas.  Eva spent her time targeting weeds in the gazebo garden.  The fourth photo down shows Ron R. (left) and Gary B. mulching around the arborvitae (Thuja sp.) hedges surrounding the sunken garden.  Lisa I. came in to check on the daylilies after the dividing project yesterday (see bottom photos and caption) and we also saw Dr. Yahr, Bev D., Marsha M., Urban and many others today. 

Above is Big John (left) working on an edging project with Gary and Bob C. (off camera).  John also had hedge shearing with Terry, watering, mulching and many other projects.  Terry can be seen below edging around the sunken garden.  Terry also set up sprinklers, trimmed juniper hedges, watered containers and had no shortage of tasks.  Cindy planted, watered and continued focusing her efforts in the Nancy Yahr Memorial Children's Garden.  Larry had some serious weedwhipping duties along a weedy shoreline  He and John also ran irrigation.  I was able to tour the gardens and am continuing preparations for the Fall Plant Sale and other looming tasks.  Further below are some flower shots from today.

'Illumination Flame' hybrid foxglove (xDigiplexis) - annual featured in our American Garden Award (AGA) display and competition

'David Howard' dahlia (Dahlia sp.) - annual

'Black Coral' Royal Hawaiian elephant ear (Colocasia esculenta) - tropical

Cascadias 'Fantasy Hot Pink' petunia (Petunia) - annual

 

The crew from L.P. Tree Service (Janesville, WI) seen above, forced me to deal with my fear of heights by briefly lending us their bucket truck for some photos of the "Pollinator's Paradise" (seen below).  The perspective was both enjoyable and frightening!  Nice shot(s) though.  Thanks L.P.!  I also have a greater appreciation for the L.P. staff when they use these bucket trucks to hang lights for our upcoming Holiday Lights Show (HLS)! 

 



On Sunday, Lisa I. coordinated daylily (Hemerocallis) divisions from our collection with the help of four RBG volunteers and four others from the Wisconsin Daylily Society.  Big John also helped them get organized and special thanks to Lisa and everyone involved with this process (seen above and below, photo below from Lisa I.)