The Snow Arrives

We had drizzle all weekend which extended through this morning before converting to snow by late morning. We had a nice turnout of Grumpies this morning with some outdoor work occurring before it got too wet outside. Dr. Gredler (above) was sorting bulbs for the trail packs that we send out with our "trail walking" volunteers for the Holiday Lights Show (HLS). Below is Big John pounding stakes for our deer fencing which Bob K. and Maury (second photo down, Maury in red) started installing before it turned really sour. Alan M. went out for leaf collection and Larry H. finished putting protective netting over the last of our yews (Taxus) which are a snack favorite of our local deer population. Gary B. emptied out containers near the Horticulture Center and Bill O. helped Larry get the big snowblower placed on our Grasshopper mower. The outside guys got wet today and three photos down is Bob K. drying his pants! Dave, Vern and Jim worked on carpentry projects with later assistance from Bob K. Del tidied up and painted while Gary made some new signs and organized our signs and labels. We also saw Cheryl, Janice and many others today.

Our white landscape today inspired me to share some white flowers in the blog today. This assortment is serving "double duty" though as all of these flowers are fragrant and will be part of our Smelly Garden theme which returns next spring. The Nancy Yahr Memorial Children's Garden had a Smelly Garden theme in 2011 and 2012 which was so well received, we'll be bringing it back after two straight seasons of having our "Pollinator's Paradise" theme in that garden. The fragrant garden should be lots of fun as we explain why plants have scent and let visitors enjoy the smells of pine, orange, peppermint, vanilla, popcorn and even chocolate out in the gardens. Some of these fragrant annuals only bloom at night. The midnight phlox (Zaluzianskya capensis) seen above is a "night bloomer" and packs an impressive punch with sweet fragrance throughout the evening hours. Below are some other white blooming, fragrant annuals that will be part of our theme next year.