Weekend Preparations

The weather was perfect today with sunshine and temperatures reaching the mid 70 degrees F. The nice weather brought plenty of visitors in to the gardens today too and there was plenty to enjoy like the hybrid magnolia (Magnolia tripetala x sieboldii) seen above which is always quite striking. The grounds staff (Big John, Janice, Terry and I) had lots of duties related to getting ready for the weekend. Grounds duties included mowing, planting, watering and lots of work getting ready for some help tomorrow. With five weddings over the weekend and a Volunteer Work Day tomorrow (8 am - 12 noon!), we'll see a lot of people around the gardens and visitation should be strong as well. Below is some additional color from today.

creeping double buttercup (Ranunculus repens 'Pleniflorus') - perennial

wood hyacinth (Hyacinthoides hispanica - blue form)

'Concordia' golden English oak (Quercus robur)

meadow rue (Thalictrum aquilegifolium 'Alba') - perennial

'Purple Sensation' ornamental onion (Allium sp.)

'Popcorn' doublefile viburnum (Viburnum plicatum f. plicatum) above and below

We again had some great volunteer help today. I was busy running plants around and had a trip to pick up plants so was remiss in my daily volunteer photography. I did catch Kay (above) who was working in her assigned garden area in the shade garden which looks dynamite! Kathy and Eva spent their time tidying around the gazebo garden for the weddings this weekend. Rollie and Bill O. were out mowing before the busy weekend. Dr. Gredler came in for painting and Mary H. stopped by to size up plants for her area. Mary W. and Shirley C. did a nice job working on some of our trial garden beds which received some edging and significant weeding as well. Cookie and Resa tidied up the North point garden which is their assigned garden. We also saw Marsha M. and many others. More color below!