Fantastic Friday

It was another beautiful day and while we enjoyed the sunshine and heat, the importance of watering became more evident today as it begins to dry up again. We ran some sprinklers throughout the day and did quite a bit of hand watering. Areas in the shade are still damp but keeping up with areas in full sun will become challenging unless we get the rain predicted on Saturday night. The gardens are showing more color each day. Above is one of our many varieties of breadseed poppies (Papaver somniferum) in the English cottage garden which is also peaking with a wide range of delphiniums (Delphinium sp.) seen directly below. That is certainly a colorful space although the gardens continue to get more exciting everywhere as all the seasonal color fills in over the coming weeks.

delphinium (Delphinium sp.)

'Ringsabell Mulberry Rose' hybrid bellflower (Campanula hybrida) - perennial

ornamental onion (Allium giganteum) - perennial

'Pink Octopus' bellflower (Campanula hybrida) - perennial

Above is Mark S. who is our RBG maintenance man. I rarely am able to photograph him but he insisted today. Mark is a huge help at the main building and does a great job with his many responsibilities. Our volunteer turnout was excellent today. Below are Kathy (left) and Eva planting the Janesville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau sign over in Palmer Park. We do this every year but the ladies started this after two hours of solid weeding with Shirley in the woodland glen garden. The second photo down shows the "fearsome foursome" of (left to right) Joan, Corky, Bob and Bev. These veteran volunteers did a great job tidying around the Horticulture Center beds. The fourth photo down shows Kay and Marty, both of whom planted. Kay also tidied up her area and helped weed in the sunken garden as well. Cora came in to plant containers and Paula and Emily were also in for planting. Big Jim and the RECAPPERS worked on a wide range of projects and Bill O. did his mowing rounds. Pat M. helped water the yard this morning. Chuck S. came in to give a cart tour and Maury stopped by as well. I think Jan R. was in to work in the Scottish garden and we saw quite a few Janesville Area Herb Society members as well out in the gardens. Below is some of the volunteer action in evidence today.

The grounds staff had a busy day as well. Janice (half day) worked on planting, watering, the cutting display and other tasks Big John (half day) fertilized, watered and did myriad other tasks. Cindy did quite a bit of fertilizing as well, watered containers, planted and touched up the yard later. Terry set up sprinklers, pruned, watered and also bounced around quite a bit. Nolan (half day) finished weedwhipping and continued to cut back bulb foliage in the Potter Daylily Collection. Trevor push mowed and did a lot of watering in many locations around the gardens. I primarily hauled plants today and helped direct volunteer efforts. With six weddings over the next two days, it will be busy out in the gardens!