The Transition to Summer

Today involved more progress towards preparing for our summer visitors. While we still have some late spring bulbs blooming like ornamental onions (Allium), our transition from spring displays to summer color continues with more clearing of beds, planting of annuals and other improvements. Our hanging baskets, like the one above featuring trailing begonia (Begonia boliviensis), our filling in as well. It ended up being a warm day but not uncomfortable. We had another excellent turnout of volunteers and our grounds staff had a busy day was well. All the photos in this blog were taken throughout the day.

peonies (Paeonia) are past peak but this white variety still looks great

'Glow Select Blue Stardust' petunia (Petunia) - annual

sea kale (Crambe maritima) in the Thomas Jefferson Collection - perennial

'Misty Lace' hybrida goatsbeard (Aruncus hybrida) - perennial

'Triple Play' variegated phlox (Phlox glabberina subsp. triflora) - perennial

Another full parking lot at the Horticulture Center was evidence of a very busy day. Above are Vern (driving) and Ron Y. heading out to look at some projects. It's hard to see but their shirts say WE ARE THE GRUMPIES on the back! It was amazing how many volunteers came in today and the impact was immediate. Shirley (directly below) weeded in the woodland glen garden and Scottish garden. Eva and Kathy did a great job weeding near the rose garden. Ron R. and Lloyd (second photo down, Ron to the left) did a nice job clearing ornamental onion (Allium) foliage near Palmer Drive (our frontage road). The third photo down shows Vern (left, with his tough look) and Ron Y. securing the last two of our "Nature Nooks" which is the 2015 Garden Art Project. Pat M. can be seen in the next photo down with a neat contraption he designed which will help us "un-spool" lights for the Holiday Lights Show this fall (which isn't that far away!). The fifth photo down shows Rich (left) and Bob C. sitting down on the job. However, they did a great job repairing our potholes along the main gravel road. The next photo down shows Dave and Jim (driving) in the gazebo garden where they repaired the split rail fence. The guys also sized up other carpentry projects and had help from Bob K and Dick H. Dick also ran to the dump many times and did some welding. Maury ran many errands for us and Gary S. and Bev D. worked on labels. Alan M. is seen in the seventh photo down where he saved the day again by watering our entire yard (takes almost three hours for one person!). Dr. Gredler and Maury came in for mowing and Jumbo Jim was in later with five RECAPPERS. The guys focused their efforts in the Japanese garden and near vicinity. Vicky O. continued planting in the reception garden and Jenny E. worked on mapping the Hosta Hollow garden. We also saw El, Art, Dr. Yahr and many others today (apologies to those I forgot!).

The grounds staff had a busy day. John ran irrigation, removed a tree, weeded, rototilled and literally bounced between a dozen projects. Terry also had watering, shearing and did a great job preparing our water plants for installation. Cindy weeded, watered and started the planting in the Smelly Garden theme in the Nancy Yahr Memorial Children's Garden. All of the staff had myriad other projects and were a great team today. I placed plants for installation, made a trip to pick up plants and had afternoon meetings. Back to the grind tomorrow! :) More photos from the gardens can be seen below....