This Weather Is On Borrowed Time!

One of my favorite "bench quotes" out in the garden is above. We had another mild day and accomplished a wide range of tasks. The Grumpies had another great turnout and we had Charlie, Roger and Mike scraping up old mulch from the rose garden with John, Rollie, Gary, Dick P and Dick H. all working on pounding stakes to create some temporary deer fencing around our tasty arborvitae hedges. I wish we had done this over the past couple of years. Ron W. and Dick K. helped decorate arches for our lights show (see below). Ron came back with his wife Bev and continued on the arches. We appreciate their effort and hard work (see them two shots below...). Ron B. and Bob C. worked on woodchipping and cutting back daylilies. Urban and Rose were here for pruning and painting and all the carpenters (Del, Dave, Bob A., Jim and Vern) were all here today as well.Marv and Terry continued putting up displays and string lights around the gardens. Marianne and Janice started with tulip planting in the English cottage garden then Marianne moved to string cords and Janice continued bulb planting and general gardening. Jumbo Jim brought in four RECAPPERS that helped plant bulbs and collect leaves. Little Jerry continued to cut back shrubs and Dr. Gredler ran more loads to the dump and continued collecting/mulching leaves out in the turf areas. Larry was a big help with lights set up and all I did today was run cords.

There is still lots of interest out in the gardens despite most of the perennials being cut down. See 'Rave On' coral bells (Heuchera) to the above left. The ornamental grasses are really looking nice including the tall purple moor grass (Molinia caerulea subsp. arundinacea 'Transparent') that starts to yellow up and is a nice grass (see to right) for "transparency" (pun intended). These grasses, while tall, allow for a view thru them as evidenced in the picture. Most of the foliage is in the lower third of the plant with the inflorescences extending well above that to 7' or so. I love all Molinias and we're happy to include many here at the gardens. Speaking of puns, it's a nice time of year for reflection. See below. Get it? "Reflection".