Overcast With A Smidge Of Rain

We had a light drizzle thru most of the morning today that started last night. It was nice to get at least some precipitation but it wasn't real significant. We continued to run irrigation around the gardens today to keep things damp in advance of the looming heat wave arriving Sunday and Monday. Nice shot above of the 'Red Fox' katsura tree (Cercidiphyllum japonicum 'Rotfuchs') with it's burgundy spring foliage that will turn more green thru the summer. This variety is a deep maroon though for a good three weeks in early May. Katsura trees are tough with very few insect and disease problems. We have one of these varieties in the ground currently but purchased another today! Nice shot to the left of 'White Dove' hosta in the woodland walk garden.


We had a small crew today but were able to get ready for our planting workday and plant sale clearance (both tomorrow). Terry and I picked up perennials (The Flower Factory) and conifers (Stonewall Nursery) today and we'll have another 4-5 runs next week to keep the flow coming in to the yard. Marianne helped run plants out for our planting tomorrow, did her cutting display and prepared for the sale tomorrow that she will coordinate while Janice and I work with the volunteers. Marv worked on running irrigation, edging, getting the koi pond filled and ready, etc. Terry joined him later and we had Little Jerry mowing the arboretum today. Janice worked on various projects and is getting ready to plant her cucumber and gourd seeds tomorrow after the work day. Dr. Gredler was here mowing and we also saw Vern, Deb G., Pam, Maury, Kay and others. To the right is our "Hakone Grass Wall" which was planted years ago with little plugs of golden Hakone grass (Hakonechloa macra 'All Gold') that is a wonderful cascading, shade tolerant gap. I can't wait to see this wall each year as it gets "softer" with the grasses filling in more space as time progresses. Below is the "late to emerge" foliage of bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) which is always nice to see and will turn a nice shade of yellow in October and drop (being a deciduous conifer). I saw some neat bald cypress at the Chicago Botanic Garden and noticed they had formed the "knees". The ones up at Olbrich (Madison) also have "knees" and there is still lots of debate and theories regarding their function (support, air exchange, both?...).The image below the bald cypress is one of my favorite smaller ornamental trees. This is the Gold Bullion (TM) pagoda dogwood tree (Cornus alternifolia 'Bachone') that is a native species with the twist of having bright gold foliage. Found and introduced by Kris Bachtell of The Morton Arboretum, this understory tree looks great along woodland edges and the natural "tiered" form looks dynamite, particulary when blooming. The shot below is mine at home but we have 4 or 5 out on the grounds as well. The bottom photo is a sweet shot thru the fern & moss garden to the Ma' Chii'. The tree peonies (Paeonia suffruticosa) look great this year.