Frantic Fridays Again

It was very busy today so I didn't get to take many pictures but did catch some nice shots. The top picture was taken from the underside of the leaf of our variegated Norway maple (Acer platanoides 'Drummondii'). Also called the harlequin maple, the unfortunate problem with this tree is that that leaves sometimes get sunscald in our hot, dry summers and get browinish on the light leaf margins. This variety also has green stemmed reversions that we try to keep pruned out. Note the artful play of leaf shadows from above on that leaf....The picture directly above features the blooms of the 'Home Fires' creeping (10" tall) woodland phlox (Phlox stolonifera) in the woodland walk garden. We have a couple of good patches and the clean pink flowers caught my eye as I trotted by this morning. It was a crazy day today and reaffirmed my already acknowledged lack of being in peak physical gardening form after a long winter behind the computer. It was nice to be outside though and the weather was perfect. To the left is the nice golden foliage of 'May' hosta which really becomes a beacon out in the garden. To the right is a close-up of the blooms of the 'Heaven Scent' Jacob's ladder (Polemonium hybrida) with sky blue blossoms and a long bloom period. We have dabbled extensively with Jacob's ladders (Polemonium sp.) and enjoy them all.

Fridays typically involve a pattern of activities that relate to getting the gardens primped for Saturday weddings and weekend visitors in general. However, there are, on occasion, Friday weddings that require some major flexibility and some shifting of duties. It was busy for both our grounds staff and volunteers although that is pretty typical for Fridays. Marianne did a nice job cleaning up the gazebo garden for the wedding this afternoon and worked on her cutting display and continued weeding the entrance garden. Marv (directly below) and Terry moved our "satellite shed" from down the back road and tucked it in a nice spot behind some spruces (Picea) in the entrance garden. This shed has tools, carts and other supplies for volunteers that typically work on that end of the gardens and has always been convenient for many. Users include the Janesville Area Herb Society volunteers, Dr. Yahr, Karen, Iza, Rose, Werner, etc. The previous location was ill-suited after all the developments in the North Point garden as it became visually obtrusive. The guys did a nice job and Marv moved on to unloading compost (two more Saturdays of our compost sale, 8 am - noon), watering and put down a nice gravel path to the new shed. Terry helped with some of this but also mowed and planted six good-sized shrubs. Janice was in to mow and accomplished most of her first round application of SLUGGO around the hostas. We get horrible slug damage on our hostas and members from the WI Hosta Society have recommended SLUGGO for years which has been very effective. Janice will spread this around all of our hostas three or four times each year (every four weeks...). I was pleased with our volunteer turnout today and we were able to put quite a few plants in the ground. Ron and Bev came in bright and early and did a nice job planting all morning long. Above is Bev (left center) finishing the last of a large bed of tropicals (just in time for the wedding!) and in the distance (top right of image) are Marianne and Ron removing grass from the patio cracks. I had hoped to spray many areas recently with herbicide but we've had these threats of rain that never come to fruition. With our first work day tomorrow (8 am - noon), I hope the threat of rain for tomorrow holds of until after we're done. I set out about 10,000 annuals and am ready for more depending on our turnout. I'm hoping for 25 but we'll see how it goes. Little Jerry came in to mow and also did some clean-up for us. He was here all day and was very helpful. Dr. Gredler was also in to mow and both Urban and Rose came in for some painting projects. Kay did a nice job planting in the reception garden and joined Ron and Bev later in the morning for planting in a new area. Shirley worked her weeding magic in the color rooms garden and we appreciate how thorough she is with every project. We also saw Maury, Mary, Vern, Bill, Bradford, Julie G., Gary and others. To the left is another quamash (Camassia cusickii) in full bloom. This fall planted bulb sends up gorgeous spring flowers and is also called wild hyacinth (actually in the hyacinth family). Most of our quamash are a deeper blue but this species is a very light, powdery blue. All quamash like consistently damp soils (will tolerate clay) and will only perennialize in such soils. Native Americans (in the Pacific Northwest) used quamash as a food source (edible bulbs). Below is a diminuitive tulip (Tulipa 'Little Beauty') poking up (only 6"!) amongst some coral bells (Heuchera). The bottom photo shows some clusters of yellow "bouquet-type" tulips dwarfed by the increasing large and subtropical looking ornamental mustard (Brassica juncea 'Brazen Brass') leaf. We've had SO many compliments regarding the mustard out in the gardens and in containers. Next year we'll be doing lots of neat things with early greens...