With very dark skies this morning, our work day started at 8 am sharp (although Magda and Ina were planting by 7:45 am!). The forecast had indicated a chance of rain later in the afternoon but we found out by 9:30 am that it would come a bit sooner! We had 27 volunteers come in to help plant today
includin
g five volunteers that were new to the gardens. It was a great crew (see above) and everyone worked
thru the early drizzle and "toughed it out" all morning. We lent out some rain coats but no one retreated. Overall, we planted about 15,000 annuals (very respectable) and targeted the display beds east of the
Rath Center, the beds behind the Parker Education Center (on the terrace) and finished planting in the reception garden. We had to "bounce" around a bit as we don't have all the plants for every area and most areas still have bulbs that we're waiting on to go dormant. Despite all the work I did yesterday laying plants out in advance, the group caught up to me very quickly and I went in to overdrive barely keeping up after break. We had a nice break and I mentioned that we'll be having work days over the next four weekends for planting (also 8 am until noon, meet at the Parker Education Center). I wont remember
everyone's name today but thanks to Dr.
Yahr, Dennis, Luis, Hal, Doris, Margaret, Ina, Val, Jody, Marv, Mike, Sue, Lily, Marti, Frank, Mary, Maggie, Mark, Magda, Big John, Larry, Ron,
Bev, Gary, etc. Special thanks to Janice who was drafted to run the bagged compost sale all morning when our volunteers didn't show. We sold about 100 bags which is pretty good and have one more Saturday left (next Sat. from 8 am until noon). A couple volunteers finished the morning by hoeing up weeds from our future squash collection beds at the Horticulture Center.
There were many visitors out in the gardens this morning including a "double decker" bus tour that came
thru for a tour. We had lots o
f compliments from visitors and despite offering all passersby a trowel to help plant, we didn't have any takers. There were three weddings scheduled for this afternoon and I'm hoping they went well as it actually became sunny after 3 pm today. There were also many proms tonight and I'm sure many came to the gardens for pictures later today. I gardened at home for a co
uple hours after the workday and there was only the occasional mist. Glad the mosquitoes aren't out
en masse yet. To the left are the tropical looking leaves of the perennial Rodger's flower (
Rodgersia podophylla '
Rotlaub') that has tints of maroon to the newest leaves and will send up a creamy flower plume shortly in early summer. Many Rodger's flower varieties are sold for their deep maroon foliage but understand the darkest and best color on these leathery leaves is in spring with a progression to maroon/green in the summer heat. We have many Rodger's flower species and varieties and like them all. Too bad they're not commonly known and planted. The Chicago Botanic Garden has a huge display of them that I ran in to last year in May. To the right is a clump of grape hyacinths (
Muscari armeniacum) still hanging in there although they should be done blooming by next week. We frequently plant (in October) clumps of grape hyacinths between
hostas to offer early color as the
hostas emerge and eventually cover the gaps with their foliage just as the bulbs finish up. These are some good partners. Below is the colorful foliage of the 'Golden Scepter' and 'Grand Prize
hostas respectively.
g five volunteers that were new to the gardens. It was a great crew (see above) and everyone worked thru the early drizzle and "toughed it out" all morning. We lent out some rain coats but no one retreated. Overall, we planted about 15,000 annuals (very respectable) and targeted the display beds east of the Rath Center, the beds behind the Parker Education Center (on the terrace) and finished planting in the reception garden. We had to "bounce" around a bit as we don't have all the plants for every area and most areas still have bulbs that we're waiting on to go dormant. Despite all the work I did yesterday laying plants out in advance, the group caught up to me very quickly and I went in to overdrive barely keeping up after break. We had a nice break and I mentioned that we'll be having work days over the next four weekends for planting (also 8 am until noon, meet at the Parker Education Center). I wont remember everyone's name today but thanks to Dr. Yahr, Dennis, Luis, Hal, Doris, Margaret, Ina, Val, Jody, Marv, Mike, Sue, Lily, Marti, Frank, Mary, Maggie, Mark, Magda, Big John, Larry, Ron, Bev, Gary, etc. Special thanks to Janice who was drafted to run the bagged compost sale all morning when our volunteers didn't show. We sold about 100 bags which is pretty good and have one more Saturday left (next Sat. from 8 am until noon). A couple volunteers finished the morning by hoeing up weeds from our future squash collection beds at the Horticulture Center. 
f compliments from visitors and despite offering all passersby a trowel to help plant, we didn't have any takers. There were three weddings scheduled for this afternoon and I'm hoping they went well as it actually became sunny after 3 pm today. There were also many proms tonight and I'm sure many came to the gardens for pictures later today. I gardened at home for a co
uple hours after the workday and there was only the occasional mist. Glad the mosquitoes aren't out en masse yet. To the left are the tropical looking leaves of the perennial Rodger's flower (Rodgersia podophylla 'Rotlaub') that has tints of maroon to the newest leaves and will send up a creamy flower plume shortly in early summer. Many Rodger's flower varieties are sold for their deep maroon foliage but understand the darkest and best color on these leathery leaves is in spring with a progression to maroon/green in the summer heat. We have many Rodger's flower species and varieties and like them all. Too bad they're not commonly known and planted. The Chicago Botanic Garden has a huge display of them that I ran in to last year in May. To the right is a clump of grape hyacinths (Muscari armeniacum) still hanging in there although they should be done blooming by next week. We frequently plant (in October) clumps of grape hyacinths between hostas to offer early color as the hostas emerge and eventually cover the gaps with their foliage just as the bulbs finish up. These are some good partners. Below is the colorful foliage of the 'Golden Scepter' and 'Grand Prize hostas respectively.
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