Pink Theme At Peak

"Pink is not just a color, it's an attitude!" Miley Cyrus. Never thought I'd quote Miley Cyrus... The pink theme throughout the entrance garden and terrace garden has now reached peak color! We've been able to keep this vast planting weeded and watered and are happy to see it fill in so nicely with a blend of flowers and foliage. I've already been asked about the color theme for 2015 but that is top secret information. We'll continue to enjoy this planting until frost. It was a busy day at the garden with a tour and our ever popular Story and Stroll program. It's always nice to see the gardens busy and seeing so many kids is nice as we hope they enjoy their experience and become our future volunteers, members, supporters, donors and marketing agents! As is typical, we had a great day with staff and volunteer tasks being accomplished in short order throughout this beautiful, 80 degree F day. See below for more pink....

'Gazebo Pink' cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus) - annual

I was remiss with photographs today of our wonderful volunteers but was able to capture Patrea (above) and Kay (below) working in the reception garden where they made quick work of the next generation of weeds. Kathy and Eva finished weeding the Potter Daylily Collection which was a four day project that they took very seriously. Stan was out pruning and tidying in the Japanese garden and Dr. Gredler came in for his mowing duties. Karen M. was also doing a nice job of tidying the Japanese garden. Gena, Myrt and Mary came in and did a very nice job weeding in the alpine garden which really needed that attention today. Art was in to give a cart tour for guests and Maury ran errands for us. Marv and Marianne were in to weed and tidy both moss areas (Japanese garden and fern & moss garden) and they are looking excellent. We also saw Dick H., Dr. Yahr, Urban and many others today. The second photo down shows the grounds staff from UW-Whitewater who came for a tour this morning. What a great group and we all "talked shop". The gentleman in the orange shirt (second from right, back row) is Chuck, one of our super volunteers and a member of that UW-Whitewater staff.

The grounds staff had myriad tasks today although watering was again, not a huge priority with our recent rains keeping the gardens damp. We did some container watering and spot watering as needed though. Above is Terry working on shearing a Diabolo ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius 'Monlo') in front of the Rath Environmental Center. Terry had other shearing duties including working again on the large juniper (Juniperus chinensis 'Fairview') hedges in the reception garden with John. John also had some path work, tree and shrub removals and some container watering. Cindy (half day) did a nice job pinching back coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides), weeding and continues to tidy in the "Pollinator's Paradise." Pat (half day) worked on weeding, mulching near the gazebo and some path edging near the observation pier. Cheryl had multiple areas to weed and did some yard watering as well. Aside from my tour, I continue to prepare for the Fall Plant Sale and never seem to get to the bottom of my "IN BOX." Below are more fun photos from today.

'Black and Blue' anise sage (Salvia guaranitica) - annual

'Maurelii' red Abyssinian banana (Ensete ventricosum) - back-side of leaf - tropical

fruit cluster of arrowwood viburnum (Viburnum dentatum) - woody shrub

a segment of the Jungle Garden with 'Thailand Giant' elephant ears (Colocasia gigantea), 'Carmencita Red' castor bean (Ricinus communis), etc.