Start Of A Chilly Week

It was a chilly start to the morning with temperatures never reaching 40 degrees F on this overcast day. The rest of the week looks wet and chilly too after a 70 degree day yesterday. There is plenty of color out in the gardens like the 'Grape Galaxy' hellebore (Helleborus) seen above. Many of our earliest spring blooming bulbs are peaking or past peak and we're seeing a transition to the daffodils (Narcissus) right now. Our grounds staff started back officially today and everyone hit the ground running. We have an aggressive spring planned and it was nice to accomplish so much today with both staff and volunteers. I'm back on track to include "photos of the day" in the majority of these blog postings over the next 5-6 months.

'Golden Lotus' hellebore (Helleborus) - perennial

hellebore (Helleborus purpurascens) - perennial

'Green Gambler' hellebore (Helleborus) - perennial

'Pink Surprise' grape hyacinth (Muscari) - perennial

'Katharine Hodgkin' reticulated iris hybrid (Iris hybrida) - perennial

It was a solid turnout of volunteers today. We had busy crews out in the gardens and inside at the Horticulture Center. The volunteer photos all have additional text. Peg (above) tidied in the Scottish garden while Cheryl D. focused on the sunken garden. Kathy and Eva tidied in the woodland walk garden and later moved on to the fern & moss garden. I got the message that they found two "broken trees" in that garden and later went down to see the remains of two trees that a beaver(s) found (see further below). Lloyd worked on more mulching in the main parking lot. Marv B. was handy with our end loader in removing former elements of the Jungle Garden theme. Dr. Gredler and Alan painted while Vern, Jim and Dave focused on more carpentry projects. Bob C. and Gene continued sanding and staining benches while Ron Y. worked on priming some new chairs. Dick H. ran to the dump, picked up fuel and helped here and there. Gary worked on sign/label production while Maury ran errands. We also saw Rollie, Marsha M. and many others today.

I neglected to take many photos of our photogenic grounds staff today but they continue to impress. Cindy and Larry H. processed some gardening items and later went out to work in different garden areas. Cindy continued clean-up efforts while Larry H. helped Marv with relocating our "Giant Rulers." Larry also worked on a lot of mulching. Big John and Terry brought our Abyssinian bananas (Ensete ventricosum 'Maurellii) from the 'banana babysitter' (see further below) and moved on to getting chairs back in place and myriad other tasks. Bobby K. helped disconnect some of our last major cords from the Holiday Light Show (HLS). I was able to get out in the gardens quite a bit but my desk work regarding spring priorities calls me back often.