Post a Comment On: Rotary Botanical Gardens - Hort Blog

[Image] I had a nice walk around today with Mike M. and noted lots of flowers blooming. Directly above and to the lower right are some hellebores (Helleborus orientalis) that have beautiful, albeit downward-facing, blossoms this time of year. It was nice to continue my "reconn[Image]ection" with both the gardens and Mike M. (UWEX Horticulture Educator, Rock County) whom I haven't seen much this winter. We talked about some of our horticulture therapy initiatives and other projects and ideas. I also was checking on the three tasks that were being a[Image]ccomplished by contractors out in the gardens. We had the irrigation guys here today for our spring start-up which included some bad news about expensive, imminent valve replacements this year on our aging system. We also had landscapers working on the North Point garden and in the Japanese garden. I hope the weather is conducive to continuing progress on all of our spring projects although it looks a bit damp later this week. To the left is a bag of the worm castings that we are selling this spring (Saturdays in April and May, 8am-noon). We've not offered this fine product in the past but are excited about using it in the gardens as well as offeri[Image]ng it to the public. I'll blog more tomorrow about this awesome soil amendment that results in increased plant growth and plant health. More later. George, our castings supplier, stopped by today and brought more castings that will be used out in the gardens immediately. To the right is American or wild ginger (Asarum canadense) that has furry leaves that unfold in to nice, heart-shaped leaves on a solid groundcover. Look at the network of above ground stems that will thwart any weeds from trying to compete. Some more rain and increasing temperatures will really make plants explode over the coming weeks. Below is the bright yellow foliage of the golden wood rush (Luzula sylvatica 'Solar Flair') that will soon have new, bright yellow growth and does well in shaded locations, offering a nice punch of color.[Image][Image]Above are the emerging leaves of Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica) in the woodland walk garden. We have Virginia bluebells everywhere and I love the early foliage that will later turn blue-green and [Image]look great with those classic blue dangling "bells." Jenny spent most of the day tidying up the woodland walk garden and Janice was doing the same thing in the azalea/rhododendron garden. Janice uncovered thousands of buried winter aconites (Eranthis hyemalis) including the one to the [Image]left that can be seen with black mondo grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens') which isn't hardy (and actually not a grass at all) but looks like it made it this winter. To the right are Danford irises (Iris danfordiae) in their full glory in the hosta hollow garden. Larry worked with the irrigation guys all day and did his annual "oiling of the locks and gates" around the gardens. Dr. Gredler was in to make some dump runs and we saw Pat here earlier finishing up the last of his sign work for the looming tree sale. Luis was here to continue his woody plant inventory in the Japanese garden. This is one of the toughest gardens to inventory due to topography and lack of[Image] records. We appreciate his efforts with this inventory as his work will eventually result in both an accurate database but also will translate in to new signage (laser engraver). Speaking of the laser engraver, Gary had it humming again today with some woody plant labels. We're waiting on some new labels to arrive but continue our data entry. We had a good Earth Day meeting over here wi[Image]th Kris, Bev, Jumbo Jim and Bev D. We were just finalizing some details (soon to be on our website) prior to the real advertising push for this free event. Mary W. was in to help organize our butterfly information. Sally stopped by with a nice donation of over 150 gardening books for our growing reference library (much appreciated!). We also saw Maury often who was hauling butterflies around (see another new one to the left) to be sealed and returned when complete. The butterflies look awesome but in some cases, the materials utilized will have an impact on how and where we can display these cool projects. To the right is our Japanese "muck stream" that will be totally replaced in the coming weeks. This is the debris (fish poop, etc.) from the koi pond that was recently pumped out of that water feature. It will be nice to have all of our water features operational this year. I'm off to Milwaukee tomorrow morning to speak for a Master Gardener group and will be up in Green Bay this Friday afternoon and Saturday for their big "Spring Thaw" symposium (speaking on "Edibles in Containers"). Below is the arbor in the North Point garden. That compacted gravel pad will soon support our bluestone patio. We've never known a "non-busy" spring and this one is no exception. [Image]