Another Day in Paradise

Posted: August 7, 2019 by Mark Dwyer

With some recent rain soaking the garden nicely, the summer color is vivid and at peak right now. We’ve had a very busy couple of weeks since our Home Garden Tour almost a month ago! We finished most of our planting out in the gardens and have had some excellent tours come through the gardens quite recently. On Sunday, July 28th, we had over 80 attendees of the Perennial Plant Association national conference (Chicago) swing out to the gardens as part of a tour (two buses). We continue to fine tune the gardens for our summer visitors and our education programs continue to popular as well. Yesterday, we had another successful Horticulture Therapy Symposium with 60 in attendance. The StoryWalk, Story & Stroll and other programs continue to be a hit as well. Our 30th Anniversary continues to be a very successful year at the gardens. Many thanks, of course, to our excellent volunteers, supporters, members and visitors!

The Wellness Garden (above and top photo) is at summer peak for color

Mike Maddox (above in blue) was part of our successful Horticulture Therapy Symposium on Tuesday (60 participants)

the material above was used for Mike’s group activity (very well received)

Dr. Darcie Olson, Mike Maddox and Laura (RBG) – left to right – Horticulture Therapy Symposium

Some VIPs arrived yesterday from the Chicago Botanic Garden (Janice, Richard and Robert) – left to right

‘First Flame Purple’ plume celosia (*Celosia plumosa*) with ‘Purple Flash’ ornamental hot pepper (*Capsicum annuum*) – above (annuals)

The pollinator theme in the Nancy Yahr Memorial Children’s Garden (above and below) has filled in nicely

‘Lambada’ lemon bergamot (*Monarda hybrida*) – annual (above)

Great Star™ panicled hydrangea (*Hydrangea paniculata* ‘Le Vasterival’) – above

‘Black Magic’ ebony plant (*Pseuderanthemum carruthersii*) – annual (above)

Color Flash® false spirea (*Astilbe* x arendsii ‘Beauty of Ernst’) – perennial (above)

Category: Blog