Today was a chilly start at around 39 degrees F but I’m pretty sure I saw some very light frost on low turf areas this morning.  The day became sunny and quite beautiful.  With the last of our outdoor weddings this past weekend, we are shifting towards removing our annuals in advance of heavier frosts which make the task a bit more challenging.  Nice shot above with a Lavender Twist® weeping redbud (Cercis canadensis ‘Covey’) with the zig-zag bridge and observation pier in the distance.  Our grounds staff of Big John, Terry, Larry H., Larry O., Cindy, Janice, Bobby K. and myself all had a wide range of duties with significant input in to the set up for our Holiday Light Show (HLS).

fall color of ‘Aconitifolium’ fullmoon maple (Acer japonicum) – woody tree

‘Joy Ride’ crested Japanese painted fern (Athyrium niponicum) – perennial

fall color of our largest redbud (Cercis canadensis) – woody tree

increasingly intense fall color of Firespire™ musclewood (Carpinus caroliniana ‘J.N. Upright’) above and below (woody tree)

Removals in the front entrance garden were the priority today as we have to clear space for our bulb planting project this Saturday (8 am until 12 noon, come on down!).  It’s always a shame to remove annuals that have yet to be compromised by frost but that is likely not too far off and we need to also make room for our Holiday Light Show (HLS) set up.  Our removal crew above and directly below included Kathy, Eva, Ron R., Steve E., Alan and Bob K.  They did a great job!  Some of the plants will be processed for storage and use next year.  Dr. Gredler and Rollie were out doing their mowing while Dick H. made multiple trips to the dump.  Dennis and Garrett continued work on the North path project.  Steve J., Jim, Dave and Vern continued with our indoor projects.  Marv B. tidied up both of his moss areas and Peg was in to work on plant labels.  We also saw Maury and many others today.

Dick H. keeps on truckin’ this time of year!

John and Terry getting lights on the arched bridge

Marv (above) primping his moss

Janice (above) is rinsing off our ‘Bishop of Llandaff’ dahlias for winter storage (dug by Kathy and Eva earlier…)

spotty but beautiful fall color on ‘Mr. Sun’ fullmoon maple (Acer shirasawanum) – woody tree

Italian arum (Arum italicum) sends up fresh foliage in the fall! – perennial

I’ve been quite busy with a wide range of tasks so have become tardy with some blog postings.  This one is from yesterday which was a very productive day.  Nice shot above of our “Gothic theme” in front of the building which will be removed next week because of our bulb planting project (tulips!) in that space next Saturday, October 21st.  We had a great day with grounds staff of Larry O., Larry H., Cindy, Bobby K. and myself.  Volunteers included Ron R., Kathy, Eva, Marilyn, Suzy, Stan, Kristin, Firefighter Cathy, Kay, Jenny, Dr. Gredler, Rollie, Dick H., Jim, Dave, Vern, Steve, Ron Y., Ron P., Maury and many others!  The gardens still are maintaining late color but our shift to Holiday Light Show (HLS) preparations continues!  The Bower City Garden Club had their meeting over at the Horticulture Center which was a lot of fun too!

Quick Fire® panicled hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata ‘Bulk’) – woody shrub

variegated maiden grass (Miscanthus sinensis ‘Variegatus’) – perennial

nice reflection of the arched bridge

fall color on pagoda dogwood (Cornus alternifolia) – woody tree

‘Blazin’ Rose’ bloodleaf (Iresine hybrida) – annual

Suzy (left) and Marilyn

Dr. Gredler (above)

‘Single Apricot Korean’ chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum hybrida) – perennial

no snow yet but the polar bear is ready! (come see the Giant Aquarium!)

Lemon Coral™ stonecrop (Sedum mexicanum) – annual

‘Midnight Fire’ ornamental hot pepper (Capsicum annuum) – annual

We had a nice soaking of rain from last night through this morning.  The 1.5″ that came down steadily was the soaking rain we’ve been waiting for over the last six weeks.  The morning rain kept us inside for plenty of tasks that have accumulated and we ended up with a productive day out in the gardens.  Above is the start of fall color on the black tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica) which should transition to one of the best crimson-red fall colors out there!

Grounds staff included Larry H., Larry O., Bobby K. and me.  We had a wide range of tasks although I caught up with a couple weeks worth of desk work today. Our volunteers included Kathy, Eva, Vern, Steve J., Steve E., Kristin, Stan, Mary Kay, Chuck S. and many others.  We also saw Maryam, Urban and some others.  It was a wet but productive day!

‘Blazin’ Lime’ bloodleaf (Iresine hybrida) – annual

‘Majestic’ elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) – annual

ROYAL HAWAIIAN® ‘Maui Gold’ elephant ear (Colocasia esculenta) – tropical

‘Zahara Sunburst’ zinnia (Zinnia marylandica) – annual

‘Zahara Double Fire’ zinnia (Zinnia marylandica) – annual

nasturtium (Tropaeolum sp.) thriving late in the season – annual

weeping Alaskan cedar (Xanthocyparis nootkatensis ‘Pendula’) – woody conifer

late bloom of one of our un-named trial coneflowers (Echinacea hybrida) – perennial

vivid morning glory (Ipomoea sp.) – annual vine

Steve E. (yesterday) clearing annuals which he continued today in the same area (reception garden)

Larry H. decorating a tricolor European beech (Fagus sylvatica ‘Roseo-Marginata’)

‘Royal Flush’ monkshood (Aconitum carmichaelii) – perennial

New Guinea impatiens (Impatiens hawkeri) are still hanging in there! – annuals

intensifying fall color on Amur maple (Acer ginnala) – woody tree

impressive row of ‘Maurelii’ Abyssinian bananas (Ensete ventricosum) – tropical

I forgot to post this blog from Monday which was a busy day!  Above is Benjamin from Boerner Botanical Gardens (Hales Corners, WI) who visited us to grab some tropicals for use in their garden next year.  We like sharing and enjoyed having Benjamin at the gardens.  We continued work on our Holiday Light Show (HLS) set-up which becomes a continued priority.  We also continue to water although the chance of precipitation this week is pretty good.  Grounds staff on Monday included Terry, Big John, Larry O., Cindy, Larry H. and myself.  Our volunteers included Kathy, Eva, Marleen, Bob K., Marv B., Alan, Lloyd, Dennis, three RECAPPERS, Dr. Gredler, Rollie, Dave T., Vern. Ron Y., Steve and many others.

lots of half gallon milk jug luminaries await their use in the HLS

Marv B. (above) tended both of his moss areas

picturesque Amur maple (Acer ginnala) with start of fall color – woody tree

‘Silver Falls’ Japanese painted fern (Athyrium niponicum) – perennial

‘Ozawa’ ornamental onion (Allium thunbergii) – perennial

the iconic arched bridge

‘Golden Sunshine’ willow (Salix sachalinensis) – woody plant (Olbrich Botanical Garden) – these shots are from Friday

Sunny Knock Out® rose (Rosa ‘Radsunny’) – woody shrub (Olbrich Botanical Gardens)

‘Lady in Black’ calico aster (Aster lateriflorus) – perennial (Olbrich Botanical Garden)

popcorn cassia (Cassia didymobotrya) – tropical (Olbrich Botanical Garden)

neat vignette at Olbrich Botanical Garden

peacock orchids (Gladiolus acidenthera) – tropical (Olbrich Botanical Garden)

‘Golden Arrow’ fleece flower (Persicaria amplexicaulis) – perennial (Olbrich Botanical Garden)

‘September Charm’ Japanese anemone (Anemone x hybrida) – perennial (Olbrich Botanical Garden)

turtlehead (Chelone glabra) – perennial (Olbrich Botanical Garden)

Quick Fire® panicled hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata ‘Bulk’) – woody shrub (Olbrich Botanical Garden)

‘Honorine Jobert’ Japanese anemone (Anemone hybrida) – perennial (Olbrich Botanical Garden)

‘Sinonome’ toadlily (Tricytris hybrida) – perennial

 ROYAL HAWAIIAN® ‘Blue Hawaii’ elephant ear (Colocasia esculenta) – tropical (Olbrich Botanical Garden)

variegated shell ginger (Alpinia zerumbet ‘Variegata’) – tropical (Olbrich Botanical Garden)

orange New Zealand sedge (Carex testacea) – annual (Olbrich Botanical Garden)

On Friday I travelled north with the ultimate destination of the Wisconsin Dells where I was participating in a conference (two presentations later in the afternoon) through Saturday.  I stopped by to check out the Healing Garden at the Dean / St. Mary’s (SSM Health) just down the road from the gardens.  I have visited in the past and remember when it was installed many years ago (5?).  I was pleased to see the great consideration for late season interest with so many asters, ornamental grasses and some very nice seven-son flowers (Heptacodium miconioides) which are featured below.  Janice, Cindy and Larry H. kept everything running smoothly with volunteers on Friday.  My second stop, after viewing this beautiful healing garden, was Olbrich Botanical Gardens (Madison, WI) which was looking exceptional too.

really nice grouping of seven-son flower (Heptacodium miconioides) – large woody shrub / small tree (note labyrinth!)

beautyberry (Callicarpa sp.) – woody shrub