Continuation of Color

The photo at the top of the blog shows a view through the reception garden towards the archway leading to the sunken garden.  This archway is from the old Parker Pen World Headquarters, originally located here in Janesville, WI.  This beautiful portal is on loan from the Rock County Historical Society.  Directly above is a nice shot in our Wellness Garden this morning which continues to look exceptional with some rich coloration.  It was a bit warmer today but still a beautiful day of sunshine and warmth.  While the gardens are past peak for summer color, they certainly aren’t lacking in color as was mentioned by a tour of Master Gardeners that came through the gardens today.  We continue to extend color as best we can throughout the gardens but are also shifting more in to our Holiday Light Show (HLS) preparation and set-up mode.  Our grounds staff of Big John, Terry, Larry H., Alex, Janice and I all had multiple duties including HLS work, watering, post plant sale tasks, etc.  We had a great turnout of volunteers again which included our Green Side Up Volunteers (formerly the Chestnut House),  Kathy P., Eva, Bonnie, Marilyn, Lisa I., Kay, Ron R., Alan M., Bob K., Dick P., Dick H., Ron Y., Dave, Vern, Steve J., Dr. Gredler, Rollie and many others.  We had a bumper crop of great help on a beautiful day. As the wedding season finishes over the coming weeks, we still hope to encourage visitation for late season interest and the transformation for the HLS will be swift and readily apparent!

‘Hot Biscuits’ amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus) hanging out with ‘Golden Delicious’ pineapple sage (Salvia elegans) – both annuals

‘Black & Blue’ anise sage (Salvia guaranitica) – annual (great for hummingbirds)

‘Ping Pong White’ globe amaranth (Gomphrena globosa) amongst friends this morning in the Wellness Garden

the Wellness Garden (above) this morning

raised bed in the Wellness Garden (above)

new brick pillar for dedication plaque (Wellness Garden)

vignette of annuals in the Wellness Garden this morning (above)

‘St. Louis’ Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) – perennial

‘Little Henry’ sweet coneflower (Rudbeckia subtomentosa) – perennial

stiff goldenrod (Solidago rigida) – perennial

‘Summer Storm’ hibiscus (Hibiscus hybrida) – perennial

‘Gold Rush’ weigela (Weigela florida) – woody plant

“LED Larry” can be seen above working his Holiday Light Show kung fu with daily set up progress!

the mosses continue to thrive throughout the gardens

‘Sweet Caroline Red’ sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batatas) – annual

fall color is just starting on our Tiger Eyes® staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina ‘Bailtiger’) above – woody plant