More Fish in the Sea

The photo directly above and two below were shared by Al Utzig of Utzig Carstar Collision Service (Janesville, WI).  Mr Utzig and his business have been a proud sponsor of our Garden Art Project for the past seven years that we’ve had this event.  These photos show some of the fish (30 total) in the spray booth getting a nice sealant applied which will help with garden longevity out at Rotary Botanical Gardens this year (all placed prior to Mother’s Day) and beyond after they are sold at auction (September 8th) and find new homes!  The artwork on these is amazing and we’re excited to host this event and thank Al and his team profusely for their support of the gardens and local art!

Despite the dreary, cloudy and cool day, we had a great turnout of volunteers and Thursdays continue to be one of our most productive days out in the gardens.  Our grounds staff of Cindy, Larry O., Larry H. and Bobby K. all had a wide variety of tasks ranging from weeding to mulching, seed starting, watering, composting, mowing, water feature work, etc.  There is no shortage of tasks this time of year.  I focused on more preparations for our busy May that includes our Spring Plant Sale and the start of our huge planting season.

Dream Catcher™ beautybush (Kolkwitzia amabilis ‘Maradco’) – woody shrub

saucer magnolia (Magnolia x soulangiana) – woody tree

flowers of ‘Bowles Golden’ sedge (Carex elata) – perennial

‘Miranda’ variegated climbing hydrangea (Hydrangea anomola subsp. petiolaris) – woody vine

primrose (Primula sp.) – perhaps P. auricula – unknown ID (but pretty!)

Volunteers like Bob K. (above) had a busy day out in the gardens and at the Horticulture Center.  Bob joined Ron R., Alan, Lloyd and Bob C. to put up a tent right away this morning which will be used for our Earth Day Event this Saturday (10 am – 3 pm).  Bob then removed some stumps and tidied up paths while Lloyd and Bob C. continued mulching near the rose garden.  Ron R. hauled back sections of a cottonwood (Populus deltoides) and Alan shifted to painting and staining in the Horticulture Center.  Kathy and Eva potted up some new plugs in to larger pots and did a nice job mulching near the woodland walk garden.  Dr. Gredler did some mowing and Maury and his wife made a road trip out to a local nursery to pick up our order and bring back some plants for the Spring Plant Sale (see our website).  Jenny was in to mark some hostas and stick more labels for our incoming annuals.  Ron P. continued on his mission of lights repair for the Holiday Light Show (HLS).  Marv, Jim, Vern and Steve J. all had carpentry related projects.  Dick H. ran to the dump and had some other odds and ends as well.  Gary produced more labels for our Heirloom Garden and we also saw Dave G., Ron Y., Maryam, Janice, Fergus and many others today!  It was another excellent day of progress all around!

Dick H. (left…that’s his smile by the way) and Larry O.

Grandma with Fergus

Jenny (above) in her “Labeling Lair”

the beginnings of our “Gothic Theme”…..

‘Mt. Hood’ grape hyacinth (Muscari armeniacum)

fuzzy new growth on oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) – woody shrub

Celandine poppy (Stylophorum diphyllum) – perennial