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Today was another beautiful one out in the gardens (as seen above in the gazebo garden with a view to the distant arched bridge).  We had lots of visitors today including a bus load of folks from Slinger, WI.  We also had some VIPs from the Chicago Botanic Garden visit late this morning.  Richard Hawke (centered below) came with Janice and Nat to tour the gardens and we spent a good two hours out there enjoying the color.  We continue to water all over the gardens and are constantly thankful for our irrigation system which John has kept running daily for over two weeks.  We had an excellent turnout of volunteers today and a lot of work was accomplished throughout the day.

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[Image]  Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) in the Thomas Jefferson Collection [Image]  'Blue Boy' bachelor's buttons (Centaurea cyanus) - annual [Image]  'Dancing Girls' zinnia (Zinnia elegans) - annual [Image]  resurrection lily (Lycoris squamigera) [Image]  'Pure Joy' stonecrop (Sedum sp.) - perennial [Image]
Our volunteers were excellent as usual.  Larry H. (above) helped with hand watering all morning which we really appreciate!  Directly below are Ron R. (left) and Ron P. before they headed out for more air edging around various beds.  The guys do a nice job.  Bob C. and Gary B. were out weeding and mulching tree circles near our main parking lot.  Dick H. worked on some equipment repairs and ran some loads to the dump.  The second photo down shows Jim (left) and Dave relaxing before jumping in to various carpentry projects.  The next couple of photos down show our mobile weeding team of Eva, Peg, Bonnie, Vera and Marilyn.  They did a great job weeding in the entrance garden and removing spent annuals that are just starting to fail here and there.  Mary D. came in for some weeding tasks in the Japanese garden and later helped the ladies out front.  She is an excellent gardener for sure!  Stan, Karen and some additional helpers were out in the Japanese garden tidying up today as we have a wedding out there on Sunday.  Mary Ann worked with Janice in the Thomas Jefferson Collection.  Pat M. was in for some projects and Dr. Gredler did quite a bit of mowing.

[Image]  Ron R. (left) and Ron P. [Image]  Jim (left) and Dave (sizing up donuts..) [Image]  Marilyn (above left) [Image]  Bonnie [Image]  Peg [Image]  Eva [Image]  Vera [Image]  Mary Ann in the Thomas Jefferson Collection [Image]  'Rainbow Loveliness' fragrant pinks (Dianthus hybrida) - annual [Image]  peacock orchid (Acidenthera bicolor var. murielae) - annual [Image]  'Cranberry Cupcake' coneflower (Echinacea hybrida) - perennial [Image]
The grounds staff had a very busy day with plenty of watering included throughout the day as well.  Nice shot above of 'Cherry Brandy' gloriosa daisy (Rudbeckia hirta).  Janice helped coordinate the morning volunteers and spent time in the Thomas Jefferson Collection before bouncing around between various watering duties including some containers.  Big John had irrigation running all day, set up and shifted sprinklers, watered containers and had plenty of other odd jobs.  Nolan worked on watering as well and had a good sized turf repair project in the Smelly Garden.  I was out in the gardens for various purposes including my tour.  I'm working on preparations for our Gardening As Therapy Symposium which will be next Tuesday, August 11th at the Parker Education Center.

[Image]  'Oompah' coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides) - annual [Image] snail flower vine (Vigna caracalla) - annual [Image]  'Freckles' coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides) - annual [Image]  flower of 'Carmencita Pink' castor bean (Ricinus communis) - annual [Image] 'Dark Opal' basil (Ocimum basilicum) - annual