Today we introduced new volunteer Jerry Freedman to the Tuesday Crew. It was a large group today with 11 of us working; Jerry joined Beverly Kemmerling, Dale Harshberger, Irene Rowland, Katie Shank, Daryl Stutley, Kayli O’Hara Vest, Nancy Taylor Walker, Janet Wall, Ann Wright, and me. Jim Cyr joined us toward the end of the morning and we joined him to place cobbles along paths where he had dug out trenches to better assure the cobbles stay in place once placed.
But that came later in the morning. First we headed down toward Lillian’s Meadow and trimmed the dead from the native penstemons and dug out sprouting matilija poppies from the gravel path. The latter is a job that will have to be repeated periodically given the depth of the rhizomes that will undoubtedly resprout.
Ann, Jerry, me and Dale with Janet in the background removing dead from the penstemons:
Janet and Jerry digging out poppies from the edge of the path:
When we got to Lillian’s Meadow, we deadheaded some of the grasses. On the way to the main entrance, we pointed out some of the interesting natives to the newer volunteers. Then on the way back to the service area we happened upon a seedling CA buckeye:
It is located across and slightly up hill from the “wishing well” kiosk. To protect it, we should probably cage and label it. As someone said this morning, thank you to the squirrel or bird that left that seed!
Once back at the service area, Jim asked if we had time to lay some cobbles, so we headed in that direction.
Yours Truly and Jim separating the wire cage from the wooden pallet. Jim felt it would be easier and safer to do that than to cut the cage with wire cutters:
Shot showing the trenching Jim did to receive the cobbles:
Ann, Kayli and me finishing up that stretch toward the service area; we then moved to the other end of the main trail trough the Trail of Trees where we finished another small section:
Before leaving, Jim chauffeured me up to the Desert Garden where we saw the Old Man of the Andes cactus in bloom. Not showy, but unusual and not often seen. Only a couple seem to bloom at all:
Also at the top of the hill under one of the two chitapa trees was this flush of bloom of daffodils and paper whites:
Finally, a plant that really should be in the S. African section but is located in the NE corner of the first 4-corners. Freesia (below):
I believe it is the only one in the garden; at least I’ve never seen another.
Many thanks to Beverly, Daryl, Nancy and Janet for their images!
Enjoy the garden….KMM