Week 4

I have now been at my internship for 4 weeks and what an experience it has been.

This week Monday I worked with Kerrick. We started off our morning by mowing the perimeter around the wolves while one of our supervisors, Heather, mowed inside with the riding lawn mower. The weeds and grass around the perimeter were 3-4 ft. tall in spots because the area had not been mowed all season since the keepers did not want us to do it until they could get the male wolf inside and he was being stubborn every other day that we were going to mow. After mowing, we pulled weeds in various beds in front of the zoo that the horticulture department is responsible for. Along with pulling the big weeds by hand, we also used a torch to burn the weeds along the rocks and in the cracks around the frog pond. Finally, we ended the day but watering gates ajar.

Tuesday I worked with Kerrick. First, we put up some bamboo fencing around the new gorilla exhibit because people were walking in the flower beds near the exhibit and not only trampling the plants but it was also making the gorillas feel uncomfortable according to the keepers. Then, we did manure mulch in the bird exhibit around the annuals that were planted last week. We also finished putting wood mulch around the perimeter of the edible garden. Finally, we put on some hip waders and got in the frog pond and pulled weeds that were in the cracks of the rocks surrounding the pond.

Wednesday was once again mowing day. Kerrick and I started off by mowing in Como Town. Unfortunately, it started pouring rain along with thunder and lightning while we were still mowing so we ended up going into the greenhouse and helping out in there for a few hours. While in the greenhouse, we trimmed four varieties (Lime, Citrosa, Peppermint, and Old Fashioned Rose). We also trimmed other geraniums that were not scented. In trimming the geraniums, we removed the apical meristems in an attempt to make the plants more bushy and fuller near the bottom rather than continue to grow in height. While in the greenhouse, we also pinched the flowers off of begonias and spread the pots out more in order to allow for the plants to grow bigger which was inhibited when the plants were too close together. After lunch, we went back outside and mowed along the service drive. After we finished mowing, we washed off the mowers and put them away.

Thursday  morning Kerrick and I started off the morning by going onto seal island and mowing the grass and weeds that were on the rocks but first we weed whipped the weeds down because they were about 3ft tall so that the mower would be able to go through more easily. Then, we mowed, touched up the weed whipping around the rocks and finally swept the grass off of the rocks. Then, we finished the mowing in Como Town, in the boulevards near the front of the visitor center, and down by the historic lily pond. After mowing, we washed off the mowers. Finally, we put waders on and continued pulling weeds along the rock wall of the frog pond. We only have a small area left that is not finished which we will do next week.
 
Friday I was the only intern since Kerrick had off and Amanda is working as an attendant since she hurt her back last week. In the morning, I pulled weeds in the beds behind excedra and put down fresh mulch which took most of the day. I also watered gates ajar in the morning and in the afternoon.

The plant of the week is scented geranium. The genus is Pelargonium. They provide a great scent when used outdoors and indoors. Scented geraniums are originally from Africa and migrated to Holland and then England in the 1600s. Now, there are 100 varieties in cultivation. The plants are shrub like and grow to be 18"-3' tall with five petaled flowers that are usually pink, lilac, or white in color. Scented geraniums are perennials in zones 8 and higher but can be used as annuals in other zones. Therefore in Minnesota, scented geraniums are used as annuals. They are typically categorized according to there scent. Plants do well in full sun and well-drained soil of average fertility. Outdoor plants must be dug up and brought into the house before the first frost. Indoor plants only require about four hours of sunlight a day. (Information obtained from Colorado Extension)