Monday morning Kerrick and I started off by watering the intern bed, palm lot entrance bed, double sidewalk, welcome sign bed, visitor center pots, enchanted garden, excedra bed, and historic entrance pots. We also went down to gates ajar and watered and pulled some weeds. Next, we pulled some weeds along the outside of the fence by the edible garden. Then, we met up with Scott and shaped Salix purpurea purpleosier willow bushes. After that, we went down to the mulch pile by the golf course which had been pushed back and cleaned up the area surrounding the mulch pile to prepare it for seeding. After that, we pulled out larger weeds under the pine trees. Next, we used a pole saw and cut low branches as well as dead branches off of the linden trees up front using a three point cut. We cut from the bottom for a short distance. Then, we cut closer to the branch end from the top. This would cause the branch to fall. Some bark peeling occurred, but it would stop at the place where the bottom cut had been made. Finally, the rest of the branch would be cut off where it intersected with the trunk or another branch, but the bark would not peel because the weight has been released by the original cuts. Finally, we helped Scott to load the branches into the dump truck which he would then take to forestry for proper disposal.
Tuesday morning Kerrick and I mowed in the Japanese garden. Next, we weeded and deadheaded in the intern bed and palm lot entry bed. Then, we met Scott out front and cut some more branches that he noticed were dead or still too low. We also helped to cut down a dead tree by taking off the lower limbs to make it easier to cut down with the chainsaw. Again, we helped Scott to load up the dump truck with branches. The maintenance crew needed the dump truck back and there is about one load left of limbs to pick up, but they are currently underneath one of the larger trees and will be taken care of probably tomorrow. Then, we put mulch around two trees out front. Finally, we composted some of the unused annuals which were still in greenhouse pots and trays along the service drive.
Wednesday morning Kerrick and I mowed some areas on zoo grounds, Como town, and out front. Then, Kerrick and I did some weeding out front near the gate to the Japanese Garden and put down mulch on top of a gravel area that used to be grass. Finally, we picked up trash near the historic lily pond and did a little bit of weeding.
Thursday morning Kerrick and I cleaned up the area by the primate loading dock. First, we moved any garbage left behind by the construction crew when the gorilla exhibit was built. Then, we removed dead limbs off of the trees. After that, we were joined by the volunteers who helped us weed and rake the area as well as pick up large rocks. Once we were finally able to get to the gate on the side of the exhibit, we pulled out the logs which were on the ground, moved the garbage that was back there, and weeded. This area was seeded two weeks ago, but the areas that were full of weeds and debris were left unseeded so the area will need to be seeded once again so that grass might grow which the outdoor horticulture staff will be in charge of mowing which is why we had to pick up the rocks. This project took all morning to complete. In the afternoon, Kerrick and I went down and weeded around the historic lily pond and picked up some tree branches that were near there.
Friday morning Kerrick and I put down mulch around the lindens across from the historic entrance of the conservatory. Then, we weeded the wall of the frog pond to touch it up as there is a Japanese lantern lighting festival on Sunday. After that, we raked near the other lindens in the boulevards near the historic entrance and helped Scott clean the debris off the road. Then, we burned weeds along the sidewalk near the historic entrance and the cracks in the road. After that, we pulled weeds on the service road and composted some annuals along the service road. Next, we turned off the sprinklers up front and picked up the hoses along with picking up the debris by the enchanted garden and some debris underneath the lindens in the park. Then, we composted some more annuals that were along the service road. After that, Adam gave us a tour of the inside of the tea house and told us a little bit about the customs involved in an official tea ceremony. Next, the son of the designer of the Japanese Garden came to visit so all of the Horticulture staff came to greet him at the gate. Finally, we deadheaded the spent flowers off of the daylily plants along the frog pond.
The featured plant of the week is Salix purpurea Purpleosier or Basket Willow. The leaves are alternate or occasionally opposite, simple, oblanceolate, 2-4" long, 1/8-1/3" wide. They are lustrous dark blue-green above and pale or glaucous beneath. The buds are small, appressed, purplish, and glabrous. The stem is slender, tough branches, purplish at first, and turn to a light gray or olive-gray. Purpleosier willow is a rounded, dense, finely branched shrub 8-10' in height. They need to be properly maintained to prevent the horrendous look when species become overgrown. This shrub is native to zones 3-6.
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