Gardening at the zoo today. Zoo has been closed 16 months due to COVID and ADA compliance construction. Firm opening date is July 19th. As the contractors slowly fade from view we have to work on landscaping. Dozens of palm trees were removed, grass was sacrificed for wheelchair ramps and old buildings were demolished or renovated. Today I was planting Gardenia bushes and Red spider lilies but this is volcano land so after going down 4 inches in new top soil we hit contractors rock fill or lava rock. Working with what we had we got most of the job done. I volunteered to do gardening not pickaxing rock.
No energy left for work at home but I did manage to get some plants fertilized while walking the dog through the forest. Max did not like being ignored but it was the only way I could combine what had to be done with what needed to be done.
Clumping bamboo are showing new canes. New plants that were put in the ground this time last year have new leaves flushing out and new canes poking through. Three black Java bamboo have new canes and the GIANT giganteus has three new canes developing. Will post pics as they get bigger.
The new Shady Glen garden is looking good. New plants are being added, Beehive gingers, three different bamboos, heliconias and fushcias in hanging pots. All new plantings look sparse to start but in twelve months time they will have filled in and look great. Still chainsawing down Waiwi trees. Had four good size ones leaning against a couple of 20 foot Australian tree ferns. My neighbor and I were able to get the trees off them without damage but, as always, there is the clean up to do.
Tomorrow I'm off to a local nursery to buy (I hope) two blue spruce and a giant redwood tree. Thats something new for me but I'm told they will love it at my elevation.
Always something new going on somewhere in the garden. More update next time.
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