Mark Duford, facilities manager, was kind enough to lead RCGC members on a tour of the over-the-top landscaping at the mall. Wow, very inspiring! The gardens have an almost fantasy quality, they are so lush and colorful. They grow ALL their own plants, starting seeds and plugs in February under lights, behind the scene at Eastview. Mark and a very able and enthusiastic small team (the same people who take care of plowing snow in the winter, etc., etc.) do all the work, and have the full support of the Wilmorite Group, which manages many of our local malls. Mark showed us around many of the beautiful plantings and answered all our questions about what they grow and how they do it – irrigation systems and fertilizer are key ingredients, but there is clearly a creative vision at work as well! Thanks.

The June 28 tour of Tim Boebel’s Hydrangea serratas was a revelation! The first sight of so many bushes in perfect bloom was breathtaking. This relatively unknown species is absolutely lovely, and blooms earlier than the macrophyllas.  Quite hardy, and happy in shade – well worth using in the landscape. Tim has a website with more information: https://sites.google.com/site/hydrangeasinthenorth/

Tim is offering another tour July 28 which will feature the macrophyllas – his collection is enormous and supurb! Find it on our website.

It does a great job of telling our story, and it’s beautiful – really one of the nicest exhibits at GardenScape. Designed and installed by Amy Semple, Christine Froehlich and Nellie Gardner – wow, an amazing job!