THE COLORS OF SPRING

​It's been a long winter but spring finally seems here to stay and will soon be followed by the sunshine and heat summer brings.

Our gardens are just stunning this spring. The rains, while beneficial to most of our plants, have been devastating to parts of our communities. It feels like we are finally past the terrible spring floods and everything is fresh and new again.

As you stroll our gardens, you'll see color in many places. Our June garden standouts include flowering perennials: amsonia, Siberian iris, baptisia, salvia and achillea. The hostas have thrived from the rain and cooler temperatures and seem to keep getting bigger.

Like many of you, we have felt a few weeks behind with our regular spring clean up chores like deadheading, pruning, weeding and mulching our beds. We have been fortunate to have many groups of volunteers and families come to help us prepare our gardens and we're ready for you to visit!
 
Several areas in our gardens have gotten special attention from local organizations and we are so thankful for their help. The Tri-City Garden Club (celebrating 100 years!) is maintaining our Secret Alphabet Garden, the Moline Horticultural Society is working on the ground level of our Physically Enabling Garden, the Davenport Horticultural Society reimagined and built a new garden in our circle drive entry, and the Handicapped Development Center is tending to our raised beds. We also need to recognize the continued partnership and support of the Heartland Model Railway Club for operating and maintaining the Train Garden.

There is so much to see in the gardens! We hope you'll come soon and spend a little time enjoying our gardens.

Dave Searl, Head Gardener