Spring Color in the Ornamental Pots

Horticulturist Becky was busy this past week planting the numerous pots around the facility.

 

Varieties in the large pot on The Pearson Plaza and other areas include Gerbera, Dianthus, Lobelia,Snapdragons, Agyrathemum, Stock, Margurite Daisy, Osteospermum, and Kale.

How Does Your Garden Grow? Very Nicely I Must Say Here At Glen Echo

How does your garden grow is a presentation taking place this Saturday by our very own horticulturist Becky Edwards. Becky does outstanding work on our grounds and will give here insight into her work at Glen Echo. She will provide you with professional advice on how to transition what she does at Glen Echo to your landscape and or patio at home. I know my bride will want me to pay close attention since I need to finish off the front landscape of our home.

Sounds like its going to be a wet week with not much work being able to be accomplished outside. Come to the club and have some lunch before and a glass of wine or cocktail during the event or lunch at the end whichever you prefer.             

Please sign up on the club website so we can plan for proper seating for this event. 

That time of year, Deep-tine aeration planned for this Monday, October 26th.

In an effort to not disrupt ball roll out in the late summer/early fall, I delay greens aeration until the end of October.  Well, that day has arrived.  We will begin our greens aeration late Sunday afternoon 5 p.m. and throughout the day on Monday.  This process will involve the use of a heavy topdressing of our greens with sand, our Verti-drain deep tine aerator will then poke 9" deep 1/2" holes in our greens, a green profile builder with micronutrient package will be applied, blowing and brushing the sand in the holes and a final roll.  We will probably delay mowing greens for a few days to allow the sand to settle and the greens to growth through the sand layer.  I would expect to begin dry mowing late next week.  Within 10-14 days with the good weather predicted they should be back to normal.
We usually are not able to complete all of the greens in one day but will make every effort to complete as many as possible.  If we receive rain on Tuesday, we will leave the remaining greens until it is dry enough to complete.  Hopefully, this would only be maybe 16-18.  I will keep you updated on the blog and twitter on our progress so check out the twitter feed on the side of the blog main page.

This will also be the last weekend for practice off of the zoysia short range tee.  The zoysia has quit growing and any damage/divots made now will not heal.  In an effort to protect it from winter injury and delayed green up next season, we will be placing all stands on the mats beginning next Tuesday.  Your cooperation in this matter would be greatly appreciated.

The staff have been busy with leaf clean up this week from our Ash, Maple, Cottonwood and other early leaf dropping trees.  Two blowers, two rough mowers, 3-4 backpacks have been out regularly cleaning up playing areas.  Some days by the end of the day it appears that we have not done anything but that is our life in dealing with excess trees.   The real work will begin in a couple weeks when the Oaks begin to drop.

This is the last week for two of our seasonal employees Deron and Sam who have done a great job their first year out on the course.  Randy will be here the first week of November and will be laid off for the season as well.  Nick and Becky will be leaving at the end of November.  Great work as well.

Becky is busy with installing new plants in our beds for next spring with Pansies, Tulips and installation of new material in the two beds off of the patio area of the clubhouse.

Cool season tees, 2,3,10,11,14 were solid tine aerated as were the collars and cool season approaches of our greens.  Holes provide new areas for root growth, oxygen exchanged and compaction relief. Also provides water to penetrate and water to evaporate as nececcary for that particular area.

Greenhouse planting

One of the things that I established over the first winter upon my arrival at Glen Echo was to build a greenhouse and grow our own plant material for our grounds.  Below is a video I made explaining the process we use here at Glen Echo and the work it takes to grow the plants that you will see in the various ornamental planting areas around the club.

By the way, our annual plant sale will be at the maintenance building on Saturday, May 10th from 9-11a.m. for those interested in purchasing plants.  You may charge your club account for these purchases.

First greens mowing of the year and more

The staff rolled and used the riding greens mower on Monday, March 10th.  Since I have been here at GECC, we have mowed on 2/28, 3/3,2/18,2/1,3/1.  As you can see, a bit late for 2014.  I expect we are about 1 1/2 weeks behind in our normal turf growing.  We are scheduled to aerate this Monday/Tuesday. I would prefer the greens to be a little more active in their growth but we should be okay to complete this work early in the week.  The heat over the last couple of days should give them a good kick and mowing another time or two will get the plants responding and begin to grow.  Opening the greens up and placing a heavy layer of brown sand will also help to warm up the profile which also increases growth potential.  I prefer to get aeration completed early so they are in great condition for April play.  I don't like to get our members out all excited to play and then interrupt for aeration and healing during the month of April.  Also, once the rough begins to grow which is usually by April 1st, our staffing levels drop because a couple of guys are tied up with rough mowing. As time allows with the rest of our work schedule, we intend to get single holes placed back in greens for regular play.

Tom mowing #3 green.

We rented a 45' lift last week and have been trying to get some of our Tree Management Program work completed. We have used the machine to remove a couple of trees but our most important use of the lift is to raise the lower branches of the trees and remove deadwood.  As a tree matures, the lower branches of the trees shade turf, create structural issues for the tree and will ultimately die due to too much shade.  Removing these limbs assists to stabilize the tree and will improve the amount of light that turf growing around trees can receive.  We are also removing deadwood and suckers that could be reached from the lift.  We only have the lift for a few days and are trying to get as much accomplished as possible during this period.  

 

Before trimming.  Low hanging limbs and deadwood.

After some pruning a couple of days ago, the tree has had its lower limbs removed and deadwood removed as well.

Brush underneath an oak along #15. Large trees require a great deal of work.

Chips from oak tree limbs which will be used in some of our course mulched areas.

Becky has already been hard at work pruning back plant material in beds, cutting off grasses, pruning shrubs and raking leaves out of beds. 144 plants are arriving this week with another 3,500-4,000 over the next 3 weeks that must be potted and placed in the greenhouse.

Mulch has arrived

This season, we are using a dyed brown mulch from St. Louis Composting on all of our ornamental beds on the property.  Becky Edwards, our horticulturist began the pain staking shoveling yesterday and a couple of other staff members assisted her today in front of the clubhouse.  We will be spreading about 80 yards of mulch hopefully only once this season.  The mulch is important to help retain moisture and keep the root systems insulated from extremes in temperatures.

Becky hates her picture being taken but oh well!  One scoop at a time is a lot of spreading.

The finished bed in the background.  The intensity of the green lawn and brown mulch make the plantings stand out and our beautiful clubhouse.

Horticulture 2012

I've asked Becky Edwards, our club horticulturist to do a guest blog this week on the plantings that were completed this season on the grounds.  For those of you that are home gardeners, you know how challenging this year was trying to keep your plants alive from the severe heat and drought.  Becky has done an exceptional job with our landscape plantings this year from the ordering and growing of the plants that took place at the end of winter and early spring to the new plantings in front of the clubhouse as a part of the Pierson Memorial project.  This does not include the planting of all the material as well as the extra hand-watering that takes place, as well as managing the weed population, etc........................


Hooray for rain (it only took a hurricane)!  We're all very thankful (plants, people & wildlife) for the respite, regardless of the source.  I've taken a few photos of some of the plants/plant combinations that seemed to have thrived in our less than idyllic climate this summer. Also included are plants that I frequently get asked about by members, staff & guests. I've taken some of your great suggestions for plantings & always welcome your plant success/crisis stories/questions!

Variegated Tapioca tree underplanted w/pink Dragon Wing begonias

Dwarf Fountain Palm w/double impatiens

Purple Fountain grass 'Princess Caroline' w/Pink Pentas

Colocasia esculenta (giant elephant ear) Could be enough roughage in just 1 of those ears for your weekly  dietary fiber allowance.

Upright Elephant Ears with Double Pink Impatiens

Improved pool entrance beds include Cannas, Elephant ears, Lamb's ears, Coreopsis, Oakleaf  Hydrangeas, Boltonia 'Jim Crockett'

Improved parking lot bed includes 'Adagio' ornamental grass, Cleome 'Senorita Rosalita', Coreopsis 'Creme Brulee' & Boltonia 'Jim Crockett'

Pool urn plantings: 'Pretty Much Picasso' Petunias, Calibrachoas, dwarf  banana trees and  Perilla magilla

Gaillardia 'Oranges & Lemons' paired happily w/ 'Karl Foerster' Ornamental grasses

A tropical look to the patio lawn area w/variegated red banana trees, cannas, lantana & 'Hot  Lips' salvia

Front of Clubhouse new permanent plantings getting a boost from some annuals like Euphorbia 'Diamond Frost' & Angelonia in multi colors.

The new
Bonfire Patio Peach tree underplanted w/several pink shades of Lantana @ the  Field Bar

Lantana in all its glory - BRING ON THE HEAT!

Lantana paired w/variegated ginger

A new bed for 2012 on Hole #13! The plants loved the leaf much amendments that the crew added before installation.
Plants include: 'Thailand Giant' Elephant Ear, Pentas, Hawaiian snow bush, Lantana, Cleome 'Senorita Rosalita'  Zinnias 'Tequila Lime' & 'Queen Red Lime' (excuse the powdery mildew), 'Marguerite' sweet potato vine, dwarf bananas, Angelonia & Perilla magilla.

Improved plantings @ the women's tee box on #9 include perennial Hibiscus 'Luna Rose', Castor Bean, Cannas,  Perovskia, Coreopsis, & 'Princess Caroline' Purple Fountain Grass

Hibiscus 'Luna Rose' seem happy acclimating to their new home on Hole #9

Greenhouse Plant Sale

The 4th Annual Glen Echo Greenhouse Plant Sale will take place on April 28th from 9-11 a.m. at the grounds maintenance building.  Becky has a number of perennials and annuals that will be available for purchase.  I will make a more detailed posting early next week with plant varieties that will be made available.  We normally host the event the day before Mother's Day but with the early break in the weather, we thought we would move up the date a couple of weeks.

Plants going in the ground

Becky has been doing some planting over the last few days.  Near 16 tee is a small wedge/triangle in the path that had some perennials which were removed along with a huge clump of Miscanthus grass.  Becky has placed a nice blooming perennial in its place called verbena bonariensis.  Nice upright form and will allow someone to find an errant golf ball in the middle of it.  More pictures to come from some of the plantings taking place in the front of the clubhouse.

Containers in the pool area

Becky is beginning to place plants in the containers in the pool area. From the plant material we've brought in, she has some plants with various forms of purple.  Over the past weeks, she has been painstakingly working through our ornamental beds.   We still have one large area to work which is the plantings around the lake on #9.

Becky Edwards(Staff Horticulturist) planting the containers at the pool area.

A completed container.

Spring Has Sprung

Some great days for the beginning of spring but some cool weather to come over the next week.  Hopefully not too far below 40 because our Saucer Magnolias are in full bloom by the main road.

In the Echo Brief yesterday, you were introduced to our new horticulturist, Becky Edwards.  I believe Becky will be an outstanding addition to our program  here at Glen Echo.  I've already ordered plants in for the season so Becky is a little stuck with what I purchased(But I think I picked some pretty good plants).  She will be supplementing our purchases with some additional material that she needs for the season. 

Special attention will be placed around the clubhouse to improve some tired areas.  We are currently evaluating a number of areas for improvement and updating.  In not neglecting the course planting beds, I've asked her to focus on the tee side of #9 to improve that once fully flowered area all the way to the red tee.  Our planters will be an area of focus as well that I have asked her to address.  No doubt that some improvement is needed.  I already started this with some early season color from pansies, cyclamen, viola, and a couple of other plants.  Becky helped finish off the rest of the planters on her first couple of days on site. 

We worked tirelessly over the last couple of years to bring you a good ornamental program but time on the course took away from our efforts as well as some knowledge gap.  Now, with a trained person like Becky to focus on this area 100% of the time, I believe this program will be drastically improved.  I will bring Becky into the ladies luncheon for a quick introduction. 

She will also be making a regular appearance on the blog to discuss our program, talk about plant material and give some tips for your home landscapes. 

New Plants(Babies) are arriving for the season

Our new plant material is arriving for the season.  This week, we received our first of three shipments over consecutive weeks.  Time to start potting and placing the new plants in the greenhouse.  We have about 4200 plants this season which is down by about 1/3 from last year.  Most of our material will be grown in 4" pots with 15 plants per tray.  Larger plants call for more spacing between plants and less overall material.  Last season over 1/2 of our material was grown in with 36 plants in atray.  We will be purchasing some additional materials locally to round out our program.

SAVE THE DATE 

May 7th for our Annual Greenhouse Plant Sale

More details to come!

We are in the process of hiring a seasonal horticulturist to take over the day to day activities of our landscape program.  Our horticulture program has worked without a trained person since the late spring of 2008.  During some very difficult times for our club, we stepped up and provided some nice work in our landscape areas but there is some definite improvement that needs to be made to our ornamental program. 

I'm looking forward to the assistance and improvements that a horticulturist will bring to our beautiful clubhouse, surrounding grounds and golf course.  I will have an announcement early in the week once our new person is in place.

New plants placed in pots and waiting to be moved to the greenhouse.

Potting table with some blooming Cyclamen on the floor which will be placed in planters around the clubhouse for some early season color.

Lucas & Hunt shoulder of road

The main entrance to our club is kept very simple.  We have about 50 yards of shoulder on the north side of the entrance and about 200 yards south of the entrance that we manage.  The county places mulch every season along the shoulder in front of the cemetery.  We are responsible for our section and have not done anything to the area except trim trees and pick up leaves and trash.  We accumulated a large pile of tree chip material from our Tree Management Program and have used this material on the woodland garden on #9 and the back entrance to the club along Wallingford.  We decided it was time to improve the Lucas and Hunt entrance or at least cover up shoulder area between the road and fence line.

It should look good for our membership and we do receive a great deal of visitors to the course or clubhouse who might only attend on one occasion and we prefer to leave them with a very good impression.

The staff placed about 35 loads on the north side of the road with our small utility vehicles and raked the chipped mulch in place.  We placed a small section along the south entrance at this time as well.  We need to complete the remaining part of the woodland garden area and will then utilize what is left.  We will probably run out of material and will  contact our tree trimming company to get a couple loads of chips hauled in to finish the job on the south end. 

Just south of the entrance showing the difference between the chipped mulch and the gravely material that is now in place.

The completed north side of the entrance looking toward Natural Bridge Road.