October 29...

Last day in area 5... sad day :(:(  I liked this area and am sad to leave it... I will say though... I am excited for January because I will get to work in the greenhouses on campus!!!!  This was just getting me all pumped for them and ready to go!!!!

To start I of course took the temps and then I was shown how to transplant little seedlings!!!!!  They dont use plug trays or anything they just sow the seeds on a flat and then someone (ME) gets to carefully separate them out and plant them in six-packs...  This was tedious but a good experience!!!  I worked on it the rest of the day other then when I fertilized all the outdoor plants.  It was pretty sweet though to see all the finished flats when I got done!!!!

Our plant test was moved to Monday because Kate was not there and we were busy...

October 28...

Well I took the temps and then started working on begonia cuttings again... It went well and we ended up with about 2400 cuttings!!!!  After we finished I got to learn how to take lavender cuttings... We only needed about 430 so that was not too bad but we had to cut each one individually... This was not too bad either and I liked having something to do all day :):)  I finally finished close to the end of the day and helped clean up the potting shed and things like that!!!!

October 27...

Today was fun... after taking temps I got to sift compost to be used when we mix soil!!!  It was cold this morning but everything went good and it didnt take too long!!!!  After that I measured out the fertilizer that will also go into the soil when we mix it!!!!

I worked in my greenhouse for a little while using the hula hoe to get rid to the weeds.... its looks good now!!!!  After that I helped Kelly gather begonia plants over in the Dutch garden and we started making cutting from them!!!!  We all spent the rest of the day standing around talking with each other while taking cuttings!!!!!  Its was a great day and I like having a stiff neck from not moving enough :):):)  hahah... it was not bad and I really did like talking with everyone because that does not really happen much in other areas!!!

October 26...

Ok so this morning I took the temps and then helped Lisa take some pepper plants down to the VEC for out lunch party later today!!!!

We planted digitalis for a while in pots that will be used for a rotation in the spring!!!!  For Lunch everyone went to the VEC and had Mexican food!!!  I think some of the volunteers put it all together for us... it was good food and fun to see everyone!!!! And after that I helped Lisa plant digitalis... its an annual that we put into pots for one of the rotations in the spring!!

At the end of the day I got to learn how to wash pots... hahah... this was fun but also it was hard:):)  you have to scrub them out and they are big and heavy... plus you get wet... I was wearing rain boots, a long apron, and gloves, I stayed pretty dry but my gloves had holes and would fill up with water whenever I put my hand in the water... hahah!!!!  I did that for the rest of the day!!!

October 25...

Ok so it rained all weekend but I am glad to be back at work!!!!  I took down all the temps and then helped Lisa almost the rest of the day!!  We had to take all the plants from the VEC (Visitor Center), House, and offices and put them back in the greenhouses... this was fun and I think Lisa really enjoyed having me there to help her!!!!  She said it normally takes her 2 days and we got it all done plus some other stuff in just today!!!!

Today everyone started HT (Holiday Traditions) decorating!!!!  I am so excited and it is going to look amazing for Christmas... I cant wait!!!

After I finished helping Lisa with stuff I trans-planted the rest of the ivy and called it a day!!!!

October 22...

Well as always I took the temps this morning!!!!  After that Jim showed me what I will be doing with the ivy and how all that will work... But I didnt start working on it right away.  First I went and watered all the house plants again because Lisa was sick today... Watering went well and I like taking care of them!!!!

After that I went back to the ivy and started with that... our ivy collection is the largest anywhere that I know of and it was mostly donated to us by a guy that was going to die and he didnt want all his hard work to die so we got it!!!!  Its huge and I had no idea there were so many kinds... but we have like about I would say 75 more plants that we cant find room anywhere to plant them...  haha... who would have guessed!!!!  So some of them have been in the same little pots for a while and hardly had any dirt left so I took them our cleaned them up and gave them nice new soil!!!  They seem very happy now:):)  I didnt finish them all today but I will finish the rest tomorrow!!!!

After that I want and helped work on some bulbs to get those finished up and put in the cooler!!!  I got to fertilize all my outdoor plants after lunch and check the watering in the greenhouse!!!!  After that we had our plant walk and test!!!!  I did really bad this week but will not let it happen again... :):):)

October 21...

I am getting good at taking the temperatures and today I got to learn about transplanting little starts... this actually was really fun and made me feel like I learned something at school because I have done it before!!!!  It was sweet and Jim showed me how they like it done!!!

I went and took care of the house plants again and then I started transplanting!!!  I did that till they needed my help finishing the bulbs!!!  After the bulbs were done I went back to transplanting till they were done!!!  I spent the rest of the day working on my greenhouse cleaning up dead leaves and making it look beautiful!!!!

October 20...

Well today I took the temperatures again and then went and took care of the interior plants...  I really like this job and think its way cool to get to walk around to the mansion, offices, and visitor center to check on all the plants!!!!

I of course got to work on the mum pots again until I was asked to help with the bulbs!!!!  They came in yesterday while we were learning about the perennial boarder... We had to sort and label all the bulbs and put them in the big walk in cooler!!!!!  After we were done I worked on the mum pots :):):)

October 19...

Today I started with taking the temperatures in all the usual places.  After that Jim told me about the history of the greenhouses and showed me more around the greenhouse area!!  I got to keep working on pruning the mums for a while after he was finished...

I got to fertilize my greenhouse and that was cool!!!  And then I worked on mums again till it was time for out workshop... Lucy told us all about the history, design, and maintenance of the perennial boarder!!!  This was interesting and we did it the rest of the day!!!!!

October 18...

Today was great and I learned a lot about the greenhouse area!!!!!  First thing Jim Salyards (Greenhouse Manager) took my on a little tour of the greenhouses... this was great and he also went over a job I will do daily!!!!  I get to write down the temperatures from thermometers of the last day... Its cool and I think I can handle it :):)

After that I went with Lisa Griffin (Greenhouse Person) and she showed me what she does... First we gathered foliage from around the property for the flower arrangers to use in their arrangements and than she showed me how to store it all in a room!!!  After that she showed me all about the interior plants in the mansion on and other locations like int he visitors center and stuff like that!!!!  I will be doing her job on Wednesday and Thursday because she has those days off!!!!  Well not all of it but I will take care of the interior plants.... water, clean up if leaves fall, make and sure they look good!!!!

She showed me the greenhouse I will be in charge of... and all that means is I get to water it :)  But she showed me and I did the watering!!!  I will also water a bunch of stuff outside by the potting shed too... I like watering so this is a good job for me!!!!

In the afternoon to finish up the time I had left... Jim had me pruning some mums... this was fun and easy and lots better than when I pruned the boxwood :)  All I had to do was use big scissors and trip it into a nice round shape!!!!  I like it when it makes sense and I can do it on the first try!!!!!

Well that all but I am sure these two weeks will be fun for me!!!!!

Picture Time!!!!!

Well last day in this area so here are the pictures from it!!!

Welcome to area #4... this is our shop!!!!!

Its important to know the shop well because they always ask you to go get something and if you cant find it... then you have to walk all the way back to ask... I tried to pay attention whenever they told me where something was :)

I will try to walk you through the area... to start... this is the rose garden!!  I think at one point I said I liked roses... I dont :) I hate them and I hate dead heading them... They are not very pretty and they only smell ok...

Walking by the rose garden is what we call the perennial boarder... its beautiful and I really like it!!!!

After you get past the wall separating the roses from the rest of our area there is the knot garden.... I like this area and it is a representation of Celtic knots from Ireland!!!!  Its really a pretty spot :)

This is called the kitchen garden and its where there really would have been a usable garden... we make it look pretty but still use peppers, basil, lavender, kale, and other vegetables and herbs to make it look good!!!!

These are the cages with cutting flowers in them... there are 12 arrangements that are done once and sometimes twice a week... we grow all the foliage at Filoli and the arrangers come out and just cut what they want!!!

I think I talked about watering the morning glories... they are the vine crawling all over the cages and look really pretty when all the flowers are open in the heat of the day!!!!

This is the hedge that creates the wall from the cutting flowers to the roses....

At the top of the perennial boarder there is an apple tree... I think they are my favorite tasting of all the ones I have tried... I have tried lots so thats saying something :)

This is the highest point really of the formal gardens and has an orchard there!!!!  It really pretty to see all the way down to the house... but pictures dont do it justice :)

This is the rosemary we dug out and then replanted...

Here are the new little plants!!!!

They lined the entire length of the orchard :)  Thats too many...

In the orchard there are lots of fruit trees but this is my favorite... its an Asian pear and its the best pear I have ever had... I LOVE IT :)

Seeing the fruit in this picture is making my mouth water :) I cant wait for work tomorrow so I can eat one at break!!!!

We call this the high place because its the place where Mr. Bourne would stand and see all the way down to where the creek is... it was his favorite place and he would still go there after he had his stroke... 

Mr. Bourne would not want anyone to see him so he would send all the staff away while we would sit up at the top and look out over all the area!!!! 

It is truly breath taking and if you notice how you can see the lines in the grass... I did that :)  

October 15...

I started with raking the walk way by the rosemary so all the bark was not in the path...  After that I watered pots and did some dead heading...  I talked to a guy from Australia today and that was cool!!!!  He had a wonderful accent and was telling me that where we was from because of the drought people were bucketing their water from showering, laundry and dishes to water their gardens... This is incredible and crazy... I could not believe it but I am glad we dont have to water like that :)

In the afternoon I helped pick up rotting apples and then Dave gave my another little lecture on pruning apples and pears!!!!  I really like this one and asked lots of questions :)  Its cool that you can control how a tree will grow and produce fruit by how you prune it... I will have to try some on my mom's trees!!!!

After that I had my review with Dave of how the last couple weeks have been and he said I was a hard worker :)  I liked hearing that because I do work hard and I like the work so I am glad it is noticed!!!

October 14...

I did such a good job yesterday that Dave asked me to mow again today!!!!  I mowed the high place!!!!  This was sweet and harder than yesterdays but good learning happened!!!!

We spent a while barking the rosemary and I got covered in dirt :)  After that I dug out half a bed in one of the cages so we could get ready to plant lilies in it!!!!

Dave came by to give me a break and gave me a little lecture on dahlias... this was way interesting and I liked the lecuter!!!  He talked about how a dahlia is a tuberous root and you can split this root into smaller parts so you can get more plants out of it one... At Filoli they keep the tubers in bags with vermiculite and try to keep them dry... When they are putting them in the bags they have codes they write on them so they know the color, shape of blossom and size... In the spring they have started them in the greenhouse but plant them with just a little leaf showing and cover it... they continue covering it every so often till it is buried about 10 inches deep...  I thought this was all really interesting and I am glad for the information!!!!!

After that I just dead headed till the day was over...

October 13...

Today I mowed for the first time ever!!!!!  I mowed the grass in front of the shop and then I got to mow a square in the yew allee!!!!!  It was sweet!!!!  I was so proud of myself when it actually looked good at the end :)  After that I helped finish planting the rosemary and then we just cleaned up that area by the orchard!!!

Another short day sorry...

October 12...

I watered this morning all the pots along the yew allee... I like the allee and enjoyed the watering!!!!  I also got to water the morning glories and dahlias and early in the morning that is a great job!!!!

After that I went and helped dig holes for rosemary until Gracy, Kate and I had our workshop on irrigation maintenance...  Alex Fernandez (Garden Manager) taught us and it was way interesting!!!!  We got to learn about sprinkler and watering systems and how they work.  We got to learn the best way to put in a system and the smartest way to save you time later!!!!  He showed us the different kind of heads they use and how they work... also why they use the ones they do for the different locations!!!!  He showed us how to change heads and what to look for if something seems to not be working right...  and sent us with a lot of reading material!!!!

After Lunch we got to go with Dave and actually work with a system!!!!  This was interesting also because it was our job to find and fix problems... Dave had gone through and messed up the system so there was lots to fix :)  We had clean filters and pressure gages and new heads... we also had a really cool hand held that made the different sprinklers come on when we hit the buttons right!!!  The people walking by thought we were pretty cool :)  It took us all the rest of the day to check the system but it was fun and I learned a lot!!!

October 11...

To start off the day I dead headed roses and then went up and worked on planting rosemary.  This was a fun project and I really like knowing what I am going to be doing!!!!  We dug lots of holes and then continued working on planting till the day was over!!!!

This is kind of a short entry but I didnt do much more so sorry :)

Picture Time!!!!!

I am sorry its been so long since I have posted any pictures but I have been a little busy... :) :) :)  I will try to do better this week!!!!

I am sorry about the picture quality... The lighting was not always great plus my camera is picky about lighting... But... I am going to show you the mansion today!!!!!  Its wonderful and you can easily get lots if just wondering around :)

This is right inside the front door...

This is what we call a living room... back than it was not called that :)

This is the ladies room... where they would leave their coats or something...

This is looking from the guys room through the front area to the ladies room...

This is the guys room for the same thing!!

This is one of the first maps... they didnt really care where it was but just wanted to know what roads to get on....

This room probably used to be used for the kids to eat in... now they have a collection of ships and other random things displayed in it!!!!

This luggage was actually used by Mrs. Roth and has her initials on it!!!!

This is like the area where the servants are running around in when working on something!!!!!

This is the kitchen...

This is the butlers kitchen... it had the wine closet :)

This is the dinning room!!!!

Hall through a sitting room...

sitting room or music room...

This is now called the Bourne room...

Mr. Bourne...

Mrs. Bourne...

I believe this is a picture of grandma Bourne...

This is now called the Roth room...

Mr. Roth...

Mrs. Roth...

Long hall way :)

Ballroom!!!!

Murals on walls are of the place in Ireland for Bourne daughter...

This is of the actual building in Ireland called MuKross.... I think... It is now owned by the Ireland Government.

This is a mini replica of what it would have looked like while they were having a party!!

These hanging rugs are all over!!!

Lots of stairs...

Upstairs where guests dont come... I am an employee so I am good :)

This is the friends library where we can check out any books and movies...

Now this is where I got lost... lots of hall ways with stairs going up and down and I could not get out...

Finally out the back... this is where we have a little nursery type place and people can buy plants...

Well thats basically all I have seen and there is a basement but I cant imagine its that cool... also there are lots of rooms that I am not aloud it... also there is a whole little sweet in the mansion that Jim (Greenhouse Manager) lives in... I would get really lost if I could go everywhere :)