Preparation for Summer continues with work on the Gates Ajar near the Lakeside Pavillion. On May 1st 20 volunteers joined the Horticulture staff to take cuttings from 'Alternanthera ' stock plants. The 1" to 2" cuttings were stuck into small plug trays and put in the propagation house to root. The vertical Gates are being prepared for planting by mudding the gates with moist sifted soil to fill in the wire mesh surface. Starting May 15th the Gates will be planted with 'Alternanthera' and 'Echevaria', with plans to finish by May 25th. During mudding and planting the Gates need to be watered twice a day to keep the soil wet and until the small plants root into the wall
