Wading with the Lilies

What I Learned Today:

1. Longwood uses many different fertilizer formulas, but the conservatory uses the formula the production greenhouse is using at the time.
2. The roses are forced into full bloom from Thanksgiving to April. Then, they are cut back to 3 feet right before summer begins. We cut them back early this year to give them a break from growing. 
3. Since Philadelphia is hosting the APGA Conference at the end of June, Longwood has to be at the top of their game. A group of 500 APGA members are taking a behind the scenes tour of the entire property including The Row, the gardens, the production greenhouses, the conservatory, etc. Everyone is in crunch mode! 
4. In Spain and South Africa, there is milk that doesn't have to be refrigerated. From what I'm told it tastes "box-y" and isn't very appetizing. Milk from a box? Who knew?

First day of work! First day of work!
I was a bundle of nerves and excitement as I trekked 10 minutes through the woods to the potting shed where I met my Friday boss Tim. He took me back to the fern house and gave me a brief tour before putting me to work watering everything. The hoses come out of the floor! That's a total luxury for me coming from the UT Gardens where their hoses are sun-baked, have holes right where the rubber meets the connector, and soak you from head to toe. I've been warned that Longwood is more like Fantasy Land than the Real World so I'm enjoying all the perks while they last.
The highlight of the day was working in the Lily pools. I'm pretty sure they only had one wader size: XXL. They definitely didn't make me look like a model for Bass Pro, but they didn't leak either so who's complaining? I followed Tony around the pools learning how to prune the yellow leaves and the spent flowers. The visitors eat it up when there's someone in the pools, and the most FAQ is "Can I take a flower home?" No.

Summer was nice enough to organize a mingle session between the PGs and the new interns. She ordered a ton of pizza and Klondike Bars. Then, she projected Wayne's World on the side of one of the houses. The movie was a throwback to Mike Myers' 90s phase, but I can't say I hated it. 

 

"Pardon me. Do you have any Grey Poupon?"