Weekend Duty Blog - Michael Easton & Andy Nguyen

Day 1 – September 21st 2018

Andy and I began the day with a walk through of weekend procedures with Jeff. Our first independent task was to bring the tractor over to the greenhouse.  This gave us the opportunity to practice completing circle checks on the tractor. After bringing the tractor over to the greenhouse Jeff ran through some tips for reversing the tractor as well as how to maneuver the trailer.

 Once we had finished with driving we were off to begin completing tasks. We decided that we would focus the day on removing weeds.  We completed nearly all of the weeding in both the conifer and woodland garden. The most significant weeding we did was the removal/editing of the Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum). We also cleared out a large patch of thistles that had developed behind the alpine currant. After weeding we were shown how to divide and replant the daylilies by the greenhouse fence. We finished our day by returning the tractor and returning all our tools.  Although it came with its challenges such as hot temperatures and high winds, we were able to complete all of our goals for the day.

  

Day 2 - September 22nd 2018

We began Saturday by getting the tractor. However, the tractor fuel was below ¼ tank so we needed to fuel up. In order to fuel we had to get the key to the fuel compound from security. This was a first time experience for both of us. 

After having filled the tractor with diesel, we were able to begin our day. We started by uprooting the hostas by the tool room and placing them in bulb crates to be sent to cuddy’s. From there we moved on to trimming the alpine currant by K building. Sticking with the theme of pruning, we then decided to move on to the cotoneaster. This proved to be one of the more time consuming as well as difficult tasks of the day. From the cotoneaster, we then pruned back the Petasites japonicus that hung over the walkway and blocked the gas meter. We then finished off the afternoon with editing the mint as well as trimming the lavender back to new growth. After returning the tractor and returning all the tools, we called it a day and signed out.

Day 3 – September 23rd 2018

We began the day like any other, getting the tractor from C building. The first task of the day was picking up garbage/litter in and around the gardens. The purpose behind this was to prepare the grounds for the afternoon cleaning with the blowers. After removing all the litter, Tobias, who was on greenhouse duty this weekend informed us that there was a tree with a dead limb outside of building T. Although it was not on our list of duties, we decided that it was appropriate to go remove the dead limb.

  

From there we divided the salvia’s as well as finished pruning the cotoneaster.  After lunch we began cleaning the hardscapes. We started by line trimming the hardscapes in the H parking lot and conifer garden. We experience slight difficulties setting up our lines, however we managed to problem solve and overall it only caused us a small delay. Once we finished with the line trimmers we did a full sweep through of the woodland and conifer gardens with the backpack blowers.  We then ended off our day and the weekend with a compost run, and parked the tractor in the C building garage.