Today’s adventure: We finished planting the lawn! The weeds and corms have been removed, the irrigation laid and the grass plugs planted! It looks great and it is going to be more and more beautiful all the time. Hooray!

Today’s Adventure: Planting the lawn! After nearly two months of weeding and preparation we started planting. Everyone was excited! Before and after(1&2). The Toro with the grasses all loaded and ready for transport from the Rose Garden to the lawn(3). The lawn plugs were pretty root-bound so we had to soak them in buckets and pull apart the roots before planting(4). Hidden amongst the pelargoniums is a gull best with two eggs(5)!! Some absolutely gorgeous snapdragons(6).

Today’s Adventure: Completing the removal of the lawn! We did it!! After many weeks of diligent work, we finally finished digging up the oxalis and crab grass. What an accomplishment! It was a very windy day, and we all had dirt in our eyes, ears and mouths, but we were determined not to leave until we had sifted through the last bit of soil. Awesome!! Before and after (1&2). Canadian geese and an adorable gosling hung around with us on the lawn for a while (3). A neat ship arrived before our ferry departed to Alcatraz (4). Sun perks through the fog as another ship heads out (5). The fog starts to swirl again overhead as we wait on the dock for the ferry back to the city (6).

Today’s Adventure: Picking up the native grasses from the pier, bringing them to Alcatraz on the ferry, then loading them up on the Toro for temporary storage in the rose garden. Our crew with loaded carts waiting to disembark from a full ferry. There are four more carts around the corner (1). The Toro loaded up with all the grasses. We were amazed they all fit (2)! A gorgeous artichoke in Officer’s Row (3). Some lovely pelargoniums showing off for everyone (4). The lawn where the grasses we brought over today will go. We’ve been working on clearing it for around a month. It’s getting close (5)! The Puppy Steps looking lovely in the rain (6).

Today’s Adventure: More clearing of the lawn in front of the Administration Building! It’s slow going work, but what better view than from Alcatraz? :) One of the best part of this project is how visitors are so curious about what we are doing. I think it’s because it kind of looks like an archaeological dig! My favorite person today was a man who looked at me for several long moments after I told him what we were doing with an expression that clearly indicated he thought we were crazy for sifting through soil and removing corms by hand! Before and after photos (1&2). Beautiful spots around the island (3,4,5&6). Aeonium, my most favorite plant on the island (7). They are beauties!

Today’s adventure: Weeding oxalis on the glorious west side and deadheading in the cell house bed! This day was perfect: no wind, but plenty of lovely sunshine and puffy clouds floating by Alcatraz. ‘Before’ hillside photos (1&2). 'After’ photos - hillside with lots less oxalis (2+ buckets worth!) (3&4). Peaceful waters off the west side (5). This way to the gardens (6)! Beautiful, dew-covered iris in the cell house bed (7). Peaceful stairway on Officers’ Row (8). Never get tired of taking photos of the amazing spring flowers of Officers’ Row (9). Me in my wet-weather gardening gear. Hard to believe it was raining early this morning (10)!

Today’s Adventure: The continuation of removing the old “lawn” outside the Administration Building! We are sifting the soil to remove the oxalis corms as we go. It’s slow work, but very satisfying. All the time we take now to remove the weeds should pay off later in the form of having fewer pop up after the new, drought-resistant native grasses are planted. Another great day on Alcatraz! Photos: Intact oxalis plant from leaves to corms (1). The area along which we were working today that I lovingly refer to as “The Frontier” (2). We are making progress (3)!

Today’s adventure: Back-up docenting and more digging up the old lawn in front of the Administration building! Before the tour one of my duties was to clean up around Officers’ Row. That means I also got some time to take in the beauty of those gardens (1&2). As the tour passed the parade ground overlook the gulls scattered (3). Some folks said they saw a hawk but I didn’t see it. On the west side we saw some snowy egrets up close. They are regal (4). I threw in a photo of the tool shed terrace because I love it (5). The final photo shows the progress in digging up the lawn. It’s coming along!

Today’s adventure: Digging up the law in front of the Administration Building! This area is a real focal point for the island because visitors come here as part of the audio tour for beautiful views of the city. This bed will be cleared and then replanted, probably with native grasses. Today we worked with a group of local hight school students to shovel deep into the soil and dig out the oxalis and crab grass. The first two photos show before and after. Next is a close-up of what we were removing. Next are photos of the roots of oxalis. Who knew all that was growing under each of those little plants! Last is a photo of a large propeller plane that flew back and forth over the bay twice, Fat Albert style. Gonna have to see if I can find out what it was!

Today’s adventure: Weeding oxalis! We started in the Lead Bed, which is just about to blossom like crazy with iris. Soooo beautiful. Then we moved on to the dreamy West Side. Photos 5&6 are before and after shots of one bed. We keep oxalis separate from other greens. They get their own compost that is made hotter and sits for longer to try to kill the seeds completely. The last photos show that oxalis grows anywhere - even in a snail shell!