April showers are bringing April flowers and are they beautiful!  What amazing tulips we are having this year.  Lets hope it doesn't get too hot and we avoid a bad storm to maximize their bloom time.  It is an extremely busy time for our staff.  Some very important pesticide applications are going down that are very specific almost to the week.  Working around weather and golf makes it difficult to apply sometimes but somehow it always gets done.  This week we are applying an insecticide that targets the adult annual bluegrass weevil.  We have been monitoring this insect for a while and feel confident this is the time to apply.  We also use plant stages to help pinpoint when best to apply and the forsythia shrub is one of our indicators.  When forsythias are in the half yellow/half green stage we know this insect is in its largest abundance as an adult in its life cycle and most susceptible to the insecticide.  Greens, tees, and fairways are to be sprayed this week as the annual bluegrass weevil feeds in low cut turf.  About a month later we will apply another insecticide that is directed towards the larval stage of this pesky critter.  Wish us luck! 

 

That little black spot near the center of the picture is the adult annual bluegrass weevil.

 

 

The course received 1.6 inches of rain last night.

 

 

Blowing off red maple flowers before rolling on April 11th.  Sometimes you just can't win!

 

 

Soil temperatures are gradually warming but were still 50 degrees on April 16th.

 

 

The crew made wood covers to protect fairway and tee plaques when spraying.  A member asked what are we doing to protect them!

 

 

The bermudagrass on the range tee is showing signs of life.  Unfortunately it will be mid-May before we are on the grass.

 

 

Adding a sprinkler where our recently departed gazebo once stood.

 

 

Cedar apple rust on junipers in the cutting garden.  This disease must occur on junipers and cedars before continuing its life cycle on apple trees.  The disease was so severe we elected to dig up the junipers.

 

 

Tulips at the 18th tee just opening and...

 

 

several days later.  Wow!

 

 

Tulipmania at the 11th tee.