Fall Time, Tulip Time

 Now that November is here, it is time to get started planting everyone's favorite spring time flowers, tulips. This year the horticulture department, along with some help from grounds, will be planting 10,000 tulip and daffodil bulbs. Included in that 10,000 are over 7 different varieties and colors. Getting them in the ground now will ensure they have a long enough time to develop and flower just in time for all the spring activities around the club. The next few days we'll be out preparing the landscape beds for tulips as well as planting. 

When planting your own bulbs, plant them 3-5 inches in the ground. About 5 bulbs per square foot. I always get asked how I keep the squirrels from getting the bulbs, and while there's no real answer, what I do is sprinkle some Milorganite on top of the soil when finished and that usually keeps them away.

If you have a questions don't hesitate to stop me and ask. Cheers!

Bryan Miller

Director of Horticulture

A Year Later......

It has been just over one-year since the Restoration was approved by the membership, since then, our talented and dedicated team has wasted no time making excellent progress with the drier weather to prepare the canvas for Tyler Rae in July of 2025 while maintaining the golf course during a challenging season. The work completed by the HP Grounds team has included:

• Multiple herbicide applications to 14 acres in preparation for seeding of fine fescues on challenging terrain
• Erosion measures and seeding of clearing areas 
• Construction of temporary aggregate storage bins behind the first green and at the grounds building 
• Tree planting 
• Stump removal 
• Hydro Seeding and mulching 
• Drainage repairs 
• Documentation of the on-going work 
• Partnering/Monitoring of contractors

In mid-November our H2-B visa team will be leaving for the season, unfortunately there are many uncertainties when or if we will have them for next year, so the coming weeks will be important to continue to move forward with preparations for 2025. 

#15- Rendering (Tyler Rae & Jim Ryan Jr.)

Hillside Cleaning 

#14- Rendering (Tyler Rae & Jim Ryan Jr.)

Hydroseeding of Holes #10, 14 and 15

Fine Fescue Establishment:

The new "native" areas are proceeding well, the last few months the weather has been extremely dry, YTD the Grounds of Hyde Park have been running with a 7" deficit in precipitation, the above normal temperatures have kept the team mowing and hand watering much more than expected over the last couple months. The dry weather has been perfect for our continued internal work across the property with seeding, tree removal and seedbed preparations.

Tree Planting:

Bryan Miller and the Horticulture team continue to plant another round of periphery/screening trees on Holes 1,2,4,5 and the practice area.  The diverse of selection of trees includes:

• Green Vase Zelkova
• Valley Forge Elm
• Forest Pansy Redbud 
• Greenspire Linden
• Cheery
• Hornbeem
• Flowering Dogwood 
• Wilfire Blackgum 

Tree and Shrub Arrival

Current Restoration Initiatives:

• Finalize sequencing plan with golf contractor (McDonald and Sons) for 2025
• Dormant hydro seeding and mulching of #10,14,15
• Sand and gravel deliveries
• Tree Planting 
• Physical properties testing of green and tee mixes 

Thanks again for the feedback and questions. Our team and I have enjoyed explaining the progression of the restoration.

Pat O'Brien

Grounds Superintendent