Another Hot One

Today warmed up quickly and became another quick scorcher.  We focused a lot on watering today as we’ve not had adequate rainfall in about a week or so.  Nice shot above of ‘Banana Boat’ Japanese sedge (Carex siderosticha) looking good in the shade garden.  Our grounds staff of Shania, Alex, Big John, Larry H. and I all had a wide range of tasks, much of which included watering.  Our volunteer crew had a very productive day.  We had Kathy P., Eva, Leslie, Firefighter Cathy, Marleen, Bill O., Josef, Mary Kay, Maury, Derrick, Lloyd, Kay and many others.  Tasks included weeding, planting, mowing, tidying, etc.  I was able to get through most of the gardens and while I’m worried about the lack of rain, our plants and collections are looking pretty good.  Our Garden Development & Maintenance Committee also met and included Hal, Iza, Maury, Bobby K., Dick P., Big John, Larry H., Becky and myself.

‘Bottle Rocket’ ligularia (Ligularia hybrida) – perennial

colorful trial coneflower (Echinacea hybrida) at the Horticulture Center – perennial

‘Fish’ variegated hot pepper (Capsicum annuum) – annual

‘Red Lightning’ coral bells (Heuchera) – perennial

wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) – perennial (in our prairie restoration)

fruiting structure of umbrella-tree magnolia (Magnolia tripetala) – woody tree

foliage detail on Persian shield (Strobilanthes dyerianus) – annual

Limon Blush™ coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides ‘UF06-21-35’) – annual, with bloody dock (Rumex sanguineus ssp. sanguineus) – perennial

‘Sunny Delight’ Hakone grass (Hakonechloa macra) – perennial

‘Gold Rush’ variegated weigela (Weigela florida) – woody shrub

Rockin’® Playin’ the Blues® hybrid salvia (Salvia longispicata x farinacea ”Balsalmispim’) – annual

Meteor Shower® South American verbena (Verbena bonariensis ‘INVEBPUTOW’) – annual

The A-Z Pollinator Garden theme in the Nancy Yahr Memorial Children’s Garden is filling in nicely!

Quick Fire® panicled hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata ‘Bulk’) – woody shrub

‘Leilani’ hybrid coneflower (Echinacea hybrida) with Persian shield (Strobilanthes dyerianus) – perennial and annual respectively

‘China Town’ plume celosia (Celosia plumosa) – annual

Marleen and Firefighter Cathy (above) after planting 100s of zinnias!

Kay (above) after her gardening kung fu

Queen Anne’s lace (Ammi majus) – annual