Back in Action

The scent of these royal lilies (Lilium regale ‘Album’)  (seen above in the Nancy Yahr Memorial Children’s Garden) was intoxicating on this sunny and cool summer day.  With ample moisture last week, watering hasn’t been as time consuming as colder weather has allowed soil dampness to persist nicely.  Hotter days will be important very soon though for all of our heat loving plants.  It was nice to be back in action after a successful and enjoyable trip out to Hamilton, Ontario for the American Public Garden Association Conference last week.  I was able to tour the gardens (everything looked great) and am catching up to speed in regards to our late June planting and maintenance initiatives.  Other grounds staff included Larry O., Cindy, Big John, Larry H. and Trevor. Everyone had a wide range of tasks to accomplish and did a great job continuing our momentum out in the gardens.

blooms on ‘Blue Sunrise’ perennial geranium (Geranium hybrida) – perennial

Crimean sage (Phlomis taurica) – perennial

‘Overdam’ feather reed grass (Calamagrostis x acutiflora) – perennial

‘Little Peach’ lewisia (Lewisia longipetala) – perennial

‘Zebra Stripes’ plantain lily (Hosta) – perennial

While unseasonably cool at 70 degrees F for a high today, it was sure great “working weather”!  Above is Mary Kay preparing for a youth project.  She was later joined by more of our education volunteers. We had a strong volunteer turnout for the grounds today.  Dr. Gredler and Rollie took care of their mowing duties.  Lloyd and Derrick worked on some weeding and tidying while Derrick also helped Dennis and Garrett with our boulder wall project on the North path.  Bob K. did a bed preparation project near the Horticulture Center.  Kathy and Eva weeded in multiple areas. Kay was in to tidy up her area and both Kristin and Stan did plenty of work in the Japanese garden.  Marv worked on both of his moss areas. Peg was in to work on plant records and labeling duties and Gary worked on label production earlier in the day.  Maury ran errands for us while Ron P. continued repairing lights for the Holiday Light Show (HLS).  Steve J. helped with various projects and was alongside the carpenters of Ron Y., Vern, Dave and Jim.  Dick H. had some jobs and we also saw Becky, Mark S., Polly and many others today.  Our Home Garden Tour Committee (Barb, Sue, Carol, Cora, Janet, Becky, Hayley and me) met to discuss the exciting and upcoming 2017 Home Garden Tour (July 15th). Tickets ($10 in advance) are on sale now at RBG or K&W Greenery!

Vern (left) and Jim bringing back a bench for repair

Eva (red), Kathy (blue) and Big John in the background

“Mossy Marv” tidying up one of his two large sections of moss – looking good! (the moss)

Becky D. putting new ink in our engraved bench letters – awesome job!

Dick H. (left) and Dennis

Garrett (left) and Dennis

nice lighting coming through an Emperor I® Japanese maple (Acer palmatum ‘Wolff’) – woody tree

view looking upwards in to a ‘Goshiki’ variegated zelkova (Zelkova serrata) – woody tree

‘Young Lady’ smokebush (Cotinus coggygria) – large shrub

yellow meadow rue (Thalictrum flavum subsp. glaucum) – perennial

field scabious (Knautia arvensis) – perennial

‘Wild Horses’ coneflower (Echinacea hybrida) – perennial

blooms of golden Southern catalpa (Catalpa bignonioides ‘Aurea’) – woody tree

opening bloom of Japanese stewartia (Stewartia pseudocamellia) – woody tree

blooms of purple catalpa (Catalpa x erubescens ‘Purpurea’) – woody tree