Fall Plant Sale Preparations

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Today was a hot one!  After a mild weekend, the heat of summer returned with a heat index of 96 degrees F today!  We did some frantic watering but much of our efforts involved the continued preparation for the Fall Plant Sale.  The sale is this Saturday and Sunday (September 10th and 11th) from 9 am until 4 pm at the Horticulture Center.  However, there is a Friends Only Pre-Sale this Friday (September 9th) from 9 am until 4 pm which allows for “first dibs” and a 10% discount that extends throughout the entire sale.  Above is Alan watering some of the many asters ($5 each!) that came in this morning as one of our four deliveries today.  Another delivery included all these awesome perennial ornamental grasses seen directly below!  The next photo down shows some of the shrubs we’ll be offering as well.  We had some excellent volunteer help today in the heat and certainly appreciate everyone “toughing it out.”

The grounds staff had a sweaty day but it was business as usual with watering and other duties.  The gardens continue to look colorful and we’re trying to extend that color until hard frost arrives in six weeks or so.  Terry and John took down the 27 Hummingbird Garden Art Projects today and they’ll be auctioned this Friday at 5 pm (see our website for details).  The garden art was very well received this year and we hope the auction will be well attended.  John and Terry had other watering and unloading duties as well.  Cindy tidied multiple areas, watered and helped unload as well.  Larry H. watered, unloaded and put up more lights for the Holiday Light Show (HLS).  I was able to tour the gardens briefly but spent most of my day getting the pricing ready for our plant sale perennials and the extensive tagging we’ll be doing tomorrow (weather permitting).

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‘Black Pearl’ ornamental hot pepper (Capsicum annuum) above and below – annual

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One of the Hummingbird Art Projects above
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‘Indian Summer’ gloriosa daisy (Rudbeckia hirta) – annual

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Our volunteers continue to be so important to our day to day activities.  Above is Kay from last Friday with a burnet (Sanguisorba sp.) near the shade garden.  I ran out of time to blog on Friday but hope to be more consistent during this busy part of the season.  Kathy and Eva (directly below) continued tidying the entrance garden slope and with the lateness of the season, some of their duties include the removal of “spent” annuals or any unsightly seasonals.  Vicky and Steve did much of the same in multiple areas while Cheryl D. did a nice job along the pink wall and beyond. Stan and Kristin were in to tidy the Japanese garden and Ron R., Lloyd and Alan helped water and organize the plant sale.  Dick H. went on some dump runs and Dave E. helped Dick and went out to collect leaves in multiple areas.  Larry H. worked on a variety of projects while Maury ran errands for us.  We also saw Vern B., Ron Y., Marleen, Dave K., Gary S., Maryam P. and many others.  Both Bill O. and Dr. Gredler did their mowing rounds today as well.  Peg L. worked on a wide range of labeling this afternoon and the progress is much appreciated.

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Eva (left) and Kathy

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Steve and Vicky

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Dr. Gredler

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variegated obedient plant (Physostegia virginiana ‘Variegata’) – perennial

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‘Little Henry’ sweet coneflower (Rudbeckia subtomentosa) – perennial

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I’ve never taken these scenic photos from under the North Point structure…neat!

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Seven-sons-flower (Heptacodium miconioides) – woody shrub

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‘Tidal Wave Silver’ petunia (Petunia) with some friends – annuals

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‘The Giant’ Autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale) – perennial bulb

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nice shots (above and below) of the sunken garden this morning

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‘Wasabi’ coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides) at 4′ tall! – annual