Good Old-Fashioned Hot Weather

Today was more typical of what we expect for weather in July.  After a comfortable start to the day, the temperature heated up quickly on this partly sunny day to about 88 degrees F with high humidity.  It was pretty brutal but ultimately, this is the heat we have been lacking for our tropicals and annuals to really fill out nicely.  Recent rains have kept the soil moist although we are doing some supplemental watering here and there.  Plants should really take off this week with continued high temperatures near 90 degrees F although the weeds will like this as well!  Nice shot above of perennial fairy candles (Cimicifuga racemosa…now Actaea) looking statuesque.

 

Our grounds staff had a busy day.  Larry H., Larry O., Bobby K., Janice, Trevor and I all had a wide range of tasks which included weeding, watering, fertilizing and much more.  Larry H. continued some graveling work, weeding, watering and many other duties including watering containers.  Larry O. had watering duties and other tasks this morning.  Bobby K. worked in the Giant Aquarium, on our water features and was cleaning debris out of the pond.  Janice did the cutting display, tidied up the Heirloom Garden and bounced between some other tasks.  Trevor tidied up in the Giant Aquarium and did a lot of fertilizing in our annual beds.  I was able to haul more plants out for installation and did some herbicide spraying as well in select areas.  It was a busy day with many visitors out in the gardens as well as those enjoying our Story & Stroll program.

German statice (Goniolimon tataricum) – perennial

drumstick allium (Allium sphaerocephalon) – perennial

‘Fireball’ marigold (Tagetes patula) – annual

‘Empress Flair Violet Blue’ verbena (Verbena hybrida) – annual

the Giant Aquarium (above and below) is already a big hit this year!  come see it!

Despite the heat, we had great volunteer representation out in the gardens.  Above (left to right) are Mary, Nancy, Gena and Patty.  Way in the distance is Myrt doing some planting near the ‘Dialogue’ sculpture.  The ladies weeded and planted today out in the heat.  Kathy and Eva were out planting right away along our scented wall theme.  Stan, Kristin, Greg, Cheryl, Jim H. and four RECAPPERS were all involved with significant work in the Japanese garden.  Dr. Gredler came in for some mowing and Jenny E. weeded and tidied the hosta hollow garden space.  Janice also worked with volunteers from the Chestnut house which included Dawn, Jordan, Janelle and Donna.  The gang checked over their raised planters and did some additional planting out in the gardens.  It was another productive day in the welcome heat!

Russo Family Fountain (above…40′ tall)

mama deer has been nibbling out near the Horticulture Center (not sure where her babies were today….?)

‘Patio Deep Blue’ gentian sage (Salvia patens) – annual (great for hummingbirds)

‘Mighty Pip’ false spirea (Astilbe chinensis) – perennial

‘Visions’ false spirea (Astilbe chinensis) – perennial

woolly sage (Salvia argentea) – biennial

butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) in the prairie – perennial