Today was simply hot and humid. While we’ve worked out in 100 degree F temperatures in the past, the combination of 90 degrees F with super high humidity and a heat index made it a sweltering endeavor for both grounds staff and garden volunteers. The morning wasn’t too bad but it became pretty sticky out there quickly. The Summerific® ‘Summer Storm’ hibiscus (Hibiscus hybrida) above shrugged off the heat in the English cottage garden though! The gardens continue to look extremely colorful although we didn’t see as many visitors on this hot day which isn’t unusual. The weekend looks cooler and I hope the threat of rain materializes tonight. We wonder if this will end up being the hottest day of 2016?
The grounds staff (not me) deserves gold stars today for working out in this heat and humidity. Everyone had some watering to accomplish but there were many other tasks completed by our talented crew. Larry H. worked on weeding, planting, mulching, watering and other projects while Cindy worked her tidying efforts in multiple locations and watered as well. Big John had sprinklers running all over the place and focused on pressure washing in the gazebo area (wedding on Saturday!). Nolan worked on watering, edging, fertilizing and some other tasks and Trevor had much of the same to keep him out of trouble. I had myriad tasks but unsurprisingly to many, they were in the comfort of an air conditioned office.
white black-eyed Susan vine (Thunbergia alata ‘Susie White w/ Black Eye’) – annual
‘Sunshine Daydream’ double perennial sunflower (Helianthus x multiflorus) – perennial
‘Pink Temptation’ turtlehead (Chelone lyonii) – perennial
‘Purple Ball’ basil (Ocimum basilicum) – annual
‘Ensign Pink’ dwarf morning glory (Convolvulus tricolor) – annual
Our volunteers continue to be a stalwart crew. Above is Marsha M. working on some thank you cards for our recent (and successful) Home Garden Tour. We’re already scouting out gardens for 2017! Kathy and Eva worked on tidying and planting in the entrance garden and shifted to shadier areas for tidying by mid-morning. Suzie, Marilyn and Vera helped weed at the Horticulture Center, continuing the earlier weeding efforts by Bob and Bev D. this morning. Vicki (below) and Steve S. did a great job weeding and tidying in multiple areas and covered a lot of real estate. Alan continued weeding and mulching near the Horticulture Center and is one of the hardest working volunteers I’ve ever observed! Maury ran errands for us and Dave, Jim, Vern and Ron Y. had a wide range of carpentry projects to accomplish. Steve J. weeded an entire greenhouse and had some other tasks. Peg was in to work on labels and Bev came back to help mount labels on stakes. Dick H. repaired one of our vehicles today and Dr. Gredler did his mowing rounds. We also saw Gary and many others today. We had a great crew today and I’m sure I forget someone but we sure appreciate our volunteers! :)
Alan
Eva
Kathy
Dave and Jim (driving)
Suzie
Vera
Marilyn
white foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) in the Heirloom Garden
‘Summer Breeze’ caladium (Caladium) – tropical
‘Stardust’ caladium (Caladium) – tropical
‘Candyland’ caladium (Caladium) – tropical
‘Florida Cardinal’ caladium (Caladium) – tropical
‘Florida Elise’ caladium (Caladium) – tropical
‘Green Giant’ caladium (Caladium) – tropical
‘Rose Glow’ caladium (Caladium) – tropical