The Heat Returns

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We had some rain on Sunday morning (3/4″) which helped keep the beds damp through today.  We’ll be back at watering in earnest tomorrow.  This week looks sunny and quite warm which will really get our plants growing!  Nice shot above of Meteor Shower® South American verbena (Verbena bonariensis) which is a real pollinator magnet wherever it is planted in full sun.  We have a lot of this in the Hummingbird Haven in the Nancy Yahr Memorial Children’s.  The gardens are heading in to their summer peak for color and our tropicals, like the Abyssinian banana (Ensete ventricosum ‘Maurelii’) seen below, are starting to really gain some size.  We had a lot of visitors today including a tour.  Our grounds staff and volunteers did wonderful work out in the gardens despite the start to this July heat wave.

Cindy fertilized, tidied in the terrace and continues to maintain the Hummingbird Haven as it heads in to peak coloration.  Big John installed garden sings, pressure washed stacked lannon stone walls and had plenty of other odd jobs as well.  Larry H. focused on path improvements near the arboretum and they look great.  Janice worked in the Heirloom Garden and on some other projects.  Trevor and Nolan air edged, tidied the Giant Aquarium and fertilized most of the containers.  I was able to get out with some herbicide but spent time finishing up post event details for our successful Home Garden Tour (held this past Saturday).

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Abyssinian banana (Ensete ventricosum ‘Maurelii’) – not hardy

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‘Copperhead’ copperleaf (Acalypha wilkesiana) – annual

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Mini-Star® Tangerine treasure flower (Gazania rigens) – annual (AAS Winner)

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‘Arizona Sun’ blanket flower (Gaillardia grandiflora) – perennial (AAS Winner)

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Del (above) was one of many excellent volunteers we had today.  Del is painting this Adirondack chair (made by our Grumpies) to be sold at the Cottage Garden Gallery.  Painted chairs are $125 while primed (unpainted) chairs are $99.  Bob C., Ron R. and Lloyd all headed out to tidy up paths.  Dr. Gredler was in for mowing and had another task (seen below) that has something to do with our Giant Aquarium!  Kathy and Eva weeded in the entrance garden while Shirley H. weeded and planted.  Dave, Vern, Jim and Ron Y. worked on putting in new edging out in the gardens while Steve had his own project at the Horticulture Center.  Stan and Kristin tidied up in Japanese garden and Rollie was in for some mowing as well.  Dick H. ran to the dump and helped cut stakes for our labels while Peg came in to work on new labels and repairs.  Larry O. and Hayden watered the yard among some other duties and Alan M. (directly below) continues to do a nice job weeding around the Horticulture center.  Marsha M. helped with some mailings and Darcie O. was in to chat about our horticulture therapy symposium next Wednesday (check it out on our website!).  We also saw Art H. and many others today as well.

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Alan M.

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Peg (above)

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Dr. Gredler (above)

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Dolce® Blackcurrant coral bells (Heuchera) – perennial

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‘Rare Breed’ plantain lily (Hosta) – perennial

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‘Supreme Cantaloupe’ hybrid coneflower (Echinacea hybrida) – perennial

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‘African Sunset’ petunia (Petunia) – annual

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‘Purple Ball’ basil (Ocimum basilicum) – annual

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Caladium ‘Cherry Tart’

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Caladium ‘Creamsickle’

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Caladium ‘Desert Sunset’

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our new perennial trial garden for All-America Selections has been planted (as has this sign!)