A Heat Wave (With High Winds)!

More hellebores blooming today (Helleborus orientalis) among many other things! Temperatures reached over 70 degrees today although the winds were pretty extreme. We were able to work on the last of our pruning and applied a lot of compost over the entrance garden in front of the Parker Education Center. We had some volunteers come in and help pot up perennial divisions for our upcoming sale. We've already potted up irises and daylilies. We'll move on to ornamental grasses and sedums next. We brought in soil this afternoon in anticipation of possible rain tomorrow. We'll be ready to work inside if the weather warrants it. The next picture gives an idea of the progress thus far with perennial division. Warmer temperatures may necessitate dividing even more perennials in the next week or two as they emerge quickly from the warming soil.

We're also keeping a close eye on our interpretive signs. We are "re-sinking" signs for trees and shrubs and are straightening our metal signs for perennials. We have over 400 signs for tree and shrub memorials; plus another 4,000 metal labels out in the gardens. They all need to be checked annually for replacement, repair or removal. Our signage is primitive but effective I feel. Much of our audience is interested in the "experience" of the gardens, not so much the names of the plants. However, with our mission "To promote horticultural education and appreciation for all people," we need to be able to keep track of what we have and both accurately and effectively relay that information. There is a fine line or balance between appropriate labeling and not cluttering things up too much.

Note the "summer teaser" below with images of our new terrace garden. A nice place to relax and enjoy the gardens. The gardens around this terrace are being developed over the next couple of years!