Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Is October Here Already?

It was chilly and overcast today. The difference from the same time last week is literally 30 degrees F!!! That's crazy. It looks like the heat will return shortly and help nurture along our plants, including the infamous purslane (Portulaca sp.) seen above. I mentioned this plant in a previous blog and while it packs a nutritious punch, we don't care to have a solid carpet of this beast throughout all our annual beds. We're slowly but surely clearing it out and apparently had the help from some visitors last week that were aware of its culinary value and were collecting it in bags for later consumption! We've been continuing to water and irrigate the gardens before it gets hot again and were glad to catch up from all the heat last week. See below for the emergence of yet another garden menace here at Rotary Gardens. The Japanese beetle is out and voraciously looking for something to nibble upon (European filbert leaf in the image). We'll see what sort of year we have as the hordes descend...
Yesterday was very productive with Mary J., Debbie, Kay, Heidi, Shirley and Barb all weeding (some planting too) with Jenny near the gazebo garden. We had a great turnout and are trying to catch up with our weediest of areas. Kelley and Sue weeded and planted the remainder of the shade garden as well and we saw Mary H. tidying her area as well. Nice shot of the tatting fern (Athyrium filix-femina 'Frizilliae') to the left that I took this past Saturday at Peg's house. Peg volunteers in our English cottage garden and her home garden is wonderful.

Today was also very productive with Larry watering and running irrigation while Marv and Terry fertilized, planted, watered, weeded and pruned. Marianne worked on the iris collection and planted the last of our gaps in the front garden near the visitors center. Little Jerry mowed yesterday and today, was in and around the Japanese garden pruning and tidying. Shirley, Kay and Maggie were all here today to weed, plant and then weed again. Janice and Maggie worked together in the sunken garden and are getting it cleaned up for our impending outdoor weddings this weekend. To the right is a leaf of sea kale (Crambe maritima). This perennial from Europe has been used as a salad herb for centuries and is both nutritious and a beautiful, light blue component in the garden. At the bottom is a close-up of million bells (Calibrachoa 'Apricot Punch') at my home. Sometimes called mini-petunias (really not), these tough annuals are great in containers and hanging baskets. They do need good drainage and occasional fertilizer. We don't use many at Rotary Gardens as it's tough to have them looking this good thru late August and September. Regardless, there are many varieties of this tough annual out there.



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