Tuesday Heat Wave

Today reminded us of a hot July day with temperatures just around 90 degrees F which was pretty brutal and oppressive. The top picture is of the double flowering plum (Prunus triloba 'Multiplex') which I've featured every year and it steals the show for the seven days it blooms in spring. This is right in our entrance garden (about 10' wide and 8' tall) and once it is done blooming, we'll shear it in to more of a "controlled dome" form. The picture directly above and to the left shows our tulips (Tulipa) peaking in front of the building. The cold weather originally slowed them up nicely to prolong color but this heat (more tomorrow) will flush them out quickly. I hope they hold color thru next week. We've had lots of compliments regarding the tulips and once these fade, we'll be right in there with the continuation of the blue/yellow theme in our annual planting schemes.

Today was a whirlwind to say the least. We ran out for plants twice to Jenka Blossoms to pick up more of our custom grown annuals and had another pick-up early this morning. The batch of coleus (Solenostemon scutellariodes) to the right are some that we couldn't fit and we'll pick them up on Thursday. Big John and Pat ran for the first pick-up this morning with Jenny and I heading out this afternoon for round two. In addition to our plant pick-ups, we had five deliveries today. Our herbs and perennials arrived for the sale as did some trees and shrubs for the grounds. Tomorrow we make three trips for the tomatoes, peppers, etc. so we can get them back for tagging. We had plenty of people coming and going today to help in the gardens and more specifically with the plant sale. I had some morning meetings (Garden Development Committee with Dr. Gredler, Kelli, Big John, Dr. Yahr, Gary, Carrie, Christine, Maury and Joanne) and helped where I could between keeping other projects moving along. We found another robin's nest out in our yard area and this one (seen below) was interestingly positioned on top of a construction barricade and not too far off the ground.We had a dynamite group of volunteers in to help tag today. In the foreground above is Kay tagging some basils (Ocimum). To the left and far right of Kay are Marianne and Janice respectively. Both ladies were instrumental in keeping everything organized as they do with all of the plant sales. With Janice are Cindy and Gary who are some of our steadfast and reliable volunteers. We also had Shirley, Bev (to the right), Mary W., Carrie and Vern helping out today as well. It was mostly sunny work and as they finished our basils, other deliveries arrived just in time to be tagged by the gang. We have tagging crews both Wednesday and Thursday morning to continue this process before the start of the sale on Friday (members only, 9 am - 5 pm). The sale for the public is on Saturday and Sunday (9 am - 5 pm daily) and while we wont have 90 degrees, we're just hoping for decent weather! The tagging tomorrow will include the start of about 25,000 vegetable plants and a continuation of our herb pricing. This sale has more to offer than ever before and we hope for a good showing. So many organizations have spring plant sales as fundraisers and I think there is enough business to go around. Our niche has been the interesting vegetables and a nice price. To the left are the very early, brownish flowers of the golden sedge (Carex elata 'Bowles' Golden') that will later fill out to be a very showy specimen in part shade. To the right is another close-up of the 'Valerie Finnis' grape hyacinth (Muscari armeniacum).

Pat M. started his first day on the grounds staff although he has been a "Grumpy" for almost two years now. Pat's work ethic impressed me as a Grumpy and he dove right in today working with Big John on pushmowing and preparing a large area for planting with John as well. After their plant trip, they helped unload more deliveries and continued their project. Jenny was in to help out in the plant sale (lots of watering) and Larry helped out in the yard too. He had planned on weedwhipping but never escaped from the activity out in the yard. Larry made a stealthy pick-up early this morning for the last of our basils and some other goodies from our grower. Janice and Marianne were so well organized today that I felt in the way everytime I checked in with them. Much of their time for the plant sale is volunteer hours and much appreciated as they do their best to prepare a smooth sale. RBG is lucky to have them willing to lend so much time and expertise. We also saw Luis, Bill, Mary D. and countless others today too. Tomorrow, we start again although I'll put on more sunscreen and drink a lot more water! Crazy spring! Kathy and Tom at Jenka Blossoms (Lima Center) have a nice patch of variegated sweet irises (Iris pallida 'Aureo-variegata') which has such a clean spring look and light blue flowers are mere weeks away. Be warned! This heat will also quicken the pace of garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) both blooming and scattering seeds (seen at the bottom).