Sticky Hot

Above are the gorgeous flower plumes of goatsbeard (Aruncus dioicus) in the sunken garden. This huge patch has thrived in a full sun location in nice organic soil that really gets an ample soaking from our irrigation system. The height and vigor of goatsbeard is related more to soil and adequate water than it is to sunlight. I know I feature this perennial every year when it blooms but it sure catches the eye as the specimens seen here are about 6' tall! To the right is load 2 of 2 that we picked up today from one of our suppliers. Larry made the first run and I made the next. We brought back a combined 21,600 annuals and shattered the perception that our yard of plants was actually starting to empty out! With Saturday work days over the next two weekends, these plants will play a big part of the action during those mass plantings. I just hope we have the turnout we need (40 volunteers +). To the left is the bright yellow growth of the 'Taylor's Sunburst' lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) near the pergola. This bright new growth will fade to green but is noticeable at 50 yards right now. To the right are Kelli and Ariel....I'm not sure where to start regarding this image which may be considered nightmare fodder for some....

This morning was quite dark and overcast. It really seemed like we'd get some rain out of that system but no such luck. The clouds kept the temperature bearable until lunchtime or so and then it became an inferno. I remember summers when we've lacked even a couple of days in the 90 degrees F and here we are in early June. I suppose we all complain about the weather but I'm also thinking of our watering needs, ability to plant, volunteer assistance, etc. We'll spend some major time watering tomorrow and my primary frustration isn't so much our planting pace (which is going awesome by the way) but the population of weeds with too few hands to combat the problem. We'll be very careful tomorrow and Wednesday, both with a heat index of over 100 degrees F. UGH! Despite the heat we had a solid turnout of volunteers and the staff made it thru the increasingly brutal day. Above are some of the Grumpies (Ron W., Ron B., Pat, Dick K. and new Ron) clearing bulb foliage out of three of our arboretum beds. Dick H. joined them after helping repair our small tractors. If you look closely, you'll see the powdery white masses of "cotton" from our female cottonwood (Populus deltoides) population on that flower bed. This annual right of late spring creates quite a mess and many of these seeds will take a crack at germination very shortly. The guys above started the day by finishing the composting on our entrance garden slope (although Ron W. and Big John hauled some items to storage first). After clearing these three beds and a fourth, the guys did a nice job composting them. In a totally different area, Urban, Bill and Dennis did a nice job clearing the thousands of ornamental onions (Allium) in the formal annual sections. The guys cleared out all eight beds and did some weeding there as well. Pat and Dr. Yahr also helped water. Gary and Ariel continued processing plant labels with the help of new addition, Rita. We have something weird going on with the engraver that Gary is going to track down shortly. In the mean time, we have plenty of labels to secure on stakes and Maury brought back our next order of strap aluminum that will be used for sign bases. Maury, Dick P., new Grumpy Dick, Rollie and Big John installed more fence sections along the west shoreline near Lion's Beach to protect our new native plantings along that border. Dr. Gredler and Little Jerry were both in to mow. Dave, Vern, Bob and Jim did some work on the North Point arbor and are gearing up for their next batch of obelisks. Shirley H. was in to plant in the color rooms garden and helped Janice continue to plant later. To the left is the neat bloom cluster of one of the vetches (Vicia) climbing up our chainlink fence at the Horticulture Center. I never have the heart to spray this (herbicide) as the blooms are so neat. I'm not sure which species it is but it has no trouble making a nice screen. To the right is 'Rick's White Tip' spruce (Picea abies) that is flushing new growth. Last week the growing tips were bright white and are now a creamy coloration. We really have some neat conifers around the gardens.

Aside from sweating heavily all day, the grounds staff did a nice job. Marianne cut back bulb foliage, weeded, watered, tidied and accomplished her cutting display. Marv and Terry installed some edging, pruned, removed bulb foliage, fertilized, rototilled and did lots of watering today. Larry ran irrigation, picked up plants, mowed, weed whipped and helped hand water as needed. Janice planted, weeded and watered and will have the same duties tomorrow. I started laying out the plants for our ornamental edible / compact vegetable display (see bottom picture) that started with placing colorful cucumber supports and obelisks (hauled over by Marv and Terry). I hope we can peck away at this large space over the next couple of mornings and keep everything damp. We're on track to plant our large slope this Saturday as almost all the "ingredients" are here. Nice shot directly below of a white peony (Paeonia) of unknown variety combined with 'Globemaster' ornamental onions (Allium).