The Blue/Yellow Theme Is Looking Good

Our blue and yellow theme is really starting to fill in nicely. The top image is the entrance sign bed that Kay weeded yesterday and it looks great (even at 30 mph!). The second image down is a dwarf morning glory (Convolvulus tricolor 'Royal Blue Ensign') that really lends itself to that scheme. The image above is the vivid, bright yellow bloom of the sulphur cosmos (Cosmos sulphureus) called 'Limara Lemon' that is quite striking in large groupings. At less than 15" tall, these shorter cosmos have plenty of flower power and this variety in particular will be a "workhorse" in our blue/yellow theme throughout the summer. Although we haven't had the rain I'd like to see, we've kept up with irrigation in most areas including our entrance garden. All the sun and heat have combined to really flush these seasonal plants along and the effect gets better with each passing day. Unfortunately those same inputs of water, sun and heat have spurred on the next generation of weeds including many cottonwood (Populus deltoides) seedlings and plenty of purslane (Portulaca oleracea). Above and to the left is Mary working her way thru this front slope area. Donna D. takes care of this area but can use the help during this "tight window" when there is still space between the plants to get in there and weed before everything fills out. To the right is one of the blue pyramids finally getting the covering of yellow from those golden silver lace vines (Fallopia aubertii 'Lemon Lace'). These vines are perennial but we'll use them for a season and I look forward to our blue pyramids turning gold! Directly below is the furry, wooly sage (Salvia argentea 'Hobbit's Foot') that not only offers a clear silver in the gardens but just has to be touched by every visitor for having such soft leaves. This plant is actually a zone 5 perennial but we use it as an annual. This specimen (and many others) are in the reception garden which has plenty of pink but this nice repetition of a silver "punch" of color.Kelli and I had a presentation today that has started the beginning of our solicitation for financial support for a future "wellness" or "healing" garden. We're excited about the potential of this future garden space and look forward to promoting and "selling" it to possible supporters. I moved on to many other projects that need to be done before my vacation next week. Big John worked on lots of watering and finished some work with our English cottage garden revival. He also watered all our containers and helped facilitate some of the volunteers. Janice situated our morning volunteers out in the gardens and moved on to fertilizing, weeding and had a meeting for the Volunteer Commitee for which she is the acting chairperson. Larry kept irrigation going, ran out for a load of plants (our last until September!), mowed and helped with some other projects. Jenny was in (as a volunteer) and did a great job matching up labels out in the gardens and creating more as needed. To the right is a neat, hybrid wheat celosia (Celosia argentea var. spicata 'Ruby Parfait') that caught my eye today (reception garden) and I imagine it would also be great in both fresh and dried arrangements. Also in the reception garden, the 'Pink Lipstick' Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris) was looking good (and tasty) in the container arrangements (picture to the left). We planted over 25 varieties of Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris) out in the gardens and I look forward to enjoying their different colors and features. To the left is the tightly packed (and furry!) flower panicle for the Tiger Eyes sumac (Rhus typhina 'Bailtiger') which also has those nice golden leaves.

We had an awesome turnout of volunteers today. Bob C. and Dennis worked on regraveling an area while Dick H. ran to the dump and is repairing our dump truck. Dr. Gredler was in to mow and Rollie came in to start placing a new brick order. Dave, Jim and Bob A. worked on repairing and replacing the plant sale tables and did some other carpentry work. Our morning weeders included Marilyn, Mary, Suzy and Glenna. They did a great job weeding multiple areas and we also saw Mary and Roy weed their area (shade garden) and they later moved to some other "challenge areas". Hal and Doris were also in to tidy up their little piece of "real estate." Gena, Mary and Myrt were in to weed the front slope and did a nice job. Joe M. was in to tidy in the Japanese garden as was Karen M. Dick P. and Maury came in to work with the "gate repair" guy and it will be nice to have that feature up and running soon (it's fixed!). Below is one of the American Garden Award (www.americangardenaward.org) selections. This is the 'Picobella Rose Star' petunia and the other entries include 'Dahlinova Hypnotica Lavender' dahlia, 'Kahori' carnation (Dianthus sp.), petunia (Petunia 'Easy Wave Neon Rose'), fanflower (Scaevola 'Surdiva Light Blue'), variegated hot pepper (Capsicum annuum 'Uchu') and finally, the 'SunPaitens Variegated' New Guinea impatiens (will get white flowers). Come view these selections and vote on your favorite. At the bottom is another neat Hakone grass (Hakonechloa macra 'Stripe it Rich') which has prominent gold and white striping on the leaf blades.