A Solid Monday Performance

In some careers, Monday is that bummer day of getting back in to the swing of things at work after a nice weekend. For the grounds at RBG, Monday is one of our most productive days with most of the grounds staff here and a good showing of volunteers including the Grumpies. The top picture shows the beautiful 'Magellan Coral' zinnia (Zinnia hybrida) that is part of our collection of All-America Selections and Fleuroselect (Europe) winners. This zinnia, at only 30" tall, is packed with plenty of flower power and is looking real good right now. Directly above is a colorful shot in our sunken garden this morning. This garden is about 50% annuals and 50% perennials although the annuals steal the show in summer and offer plenty of color and texture. The white salvia (Salvia coccinea 'Snow Nymph') to the right is a Fleuroselect winner and is not far from the zinnia shown above. The variegated hot pepper (Capsicum annuum 'Uchu') seen to the left is part of the American Garden Award (www.americangardenwaward.org) program and is one of seven entries displayed at RBG and other gardens around the country. Visitors can vote on their favorite entry by either text messaging, voting online or filling out and mailing a voting card (postage provided). Voting is only accepted thru August 31st so check out this display and grab a voting card in the mailbox positioned in the front of that bed. I love the variegated foliage (of 'Uchu') and also the increasingly colorful fruit on this plant. I can imagine it as a nice container component. Check out the American Garden Award (AGA) website for the current vote count and analysis. I've recently seen the AGA displays at Cantigny Gardens (Wheaton, IL) and at Boerner Botanical Gardens (Hales Corners, WI). It will be interesting to see how this program develops after two years as it engages audiences and solicits input/evaluation from them too. To the right is a neat plume celosia (Celosia plumosa) called 'New Look' which not only has bright red, soft feathery blooms but a maroonish tint to the foliage as well. Years ago we did a celosia collection and it was very interesting to observe the differences in not only plant color but in the archictecture (shape) of the blooms. I'm a big fan of celosias and this variety would be in my "Top 10" list for favorite celosias. Below is a neat foliage combination near the gazebo featuring the electric pink/maroon leaves of the bloodleaf (Iresine 'Blazin' Rose') and the large golden leaves of golden elephant ear (Colocasia esculenta 'Elena').

Directly above are Ron W., Ron, Bob C. and Urban putting up tents in the Smelly Garden for our event tomorrow. Check out http://rbg.org/events/smelly-events for more information on this event and the others yet this month regarding the use of the Smelly Garden. The guys put up four tents that will be used tomorrow for hands-on activities. To the right are some little daisy cutouts that will be used as part of the interpretive signage in the Smelly Garden. Vern cut and painted these and is now putting numbers on them that correspondd to certain "plants of interest" that will be featured in that garden. Other Grumpies included Rollie, Dick P. and Maury who went on a run to pick up some donated carpeting

and moved on to other projects after their return (i.e. brick placement by Rollie). All three Rons, Urban and Bob C. moved to regraveling work in the woodland walk once they completed their tent set-up. Dennis was in to help for the first part of the morning too. Bill S. and Dick C. also worked on regraveling while Del watered and swept up various paths and patios. Both Shirley and Mary Q. were in for weeding and targeted the reception and sunken gardens. Karen M. was tidying up in the Japanese garden and had the help of a teenage volunteer as well. Bob A., Jim and Vern worked on carpentry projects and we also saw Janice, Kelli, Kris and many others. Dr. Yahr was in to do some planting and Dr. Gredler did his mowing. Bill O. came in to mow as well. To the left is our cherub sculpture in the formal annual garden surrounded by globe amaranth (Gomphrena haageana 'Strawberry Fields').

The staff had a solid day as well. Larry ran irrigation, weedwhipped most of the morning and moved on to container watering in the afternoon. Marv and Terry set-up sprinklers in various areas, planted and did quite a bit of work getting the new benches and chairs situated and secured in the North Point garden. Big John was in for a half day of planting, fertilizing and weeding while Marianne weeded, watered, planted, cut back perennials and worked on her cutting display. I did some odds and ends and have some time-sensitive projects to finish very soon. To the right is the start of coloration on the fruiting structure of the Italian arum (orange candleflower). The fruiting body of Italian arum (Arum italicum) will continue to get more orange and turn almost red by the time frost comes around. Considered invasive in warmer climates, this perennial has stayed controlled. Directly below is a shot of the operational Japanese garden waterfall (all layers) and the guys should finish it up yet this week. We'll help finish the clean-up and tidy up that space as we look to finish with some plantings, new benches, etc. The bottom photo (today) shows the expanse of the formal gardens.