Cool & Cloudy

While the sun did make an appearance later in the afternoon, it was overcast and cool again today. It continues to be nice "working weather" although some extended heat would be preferable for our annuals and tropicals. The gardens are still looking nice (see shot above in the North point garden). That bright pink petunia is Supertunia 'Vista Bubblegum'! While we continue to actively garden, future events are starting to require more of our time and attention including the Fall Plant Sale (September 12th and 13th, 9 am - 4 pm daily, RBG Members Only Pre-Sale on the 11th!) and the Holiday Lights Show. Our grounds crew had a busy day of multi-tasking and our volunteers continue to be vital in our day to day work out in the gardens. All the photos in the blog were taken today.

'Razzleberry' stonecrop (Sedum hybrida) - perennial

'Tie Dye' Helen's flower (Helenium autumnale) - perennial

'Britt Marie Crawford' dark-leaved ligularia (Ligularia dentata) - perennial

cardoon (Cynara cardunculus) - annual

'Tardiva' panicled hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata) - woody shrub

Kathy (above) continues to be consistently awesome with her gardening (and baking). She is sans Eva this week but Andrea came in and joined Kathy for weeding in the Alphabet Jungle Garden today. Stan was out in the Japanese garden tidying up and Dr. Gredler did more mowing and over-seeding of some lawn areas. Bill O. was also in for his Tuesday mowing rounds. Pat M. was in to clean the Horticulture Center gutters among other projects. Kay came in and followed in my morning footsteps to plant 60+ perennials that I placed around the gardens as part of our late summer planting. We saw many others today as well.

The grounds staff had a busy day. Big John (above) is testing out a "weed steamer" and we're experimenting on purslane (Portulaca oleracea) to see if it will kill it down through the roots. John said this was no problem as he's done all the vacuuming at home for the past 20 years... John also ran irrigation, set up sprinklers, watered, weed whipped, loaded debris, etc. Bob K. worked on general watering, watering containers and his gravel project. Larry H. also watered then moved on to push mowing and composting. Cindy tidied multiple areas and moved on to watering containers and some other projects. Aside from placing plants for installation by Kay, I'm focused on the looming Fall Plant Sale and am in "pre-strategy mode" for the Holiday Lights Show.