Above is a nice shot of false spirea (Astilbe chinensis 'Visions') in our sunken garden. I'm starting to think I'm taking the same pictures each year of the same perennials as they bloom but I couldn't pass up a sh
ot of this plant thriving and looking great. Astilbes really don't mind sun but need damp, organic, well-drained soils to look good and perform well. Unfortunately astilbes have been promoted as shade perennials and that's just not the case. The best looking astilbes I've seen have been in full sun along streamsides and waterways where they can stay damp. Awesome weather today with plenty of sun and a high of 80 degrees. This is the type of weather we should be having but I'll take some days in the 90s to get our annuals and veggies moving along out in the gardens. Nice shot of feather reed grass (Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Karl Foerster') blooming in front of the Tiger Eyes sumac (Rhus typhina 'Bailtiger') near our east end. For a brief period of time, the inflorescences (flower/seed heads) are pinkish then age to a nice amber. I love this upright grass (and the sumac too!).Good Grumpy turnout today with Terry and John painting the arched bridge while Jim, Dave and Dick H. continued to repair portions of it. Urban was pruning in the
Japanese garden while Ron, Charlie and Bill finished up our new bench pad nearby. Gary and Del watered while Bob T. and Ron air-edged. Bob A. stained a new bench and we had Shirley weeding and Mary and Art planting. Our breakroom was full today and our grounds staff of Marv, Marianne, Terry, Larry and I all kept busy with various jobs, tasks and duties. Dr. Gredler was here mowing as well. We're focused on keeping the gardens irrigated over these dry days as July and August can really be tough on our thirstiest plants. Much of our efforts this time of year revolve around "artificial precipitation". We don't take the odds on rainfall and continue to target our driest areas. It is preferable to water deeply and more infrequently than to pamper plants with shallow watering (which we do here too!). The goal is to encourage plants to develop more extensive roots so they can make it thru a tough dry time. Looking forward to my vacation coming soon (road trip out West). No blogs between July 9 and July 19. The plant to the right is a delphinium variety 'Diamonds Blue' from Ball Seed. This is one of the new ones that we're trialing here this year. Our pink and chartreuse scheme is starting to fill out as seen below. Should be interesting to see it peak in a month or so......
Japanese garden while Ron, Charlie and Bill finished up our new bench pad nearby. Gary and Del watered while Bob T. and Ron air-edged. Bob A. stained a new bench and we had Shirley weeding and Mary and Art planting. Our breakroom was full today and our grounds staff of Marv, Marianne, Terry, Larry and I all kept busy with various jobs, tasks and duties. Dr. Gredler was here mowing as well. We're focused on keeping the gardens irrigated over these dry days as July and August can really be tough on our thirstiest plants. Much of our efforts this time of year revolve around "artificial precipitation". We don't take the odds on rainfall and continue to target our driest areas. It is preferable to water deeply and more infrequently than to pamper plants with shallow watering (which we do here too!). The goal is to encourage plants to develop more extensive roots so they can make it thru a tough dry time. Looking forward to my vacation coming soon (road trip out West). No blogs between July 9 and July 19. The plant to the right is a delphinium variety 'Diamonds Blue' from Ball Seed. This is one of the new ones that we're trialing here this year. Our pink and chartreuse scheme is starting to fill out as seen below. Should be interesting to see it peak in a month or so......
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