Plants Are Growing Overnight

Above is one of my favorite coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides) varieties, 'Sedona'. That orange really pops out and the "dead sedges" (Carex flagellifera 'Toffee Twist') will look good spilling over the edges. Some of our containers are in areas where plant selection might be dictated by the surrounding color theme; the maroon/red them out front for instance. Many of our containers though are just fun to play with each year as we don't plan them over winter and design "on the fly" (with the exception of the hanging baskets that are designed the September previous to the year they are displayed). It was sunny and hot today but I didn't feel that it was too oppressive despite sweating thru both shirts I wore today. Nice shot below of Suzy and Janet planting the border along our wishing well garden today (with Mary). We had another spectacular volunteer turnout today.

Larry and Janice both mowed today and both watered select areas and containers among other duties. Jenny was here matching up labels and watered our yard that was drying out quickly. Little Jerry worked on mowing and spent some time in the Japanese Garden. I was able to spray more herbicide and had a presentation over the lunch hour with Rod for the Noon Kiwanis Club. We had a nice showing of Grumpies with Pat, Bob, Del, Ron B., Roger and Dick H. dicing up and collecting all the branch debris that Larry created yesterday they later moved on to mulching and other tasks. Big John planted the remainder of the roses we had spotted yesterday, composted our last fern bed and helped plant annuals. We have over 100 ferns waiting to be planted and hopefully will get them installed tomorrow or early next week. Bob T. and Bill worked on "air edging" flower beds which is done with a sharp spade and helps define the separation between turf and flower bed. We do this every year on those beds that aren't permanently edged and have that soil/turf "interaction." Vern, Bob A., Jim and Dave T. continued on their carpentry projects and will not run out of work any time very soon. Suzy, Mary, Glenna, Janet and Mary D. all came in to plant and weed and did a great job. Chris, Bob and August finish planting their section of the sunken garden. We also saw Cindy, Laurie, Maury, Dr. Gredler, Lois, Shirley and her grandson. Steve and Shirley S. were here working on our labeling project too! Crazy day. Nice shots of lilies (Lilium) of unknown varieties but they sure are a neat perennial, particulary the fragrant ones. When I started at RBG over 12 years ago, there was a huge lily collection along the pond near the zig-zag bridge. One winter, some muskrats undermined that bed and consumed most of the lilies and essentially decimated that entire collection. We're slowly adding more each year though. Below is the foliage of one of the new Hakone grasses (Hakonechloa macra). This is the variety 'Stripe it Rich' that has prominent streaks of white and makes this variety different from others that are either green or have lots of yellow/gold.
The gourds and cucumbers are off to a great start at the Horticulture Center. The supports that our carpenters built should be perfect for both types of plants and this heat should get these plants moving along. It will be interesting to taste test the heirloom cucumbers, many of which will look quite different from what we see in the grocery stores. I never realized how healthy cucumbers were until I did a little research. Janice has a great team of volunteers keeping up with this collection and and she mentioned today that the foliage of the 'Seven Happiness' luffa (Luffa cylindrica) is "way cool". The foliage can be seen below and I totally agree. The fruits of this vine are edible when young (use like zucchini) or can be left to ripen on the vine for later use as a bath sponge. We have a ways to go but will keep an eye on all the excitement.