Summertime

We have had some ups and downs with the temperature the past three weeks which has been good for our plants, but now we are staying consistently in the 80's, so I guess summer has officially started in Seattle. :)  Here are some pics of the grounds that I took this morning.  We are also gearing up for a 3 month shutdown starting the last week of August and going through Thanksgiving this year.  This will be the 1st Long Shutdown we have had in Seattle. Usually, the shutdowns are 2-4 weeks and they occur twice per year.  Maintenance Shutdowns happen so major projects can be accomplished such as: renovation to the building, grounds, or parking lot.  This will be a new experiment for us all who work here and should be a fun project to be involved with.  Be on the lookout for project updates and pictures, if I get around to it.  :)

I love all the diversity in this photo: Carex 'Ice Dance' leading up to the purple hydrangea and red crocosmia flowers with Pieris japonica in the background and Lonicera nitida ‘Baggesen's Gold’ behind the hydrangea.  Also slightly pictured is a blue hosta on the left that adds a unique color and texture.

Sweet potato 'Sweet Caroline Light Green', Red Head Coleus at the base of Vista Bubble Gum Supertunia & Umbrella Grass in the bowl

East Lawn of the Temple 

Front Flower Beds

I tried some persian shield (dark purple plant) for the first time at the very front area and some grasses throughout the front beds: Brachytricha calamagrostis

Traffic Circle

Hydrangea Macrophylla

New Dahlias

Dahlia Bed by the flagpole

Echinacea began flowering last week

Traffic Circle Tips

Calibrochoa flowers I tried out in the traffic circle

Coleus in the ovals with artichokes

Enterprise Hosta

Beautiful Blue Hydrangeas

Harlequin Bigleaf Hydrangea