I was out there many times trying to get a good photos of S. latifolia. Although flowers were always symetric, the way they displayed themselves was less than ideal. Those pics were the best.
Silene uralensis seed planted winter before last has come up in full force this spring.
It rained the whole day of the Chapter plant sale (open to the public). Under the picnic shelter where we have it, it was so dark, everyone was asking about get the lights on. (Thank goodness there were some.) We couldn't figure out how to switch them on! Then a savvy member discovered that there was an unmarked button in the maintenance room that did the trick. And a funny thing, you can turn them on, but not off!
We had about a third less plants to sell than usual, but total revenue was about $2100, only $500 less than usual. I only brought 5 flats this year, tow-thirds of my normal donation. But the plant auction was one of the most successful ever, bringing in $435. Since I changed the format of our sale, the auction has become far more "lucrative". Before I took over, the auction was during the sale, and some people participated while others continued to shop. I thought this was unfair. We either had the auction at the beginning of the sale, and bidders were forced to forfeit snatching up choice sale plants before someone else did, or the auction was during the sale. A lot of buyers would pick plants, buy, and be out of there in no time. Either way, the auction crowd was small. But for several years now, the auction is at 10am and the sale begins at 10:20am. So if people come early (and nearly everyone does), they have to "sit" through the auction, and I am convinced that I get more participation. Some always grumble, not understanding why they can't shop right away, but it's just not fair for those who want to bid in the auction. Everyone should have an equal opportunity to snatch up the choice plant, both in the auction and on the sales floor.
