WHAT'S THAT AZALEA DOING IN MY SOUP ?

Rhododendron 'Poukhanenses '

When I recommend some of the beautiful azaleas we have at the garden center where I work a few days a week without fail the customer will say " I can't grow azaleas . " Oh yes you can I reply, if you select the right one. And, selecting the right kind for our very harsh winters here is really key. Which brings me to the Rhododendron 'Poukhanenses ' , or Korean azalea. Azaleas are, as most experienced gardeners know, members of the Rhododendron family.

In the Poukhan Mountains of Korea these azaleas grow without any help from mankind which make them a very hardy, carefree plant . I couldn't bring myself to pick the beautiful flowers from my Korean azalea, however , the villagers in the Korean mountain side not only pick them but make soup and cakes from them as well.

The Korean azalea is unique in that it is deciduous and can loose its leaves in the winter if it needs to, but this seldom happens. What I like most about it is it's loose and open habit that looks so very natural. Korean azaleas can get 4 to 5 feet tall and wide, however , a more compact form of it has been developed if space is a problem.

GARDEN BLOGGERS' BLOOM DAY -MAY

Ah, May in the garden .....

Dwarf iris

Autumn Moon Japanese Maple

Tulips

Jacob's Ladder

'Olga Mezzitt ' Rhododendron in pink attire

Old fashioned lilac

Magnolia 'Betty '

Snowball Viburnum

Lily-flowering tulips

Dwarf iris and bergenia

SPRING IN A BOWL

Bibimbap-
Healthy and Delicious !

Spring conjures up thoughts of fresh greens and veggies and no other dish I know of says it better than Korean bibimbap. Spinach , bean sprouts, shredded leaf lettuce, cucumbers, and carrots topped with an egg and served over rice is just like spring in a bowl .While the preparation is a bit involved the results are well worth it.

Bobbie Flay of Boy Meets Grill on the Food Network cooks up this dish on one of his shows and you can find the recipe there. This is one of our family favorites.

Traditionally bibimbap was served over rice with a dallop of kochujang ( hot sauce ) but it can also be used with noodles as well.

URBUS UN HORTO -CITY IN A GARDEN

Looking down at Millenium Park from the 21st floor

Aha ! A green roof in the heart of Chicago

Entrance to Millenium Park
( off Michigan Ave. )

The redbuds and tulips are in bloom.

Got any extra money you're not using?
Donald Trump Tower isn't finished yet.

A secret garden ( and the only one in the building ! )
I found behind the public one on
the 19th floor of my friend's high rise overlooking
Millenium Park.

This garden is on the 9th floor and is for use of all
residents of the high rise.

I had a belated birthday lunch with my friend who has a condo overlooking beautiful Millenium Park in the heart of downtown Chicago. What a wonderful day we enjoyed strolling down my old haunts on Michigan Avenue.

BETTY IS BACK AND BETTER THAN EVER

Last April my beautiful Betty magnolia was frozen in the bud and I wasn't able to enjoy her beautiful blooms.

This April has passed without a hard freeze and so Betty has now graced us with her beauty for more than a week now. The purple you see behind Betty are my neighbors Lilacs.

May is a wonderful month in the garden. Almost everything has emerged from its long winter's sleep. My Asian pear and Olga Mezitt rhodo are in full bloom. The dwarf iris are almost ready to send out their blues and yellows and the Weeping dwarf Crabapple is a beautiful scarlet until it unfurls its pink flowers. Blue creeping phlox and the Korean azalea are in bloom.

It's too cool now but it won't be long until we can sit out in the garden until the sun goes down. I hope to catch a glimpse of the hummingbird that visits my Olga Mezitt Rhodo every year. The bees are buzzing around it already.

Welcome Spring and welcome back, Betty .

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALL MAY DAY GALS AND GUYS

One of my favorite singers Judy Collins and I were born on the first of May in the same year - she in Tennessee and I next door in Alabama . In my next life I wouldn't mind coming back as a country music star with a voice like hers . And, of course, singing with Kris Kristofferson wouldn't be half bad either : )

Happy Birthday, Judy, Rita Coolidge, Tim McGraw and all May Day gals and guys !

CALLING ALL GARDEN MUSES

Time to bid April farewell and welcome in May with your garden musings.

This May

Besides this May

We know-

There is another-

How fair our speculation of the Foreigner

Some know him whom we knew-

Sweet wonder-

A nature be

Where saints, and our plain going neighbor

Keep May !


-Emily Dickinson