THE CHICAGOLAND FLOWER AND GARDEN SHOW

A Breath of Spring Inside the Chicagoland Flower and Garden Show

Tulips, Daffodils and Hyacinths, oh my ! It looked like a scene from Holland at the Chicagoland Flower and Garden show.

The show featured many interesting seminars and "potting parties " for those that wanted to do their own containers. Gardening celebrites such as Mike Nowak of WGN radio and Chicagoland Gardening Magazine, Speakers from the Chicago Botanic Garden, The University of Illinois Extension Service , and the Morton Arboretum lent their expertise to the program, and that was just on the day I was there. The list of seminar speakers read's like the Who's Who of Gardening. Very impressive.

There were 14 gardens featured this year and my favorite was Pondering Dreams ", the garden of Rich's Foxwillow Pines Nursery located in Woodstock, about 50 miles outside Chicago. The garden was a four-season backyard sanctuary of conifers and unique decidous trees. If you've never visited Rich's Foxwillow Pines which is on six acres of land, then you should reserve a nice sunny day in May and plan to spend the day there. It is just beyond belief. And, Rich's donates profits from plant sales to Heifer International, the organization that helps impoverished people throughout the world feed themselves. Last year's Hosta's sale resulted in $33,000 donations.

Visit Rich's website at www.richsfoxwillowpines.com and see the remarkable collection they have and the important events they sponsor this year.

This show was put together in a very short time and we must applaud the efforts. We look forward to it getting even bigger and better with each passing year. Kudos to all the sponsors and show participants.

MORE REDNECK HUMOR

Rednecks have a lot of time on their hands and so they tend to get very creative with language. Here's a sampling of actual country song titles :

What Part of No Don't You Understand ?
Here's A Quarter, call Someone Who Cares
How Can A Whiskey That's 6 Years Old Whup A Man That's 33 ?
I Don't Want Your Body If Your Heart's Not In It
If I Said You Had A Beautiful Body Would You Hold It Against
me ?
I still miss you, Baby, But My Aim's Getting Better
I've Got Tears in My Eyes From Lying On My Back In Bed While Crying Over you
If Love Were Oil I'd Be A Quart Low
If The Phone Don't Ring, Baby, You'll Know It's Me
All My Ex's Live in Texas That's Why I Hang My Hat in Tennessee
My Wife Ran Off With My Best Friend And I Sure Do Miss Him
She Got the Ring and I Got the Finger
If You Don't Leave Me Alone I'll Find Someone Who Will
The Last Word in Lonesome is Me
Velcro Arms, Teflon Heart
What Made Milwaukee Famous Has Made a Loser Out of Me
Jose Cuervo He is A Friend of Mine
You Can't Have Your Kate and Edith, Too
You're Ruining My Bad Reputation
I Got in At 2 With A 10 and Woke Up at 10 With A 2
Get Your Tongue Outta My Mouth 'Cause I'm Kissing You Goodbye

And my personal favorite : You're The Reason Our Kids are so Ugly !

HOW MANY CHICAGOANS PLAYED 'HOOKY " YESTERDAY? ?

BEAUTIFUL LAKE MICHIGAN

Those of you who " called in sick " were smart. It was a toasty 73 degrees ( one for the record books ) according to the thermometer in my back yard. We Chicagoans are winter weary and any good weather , like today, is a gift. I got on my walking shoes and visited the shoreline of beautiful Lake Michigan where I encountered many of my fellow citizens soaking up the sun. There were so many people out it made me wonder if anyone was working.

I also cleaned up all the winter debris from my garden, including dog poop ( yuk ! ) and uncovered some bulbs that were just peeping through all the mulch.


The weather forecaster made me laugh when he said there was a danger of getting sunburned in the afternoon. Bring it on.

I sat under my pergola with my constant companion, Mini-Schnauzer , JoJo and we just soaked up the Vitamin D. My fish pond has been frozen over since the end of February but I noticed that it too had started to melt and I could actually see that my darling fishes were alive ! My de-icer failed to work when it got really cold and I thought that my fish were history. I'm so happy that I dug my pond three feet deep ! I would have been heart-broken if I'd lost my lovely pets after six years.

One more month and this horrible winter will be just a bad memory.

AGAINST ALL ODDS

Don't throw away those seeds even if the package has a use by date . Researchers in Jerusalem have succeeded in growing a date palm from a 2,000-year-old seed ! They wisely named it Methuselah even though it's almost twice his age. They believe it to be the oldest seed ever to germinate.

The date palm is from a variety that became extinct in the Middle Ages and was thought to have powerful medicinal effects on infection and tumors.

British researchers at Kew Gardens were able last year to successful germinate seeds that were from a sunken ship wreck in 1803 and had been kept in a Merchant's box in a museum for 200 years.

The world's greatest concentration of plant life is cared for in the Millennium Seed Bank at Wakehurst Place. The vaults now hold 950 million seeds representing 15,000 species from 126 countries. The seeds, kept under ideal conditions, are expected to last more than 200 years.

I DREAMED I WON THE LOTTERY LAST NIGHT

Yours Truly in Tipperary

It was Spring and the smell of Verbena enveloped me as I strolled in the lush garden of my huge estate in Mobile, surrounded by Magnolia Grandiflora, Azaleas, Crepe Myrtle, Gardenia and orchards full of blooming Cherry trees. A beautiful lake filled with swans , surrounded by Weeping Willows caught my eye. Spectacular peacocks with their colorful plumes strutted about. This Garden of Eden was filled with every delight imaginable and although I had designed it myself, I had a full time crew that maintained it while I sat in the shade sipping Mint Juleps.

As I approached my Tara-like Mansion the huge front door opened and the group Alabama descended the stairs, strumming guitars and fiddles and singing my favorite songs. I felt like I was going to swoon when I saw Randy Owen himself on my front porch. It couldn't get much better, unless Gregory Peck were to come back to life. He was one of the best examples of God's handiwork that I've ever seen. As far as I'm concerned he could've just read the phone book .

Next thing I knew I was on a private jet to Ireland to visit my estate in the Emerald Isle . I love the Irish countryside - it's charming and quaint little villages, it's warm-hearted and humorous people. I've invited all the neighbors and we are having a wonderful outdoor get together. I've flown in George Strait, Alan Jackson, Clint Black, Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton and George Jones to provide the entertainment. The Irish and I have a lot in common - we both like country music. Hee Haw !

Next stop was on the other side of the world - Korea, to see my many friends and relatives there and to stay awhile at my estate on Cheju Island, referred to as " the Hawaii " of Korea. We're having a huge Korean-style BBQ in the Asian landscaped garden that rivals the ones of the royal palace. I have a lot in common with Koreans as well : they love to sing, drink and dance and by golly, so do I. A couple of Koreans and a bottle of wine are good for an all night party. They've been dubbed " The Irish of the Orient. " Guess what ? They like country music too and if you've never heard "Tennessee Waltz " in Korean you're in for a treat. And besides, they are doing the South a favor by eating and drinking Kudzu concoctions.

Back on the jet heading to Chicago and my estate far away from the maddening crowds of the city. I've duplicated Tara again and the hundreds of acres of land are lushly planted and meticulously maintained by a full-time crew. I've invited all the stars from Chicago's country music festival to join me for an old fashioned BBQ and square dance. Seems a lot of Chicagoans like country, too.

The doorbell rang and I opened the door . BIG mistake. There stood a huge crowd of people all claiming to be my cousins. That's when I woke up. Rats!! You mean I didn't win the biggest jackpot in history, again ?

MY FIFTEEN MINUTES OF FAME

" I'm Ready for my Close-Up, Mr. DeMille. "
Me with my signature piece ( left ) for the Chicago Art Open

The Home and Garden Section of the Trib is the one I always grab first each Sunday morning. Much to my surprise I got to read about myself in today's edition. in an article titled "From Winner to Designer to Blogger ( link on left ) . My fifteen minutes of fame is very exhilirating and I'm getting carpal tunnel from sending so many links out on my story.

The Chicago Tribune Home and Garden Section announced it's own garden blog , The Chicago Gardener and I want to give them a hearty Midwestern welcome to the blogosphere.

Garden writer and blogger Beth Botts was very gracious in covering my blog and made mention of my mentor Mr. Brown Thumb whom I would like to personally thank here for all his support and encouragement. I hope that Beth will do a separate post or article on Mr. Brown Thumb who is a Pioneer Chicago blogger and the soul of generosity to newbies like me. Much to my amazement he and I and perhaps one or two others comprise all of the garden bloggers in the entire Chicagoland area.

I'd also like to thank Stuart Robinson of Gardeningtips'n'ideas who gave me wonderful advice on blogging and listed me on his gardenblogdirectory. Another directory, Digindirt, has me listed as number 3 out of 117 blogs.

This blogging is much like gardening - a lot of effort, but the rewards will come if you pursue it.

YOU KNOW YOU'RE A REDNECK GARDENER WHEN .....

POP QUIZ : Is this a Redneck or
Windy City Gardener ?

I swear my people are the only ones left that can laugh at themselves, or allow others to . Here's a sampling I found on the Garden Web titled You Know You're a Redneck Gardener when .....

You edge your flower bed with beer bottles.
You put a lot of artificial flowers in your flower bed.
You paint a sunflower on your giant satellite dish.
Your Christmas lights are up year round.
You mow your lawn and find a car.
Plant shrubs where your dog's already done the digging .
Have a plywood cutout of a fat lady in bloomers bending over your flower bed.
Have a Mr. and Mrs. Goose that has their own wardrobe that changes with the season.
You compost disposable diapers.

So I'm responding with : You know you're a Windy City gardener if :

You've got more than one Huge Colorado Spruce in your yard

You go dumpster-diving for flowers outside the garden center
Your evergreen shrubs look like green bubble gum
You have curtains hanging on your front porch
You have artificial flowers in your hanging baskets
You think a political sign is yard art
You keep your Christmas decorations up until June
Your idea of gardening is a yard full of flower cut-outs
You use white marble chips as mulch
You use red bark as mulch
You use Red Lava rocks as mulch
You have a chainlink fence around your yard with Morning Glory Vines



And they think Rednecks are funny. From now on I'm going to insist on being called an Appalachian-American. A Rose by any other name would smell as sweet. You bet'cha !

P.S. That might look like a Redneck garden, but it's actually in Chicago.

PLANTS COULD SAVE OUR LIVES

Consider the Dandelion : An obnoxious weed to many, a delicacy to others.



I can remember when I was a kid my daddy would go out in the woods and bringing home poke salad. That's Southern for any kind of wild greens , some of which , like mushrooms, could be poisonous. "Let's try it out on Carolyn, " he'd say, " and if she's okay we'll eat the rest of it. " Very funny. Must be where I got my warped sense of humor.

I'm reading a very thought-provoking book , EAT TO LIVE by Joel Fuhrman, M.D . The good doctor asks the simple question -which has more protein, broccoli or steak ? I thought that was a no-brainer: steak, of course. Wrong ! Steak has 5.4 grams of protein per 100 calories; broccoli has 11.2, almost twice as much. In addition, steak has saturated fat and no fiber. Broccoli has fiber, no fat and phytonutrients that are beneficial. Get the picture ? Nutrient-dense foods, like broccoli, are not only filling, but healthy, and if you eat more of them and less of the empty calorie foods, you'll naturally shed excess weight, and without going hungry.

I also thought that animal protein was superior to that of plants. But the cow that produced the steak ate grass, and all those big animals like elephants, gorillas and hippos, do too. I'm beginning to get a new- found appreciation for green plants. They certainly pack a powerful punch. Research shows that people can eat unlimited portions of high-fiber foods such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains without feeling hungry, and without even additional exercise or limits on portion sizes, calories or carbrohydrates, lose about one pound a week. Now that's my kind of diet.

Dr. Fuhrman, one of America's leading nutritionists, states " My clinical experience over the past ten years has shown me that almost all the major illnesses that plague Americans are reversible with aggressive nutritional changes designed to undo the damage caused by years of eating a disease-causing diet. The so-called balanced diet that most Americans eat causes the diseases Americans get. " Food can be both the cause and the cure.

He advocates eliminating animal products, processed food, dairy, refined carbs and starchy vegetables from our diets to reverse many dietary-caused illnesses such as adult diabetes, heart problems, high cholesterol, acne, allergies, angina, fibromyalgia, gallstones, high blood pressure, irritable bowel syndrome, etc. His patients on the program were able to reverse their illiness and drop excess weight rather quickly as well.

Dr. Fuhrman cites the famous China -Cornell-Oxford Study in which two villages, one consisting of plant eaters and one of meat eaters, were followed for many years. The plant eaters had very little disease such as cancer, heart problems, and diabetes, but the meat eaters did, although not as high as the rate that Americans do. The Chinese also consume more calories than we do, but are 25 percent thinner because they eat a lot of fruit and vegetables and very little processed food.

I always preferred chicken breast myself, and avoided red meat, only to learn that there's not much difference. Fish ? Isn't that suppose to be very healthy ? Depends on where it comes from because a lot of fish these days comes from waters polluted by mercury and its not advisable to eat more than 2 servings a week. Pregnant women are advised to be cautious in eating fish.

After reading this book I don't know who to trust. Not the government, for sure, and not the big food companies that often mislead the public with their labeling. Two per cent milk ? It's actually 35 per cent fat. Olive oil ? Thirteen point five grams of fat and 120 calories in one tablespoon , so moderation is the key if you're on a diet to lose weight. And all that low- fat and fat- free food can actually make you fatter. "Eating the Pyramid will turn you into a Mummy, " according to the Doctor.

Vegetarians rarely have cholesterol over 150 , diabetes , cancer or heart attacks and one study showed they lived an average of 13 years more than meat eaters. Momma was right-on when she said " eat your veggies. " And while obesity in the general population is skyrocketing, in vegetarians, it ranges from 0-6 percent! Plant-based foods are used more efficiently as fuel for the body, instead of being stored as fat.

If you are " what you eat " I just want to know what that Texas beefsteak known as Matthew McConaughey eats. God paid extra attention in creating him.

Instead of asking " If you were a tree what kind of tree would you be , " like Barbara Wa-Wa, I'd ask what kind of vegetable would you be ? I think I'd be a dandelion. I know most people think dandelions are a nuisance but they are really delicious as a salad and wine. And, they're no trouble at all, growing all by themselves. Ever pass a grassy bank on the highway and see a lot of elderly Asian women picking at something ? They're collecting dandelions, a delicacy in their cuisine.

I've decided to embark on a new journey as a vegetarian. Wish me luck, cause I'll need it. They say it's as difficult as changing your religion. Lord, I apologize for all those chickens I've consumed. I didn't know that chickens and pigs were as intelligent or more so than dogs. And, I didn't know that so many good looking Hollywood stars were vegetarians .

The vegetarian diet must be rich in vitamins for brains, cause Einstein was a vegetarian and so was William Shakespeare and Vincent Van Gogh . So I'll be in good company.

More on my success, or failure, later.

IN MY BACKYARD

Mid-Autumn in the Sweet Home Chicago Garden 2006

Since my backyard is small I select perennials that will give me the longest bloom period. In the photo above are two of my favorites : Pink Coneflower in the center , yellow Blackeyed Susans rear, and white Phlox. Other easy to grow and long blooming perennials in my garden are 'Autumn Joy ' Sedum, Korean mums, Catmint, ornamental grasses, Ajuga, Plume Poppy, Korean Bellflowers, Bee Balm , lilies, and the repeat blooming Daylilies. With this combination, I have perennials in bloom from early Summer to late Fall. I mix in annuals to provide a continuous color.

The evergreen backbone of my garden is the Taxus x Media 'Densiforma', or the much-maligned Japanese Yew. I say much-maligned because a lot of people despise it as it is so common and is usually over-pruned or over-grown. There is a reason, however, that it is so popular and that is the fact that it is evergreen ,relatively easy to maintain, and thrives in a great deal of shade. The 'Densiforma' will only grow 4 feet high and 6 feet wide, but can be kept smaller by light pruning. When allowed to grow into its natural form it is a very lush, deep green shrub that will give you four seasons of interest.

The other evergreen shrub that I adore, a much more artistic, and therefore expensive one , is the Japanese Cypress. It needs no pruning and its erratic growth habit is very unusual.

Many people give up on Tulips because they have a tendency not to come back year after year. I've discovered, by trial and error, that its the species you select that is important. Darwin hybrids, single late Tulips and Lily-flowering Tulips work the best and have been returning in my garden for at least 5 years. A perennial Tulip selection is available from Dutchgardens.com.
Daffodils are another perennial that come back every year, and even colonize. I also love Siberian Squill for that reason - it spreads its blue beauty over a wide territory.

I planted the perennial vine 'Sweet Autumn ' Clematis at the base of my pergola and in one season it climbed to the top. The second season it spread across the roof of the pergola and its intense fragrance could be appreciated throughout the garden. I love this vine - it has thousands of star-like white flowers from early to late Autumn. It also covers the fence that I share with my neighbor and she loves it as well.

My garden's small space doesn't allow for many trees, so I had to chose carefully. The tree I had my heart set on was a Wisteria Standard and the price was dear : $500. Much to my surprise at the end of the season sale it was marked down to $100 so I grabbed it. The Wisteria standard is a graft and as most grafts tend to revert to their natural habit, it wants to be a vine, therefore it takes attention to keep it in check as a tree. It took two years after planting before it bloomed but it was well worth the wait. It's fragrance and beauty is a sight to behold.

My next tree purchase was an Asian Pear that had two different types of pears grafted into one tree - one side of the tree has an early fruiting pear and the other a later one. This tree is amazing-it's a dwarf and bore 17 pears in its second season. I love its shiny glossy green leaves, flowers and fruit.

For my last selection I chose another small ornamental tree that blooms for 3 months. Rose of Sharon ( Hibiscus Syriacus ) comes in a variety of colors : pink, blue, purple and white and is one of the longest flowering ornamentals in Zone 5. It is also the national flower of Korea, something my husband appreciates.

INSIDE THE SWEET HOME CHICAGO GARDEN

Viburnum Plicatum 'Mariesii '

My backyard is a typical Chicago- sized plot with a detached garage facing the alley. When we moved into our house it looked like WWII had taken place there. The former homeowners raised Afghan Hounds and the backyard was their play pen.

My kids were young then and I held a full-time day job, so gardening was the last thing on my mind. Besides that, I had spent my entire youth tending a labor-intensive vegetable garden and picking cotton, corn, peanuts and potato crops.

Once the children were a little older and I had more time on my hands, my old green thumb reappeared with a vengeance and I tackled the back 40. I knew from my days on the farm that the soil was the first priority and after leaving the red clay of Alabama behind I was shocked to find that I had gray Chicago clay covering the entire backyard. I knew right away that my work was cut out for me.

So I tackled what became a very big project involving a lot of back-breaking work - digging out a lot of the clay and incorporating compost and fine pine bark into it. Now it was time to plant.

My garden has gone through multiple changes over the years. One summer I went crazy and turned the entire backyard into a vegetable garden. What was I thinking ? That's a full-time job, and I already had one, no, make that two, thank you. My hubby Simon still smacks his lips to this day about the fresh leaf lettuce, squash and green onions.

Then I put in a lawn and curved beds around it. My German Shepherd Duke made short work of the lawn and garden. Back to the drawing board. I don't give up easily. I have that stubborn Taurus- Irish- Southern -determination .

I read an intriguing book on small gardens and was inspired by a plan that didn't allow a view of the garden all at once, which not only makes it appear larger, but more mysterious. I liked that.

So, I dug out the lawn and made a sitting area out of wooden patio blocks. I was now ready for my first major shrub purchase, which I wanted to use as a focal point right next to the sitting-out area. The eye would be drawn to it first and prevent viewing the garden all at once. I also created a sense of intrigue by putting in a natural stone path going from the wooden patio to the garage, which leads the eye to another vista .

I fell in love with a Viburnum Plicatum 'Mariesii ' and selected it as my first major shrub. and focal point. It was small at the time I planted it but several years later it came into it's full glory as you can see from the above photos. It's still my favorite to this day. It has four seasons of interest : In Spring it's beautifully- veined leaves emerge, Summer, beautiful white flowers that look like Hydrangea, in Fall, bronze purple leaf color and in winter it's horizontal Asian-like woody shape is beautiful. Who could ask for anything more , except maybe that it be evergreen .

More on my garden later.

THE KOREAN CONNECTION INSIDE SWEET HOME CHICAGO'S KITCHEN

A Korean Lunchbox
( Healthy and Yummy - No wonder Koreans
are so Slim. )

Confucius says in Chinese but in my house, its Simon Says in Korean. The proverb he penned above goes like this : Two friends are eating when one drops dead. The other doesn't take notice of his passing and continues to eat. Further explanation needed ? Now you know why the old adage " East is East and West is West and never the twain shall meet " was coined. Believe it or not ( and it's hard to sometimes ) this is how a Korean might compliment the great food of his host or hostess. He is savoring the tasty food so much he notices little else.

Down South and other places in between this would be called a " left-handed compliment. " Koreans are quirky that way. I know, I'm married to one, and he has a lot of quirks. But then, so do I. He thought he knew English until he heard me say " Cut out the light. " And I never thought I'd marry someone whose people actually eat and drink Kudzu.

So in my kitchen you can find such dishes as Kimchee Chigae, Bibimbap, Bulgogi, Kalbi, Chicken and Dumplings, Brunswick Stew , Gumbo and by all means, Grits.

Speaking of Grits, I happened upon the blog of a displaced Southerner in South Korea one evening. His blog had a post on his craving for Grits , something he thought he'd never miss. He created a "fusion " recipe in which he combined grits with Korean condiments and labeled it Korean redneck Grits. Fusing Southern with Korean, now there's a recipe I've gotta try.

Most Americans are mystified by Korean food and think its a mixture of Chinese and Japanese. Couldn't be further from the truth. Korean food is very complex and tickles the taste buds with its pungent, sweet, hot, salty, bitter and sometimes nutty flavors. Next to downhome comfort foods, it's my fave and like Epicurious Magazine, I think it will soon get the long overdue attention it deserves.

But, I must say that I learned to make Korean food from the best - my mother-in-law who was a terrific cook. Didn't speak much English but sure knew how to gesture and demonstrate by doing . I was her only non-Korean daughter-in-law and she liked me best. Why ? For a good reason - most married women aren't going to listen to their mothers-in-law tell them how to cook, but, since I didn't know anything about Korean cuisine and was eager to learn , it was "monkey see, monkey do. " She'd pat me on the back in front of her Korean daughters-in-law and say "She so nice, she listen to me. " Didn't win me any favors with the sisters-in-law, but hey, we all knew who was in charge.

In addition to learning from the master ( she had no recipes, it was always a little of this or that ) having a good cookbook helps. My personal favorite is Growing Up in a Korean Kitchen by Hisoo Shin Hepinstall. Her book was named as one 2001's best by People Magazine and it is just a delight to read . It's not just a recipe cookbook but one that is filled with the writer's poignant memories of her childhood in Korea. My dear Korean friend and gourmand Mia tasted one of my Korean concoctions from Mrs. Hepinstall's book and was amazed because she had never had the dish before and she loved it.

Epicurious.com has a very interesting special on Korean food and cookbooks, one of which is the aforementioned.

One drawback about cooking so many good Korean dishes is that my Seoul mate no longer wants to go out to eat at Korean restaurants. I've created a monster. But when we do, it's usually to the one we consider the best in Chicago and it's been in business for nearly 30 years : Cho Sun Ok, 4200 N. Lincoln Ave. at Berteau. DO not go on the weekends because its jam packed, but if you must, parties of 3 will get in faster. It's not fancy but the food is terrific. You can have the famous Korean BBQ right at your table. Y-u-m-m-y ! Hey, there's another Southern connection -BBQ!

THE FIRST FLOWER OF SPRING

THE FIRST SIGN OF SPRING IN CHICAGO
GETHSEMANE GARDEN CENTER 'S
5TH ANNUAL SPRING OPEN HOUSE

It's just around the corner so I'm alerting you early on to be ready to attend the above event on Saturday, March 31st and Sunday, April 1st. There will be four special lectures :

10:00 a.m. - Begonia Care and Propogation
11:00 a.m. -Hellebores and General Gardening
1:00 p.m. - Hellebores and Lilies
2:30 p.m. -Herb Gardens for Small Spaces

The hellebores, also known as the Christmas or Lenten Rose, will be available for purchase that day, so if you don't have this delightful first flower of Spring, please consider adding it to your garden. It is so wonderful to see it poke its head up out of a late snow. Hellebores are among the easiest of plants to grow and will be a great addition to any garden.

SHE'S THE 'SUPERSTAR' OF ROSES, A REAL KNOCK OUT !

Since its introduction in 2000 the Knock Out Rose was hailed a "breakthrough shrub rose " by the All-American Rose Selections because of its exceptional disease resistance and hardiness. It was one of three roses that year to win the prestigious AARS award for outstanding garden performance.

I have been in love with the Knock Out rose since I discovered it growing in profusion in a client's garden. I could hardly believe my eyes because it was late October and the rose shrubs had a profusion of blooms in full flower. " That's nothing, " the resident gardener said, " It'll bloom right up until the hard freeze kills it. "


Texas A & M University conducted four years of research and found Knock Out to be one of the finest landscape roses that they had ever tested. No pesticides of any kind were used and it proved to be almost resistant to blackspot, the fungal disease that is the scourge of roses across much of the U.S. It is also resistant to powdery mildew and aphids and is cold-hardy and heat and drought-tolerate once established.

Knock Out was given the Texas Superstar designation by the horticultural experts at Texas A & M. "Only the best adapted, highest performing and most pest-resistant plant materials are designated Texas Superstars , " said Dr. Steve George , Texas Cooperative Extension horticulturist in Dallas A & M. He said they present that title to plants that have undergone rigorous field trial testing to demonstrate they add beauty to a landscape with minimal maintenance and maximum protection for the environment.

While most roses need 4-6 hours of sun a day, Knock Out can tolerate as little as 3 and thrive. Of course they will perform better when you give them more sun. And for the cold climate rose growers, Knock Out is hardy to -20 .

I have a Pink Knock Out in my garden, but it comes in shades of Light and deep pink, cherry red and there is a double specimen as well. A new introduction this year is called " Rainbow " and it has a mix of yellow and orange colors.

So for those who love roses and didn't think they had the time or expertise to grow them, Knock Outs are no-brainers.

From 5 to 9

Al's Creative Use of Houseplants Make a Wonderful Statement

Okay, I'll admit it, I'm a lily-livered chicken. I escaped the weekend wintry blast in Chicago and went down to Florida to visit my friends, Sara and Al , near Tampa Bay. From Zone 5 to Zone 9 is a tremendous change, both for people and plants.

It was an education unto itself. The above photo is of Al's Live Oak ( that's what they call them -can you believe they're evergreen ? ) right outside the Lanai. He just stuck a houseplant in the ground and created a living work of art. It must be a trend because I saw quite a few houseplants growing in the ground. The Live Oaks are a very artistic-looking tree with a lot of odd shaped, contorted branches, some growing low to the ground.

In my observation, two things almost every house in the area have, not counting Palm trees are a Lanai (screened gazebo-like structure) and a swimming pool. Must- have's I guess for the climate and the huge bugs. They say that the Palmetto bugs get so big that if you try to squash them with you foot they'll twist your ankle.

Florida has a severe drought at the moment and watering is restricted. Due to the heat they can't grow regular grass, and the kind they can is like the quake grass we pull out for weeds in Chicago. It's awful looking and not pleasant to walk on and a lot of lawns were brown from lack of moisture. But, it seems everyone has a lawn and most lawns get really thirsty.

I was disappointed that not more homeowners in the area didn't use Xeriscaping to conserve water and maintenance. Rock gardens look very natural and would be perfect for the climate but most landscapes were very formal and surprisingly, without much color. So much for conservation. I heard a news report today that Al Gore's energy bill for one day is more than the average American in one week. It's enough to make you lose faith in your fellow man.

It's amazing to see orange and lemon trees with fruit, azaleas in bloom, annuals already planted, tomatoes and herbs, and an assortment of beautiful palm trees. Ahhhh, it's Spring in Tampa Bay!

On the way back we got a rude wake-up call in St. Louis from the airlines : It's snowing in Chicago and your flight will be four hours late. That's the price of going from 9 to 5. I don't think I want to sit down again for a very long time.

A WABI-SABI HOME AND GARDEN

A DENT IN MY NEWLY INSTALLED COPPER SINK.
COULD YOU LIVE WITH THIS ? IF SO, YOU'RE
VERY " WABI-SABI" LIKE ME. GIVES IT A
KIND OF CHARACTER DOESN'T IT ?

First it was the Chinese Feng Shui, and now the Japanese rule with Wabi-Sabi . Wabi-what ? Feng Shui is all about perfection in a harmonious environment, while Wabi-Sabi is more to do with how you accept your environment, imperfections and all. It's about things with a timeworn beauty and appreciating things that may have flaws, like yours truly. I'm a wabi-sabi kinda gal . We have a similar saying down South, " If it ain't broke, don't fix it. " We're not inclined to throw anything away just because it has a nick or scratch. Heck, that's what adds character. And, if you keep it long enough, it becomes an antique, with character.

I was going to re-finish my old wood floors but the floor finisher told me that he was being paid to beat the heck out of new floors to try and give them an aged look just like mine. I reckon I saved myself a couple of thousand right there.

My hubby Simon swears that nothing in our century-old house is square and the solid plaster walls get cracks now and then. The stairs squeak but I figure that's good for knowing who's coming and going. The original wood windows are not air-tight or perfect., but I refuse to do those vinyl replacement ones. Our old house has charm that no builder today can duplicate. The solid quarter-sawn oak floors have an aged patina and show the use of a generation of people walking on it.

Wabi-Sabi is not about accumulating a lot of stuff, it's about simplifying your life with things that are natural and earthy, cherished family pieces or flea market finds. It's the exact opposite of perfectionism and materialism.

It's about what feels comfortable and right to you. So clean the clutter , get some earth toned organic stuff, acquire some handmade things, bring out the family heirlooms and keep that worn out old chest with a nick in it.

Whew ! I'm glad Feng Shui is passe. It really stresses me out to try to be perfect.

ALIEN INVADERS

The Queen of Kudzu

The Vine That Ate the South

The photo above was taken at my Alabama counsin's home . Crawling across the telephone wire above my head is Kudzu, a vine that can grow up to 100 feet in a season. It has covered 7 million acres in the South and costs around a $1,000 an acre to control.

I recently learned that it's reached 22 counties in Illinois. Yikes ! I hope I didn't bring it with me when I came up here. Kudzu is such a part of Southern culture that we've resigned ourselves to living with it. " Don't leave your car parked there too long my dear , or you won't be able to find it when you get back, " is a common joke. Or folks would go on vacation and when they came back they found their house completely encased in kudzu.

Kudzu was brought to America by the Japanese in 1876 in celebration of America's 100th birthday in the Philadelphia Centennial. American gardeners were attracted to its large leaves and fragrant flowers. It was touted as a prevention for erosion as well.

The Southern climate was the problem - everything grows well there and the Kudzu vine took off like " greased lightning " . Those resigned to live with it have taken to making baskets, jelly, syrup, paper and hay . The Chinese have used it for more than 2,ooo years as an herbal medicine and the Koreans and Japanese make tofu, drinks and other products from it.

Most herbicides have no effect on Kudzu. Goats, who'll eat any and everything , were brought in to eradicate the vine and this has worked well in some cases. Farmers also cut and bale it for hay . The most promising control so far is from North Carolina State University who may have found a way to defoliate and kill it. They take a soybean looper caterpillar larvae, inject them with a stingless wasp larvae and then the action begins. The caterpillars eat the kudzu, then the wasps inside the caterpillars hatch and eat the caterpillars from within, killing them before they can turn into moths and eat the crops nearby. The caterpillars also ate twice as much as normal.Brilliant !

We have a saying that " a good attitude is like Kuzu- it spreads. " More later on invasive plants and how they affects us .

A MUST-HAVE FOR THE GARDEN LIBRARY

I COULD KICK MYSELF: HOW COULD I HAVE MISSED
THIS BOOK FOR TWO YEARS ?

Experienced gardeners and garden designers are jaded when it comes to collecting books on gardening. Just when I thought there was nothing left to say on perennials, two professional passionate garden designers create a masterpiece that is a joy to read for both the novice and experienced gardener. It's down-to-earth advice, puns, quips and catchy phrases also appeal to the Taurus in me.

The writers, Stephanie Cohen and Nancy Ondra are , and I quote, " Obsessed with everything about gardens and gardening-with digging, planting, designing, and creating great canvases of living color and textures." Those are my sentiments exactly.

Along with design basics, they present 20 garden plans, as well as the before-and-after stories of gardens they've created for family and friends.

The contents of DESIGN PRIMER are simplicity itself : PART ONE : PERENNIAL DESIGN DEMYSTIFIED : 1. Getting Started 2. Selecting your Perennials 3. Exploring Perennial Partners 4. From Dream to Reality and 5 . It's all in the Details.

PART TWO : PUTTING PERENNIALS TO WORK: 6. Problem-Solving with Perennials. 7. Creative Color Effects. 8 . A Year of Perennials and 9. Gardens for Special Effects.

PART THREE : FROM THEORY TO PRACTICE: 10. Building a Border from Scratch., 11. Expanding an Existing Garden and 12. Reworking an Old Garden.

In its almost 300 pages are beautiful photos, designer "checklists" with helpful pointers, a very useful planning chart and the notebooks of both writers filled with their personal opinions.

Design Primer is available from Amazon.com. It was recommended as one of 2005's best by FINE GARDENING MAGAZINE.

WHAT I DID ON MY SPRING BREAK

OFF-SEASON AT GETHSEMANE'S TREE
AND SHRUB LOT

Yesterday Spring Break came to Chicago. The sun and balmy 50 degree temperatures beckoned me outdoors. I put on my good shoes and tried out my new bionic feet by walking a good country mile or so to Gethsemane Garden Center. The shot I made above shows the last of the rapidly disappearing snow cover.

I met with the Chief Honcho of Trees and Shrubs and persuaded him to give me the names of his purchases of the new woody plant introductions for 2007. It didn't take too much arm-bending to get him to give me his selections. He was pretty pleased with himself.

Being a big fan of Hydrangeas, I'll start with them. Hydrangea Quercifolia ( Oak Leaf Hydrangea ) ' Little Honey ' is a chartrese-leaved shrub that performs wonderfully in shady locations. New foliage is infused with red veins and fall color is more of a rose/raspberry than the standard cinnamon/maroon.

Hydrangea Macrophylla ( Big Leaf Hydrangea ) ' Lemon Daddy" is a gold-leaved, pink flowering, mop head for shady locations. Another big leaf is Hydranagea Macrophylla 'Forever and Ever' , a red mophead with great glossy foliage and handsome flower heads.

Hydrangea Paniculata ( Panicle ) ' Pinky Winky ' , has large two-toned flower heads that are white when they emerge, turning shades of pink while new flowers keep pushing out throughout the growing season.

I'm also keen on the evergreen shrubs, Taxus ( Yews) of which there are many varieties. This are not your Grandfather's yew, but new improved varieties and are great for background, specimen or structure in the garden. Taxus x Media 'Citation ' is a tight version of a columnar yew that is cylinder- like in shape and only reaches a mature height of 9 feet by 4-5 feet wide. Height can be controlled by clipping. For a new twist on a vintage shrub, Taxus cuspidata 'Golden Treasure' is a bushy form with bright gold foliage and is great for shady locations that need a color pick-me-up. It tolerates shade or sun and regular pruning, if need be.

And while I'm on the subject of evergreens, Juniperus ( Junipers ) are another fave that thrive well here in Zone 5. A new introduction I've got to get for my own garden this year is Juniperus-Communis 'Sentinel ' This is a tall, skinny evergreen that looks like Italian Cypress. Great for hot, sunny locations and can handle sun, wind, heat and snow. Grows only 1-2 feet wide by 7-9 ' tall.

These are my picks from his list and there will be more to come in future posts.

THE GOOD EARTH

A photo of the acid-loving plants in my garden :
'Limelight' hydrangea on the left and 'Oakleaf
Hydrangea on the right.

Quote : A real gardener is not one who cultivates flowers: but one who cultivates the soil. If he came into the Garden of Eden he would sniff excitedly and say, " Good Lord, what humus !" -Karel Capek

A frequent question , but in my opinion, the most important, that I ask all potential garden clients : How's your soil - sandy or heavy , acidic or alkaline ? Before planting a thing, these are the most important things you can do : If your soil is acidic ( rarely ever here ! ) then take advantage of it by planting acid-loving plants such as Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Hydrangeas, Lilacs, etc. If it's on the sandy side, adding amendments such as peat moss, compost and manure will make it fertile and hold moisture.

Heavy or clay soils are the most problematic. I thought I'd left behind the red clay of Alabama only to find it in my Chicago garden. I visited the local garden center and asked about how to amend it.

The guy at the garden center gave me a funny look . " You live within walking distance of Lake Michigan and you've got clay ? " He just couldn't believe it until I took out my small sample.

Apparently a previous homeowner, stuck with a yard of Lake Michigan sand, must have hauled in a load of sludge. The soil in my garden was so hard when it dried out and so wet when it rained. Death row for plants.

Lots of back- breaking double -digging and peat moss later brought back memories of my father plowing straw and pine bark into the soil every Fall. Guess when you do it for a living you'd better know all the ropes.

There's an even better product available at some select garden centers these days, Black Forest soil conditioner ( Gethsemane Garden Center carries it ) and it really works wonders in lightening up heavy clay soils. It's also used to acidify soil. Black Forest is finely ground pine bark that decomposes over a period of time. I use it religiously. Adding compost and manure ( it's combined in one bag ) is another amendment for heavy soil that I swear by.

A question I get frequently about plants that love acid soil is " How can I turn my Hydrangea blue ? Passing by my neighbors house one day I see him toiling away beneath his Annabelle Hydrangeas. " I'm turning my Hydrangeas blue. " he informed me. " That'll be a miracle, " I replied. Oh, yeah he says I got this stuff at Gethsemane and they said it really works. " Did you tell them what kind of Hydrangea you had, ?" I inquired. " Uh, no. Is that important ?" Uh, yeah, Annabelles are white and their color cannot be changed by amending the soil. You must start with a pink if you want to turn it blue.

As the song says, " Now don't that make my brown eyes blue ? "

SHOCKING NEWS ABOUT TOMATOES

Why is it that when you want red tomatoes
you can only find green and when you want
green there's only red ?

There's a lot more going on with plants that we ordinary mortals know . More than once I've gotten a raised eyebrow when I told clients they'd need a male and female Holly if they wanted red berries. Most folks don't realize that plants have a complex sex life. Human mating rituals have nothing on plants when it comes to methods employed to attract the opposite sex. Flowers will flaunt their petals, exude intoxicating fragrance and even heat to attract pollinators .

A fascinating book by British Naturalist David Attenborough, THE PRIVATE LIFE OF PLANTS , will leave the reader with a new appreciation of how plants struggle to find food, exploit predators or neighbors, reproduce themselves and establish their place in the world. You'll never look at a flower or plant the same way again.

Scientists have long known that plants have a defense mechanism but they believed it was chemical in nature. I read a recent study coauthored by North Carolina State University Botanist Dr. Eric Davies in which he demonstrated for the first time that when an electrical stimulus is used to injure a tomato leaf, bio-electrical signals are rapidly transmitted from the injured cells to other cells throughout the plant.

What does this mean ? The signals alert the cells to increase their production of naturally occurring pesticides called proteinase inhibitors which boost the plant's resistance to insect feeding. Amazing ! This is an important discovery, but don't try it on your tomatoes just yet.

Dr. Davies says that proving an electrical signal can turn on genes is important because it raises the possibility that we may be able to use electrical stimulation as an environmentally sound means for increasing crop resistance to pests. It also gives new meaning to the term, " One hot tomato ! "

THE GARDENS IN DOWNTOWN CHICAGO

Grant Park - Chicago's Front Yard

I came across something interesting in garden blogs today. A blog devoted to the Literary Gardener . READING DIRT, has wonderful photos of the gardens in downtown Chicago . With reviews of good garden books it offers a great way to pass the winters here by " Reading our way down the Garden Path , " as its creator states.

For many years I worked on the Magnificent Mile , as a long stretch of Michigan Avenue is called. Not until our current Mayor, Richard M. Daley, took office did the downtown area look so colorful and green. As I said in a previous post, he's a Taurus and he's got a very green thumb. You'll hear some citizens moan and groan about the flowers and trees being a waste of the taxpayers money but I personally think its worth every penny.

Not only has the downtown area been planted with beautiful trees and flowers, but the median strips dividing the streets in almost every neighborhood and Lake Shore Drive as well.

Unseen by most except the privileged few and landscape designers are rooftop and balcony gardens with breathtaking views of the beautiful Chicago skyline. I've planted a few high-rise balcony gardens and I must say that I admire the audacity of the homeowners who are determined against all odds to have their little piece of paradise at whatever cost.

" What will grow in containers on the 46th floor with a sunny, windy exposure ? " is a frequent question. You have to be a patient , determined gardener with a lot of disposable income to maintain some of these high rise paradises. Even the sturdiest plants can succumb to Chicago's harsh climate, be it summer or winter.

To see the planted traffic medians and public gardens in Spring is especially delightful for many winter weary Chicagoans. They've also inspired many homeowners to plant flowers and trees. I'm constantly hearing questions such as " What is that purple flower that blooms all summer , what kind of shrub is that pink one ? What are those yellow flowers with the brown centers ? and so on and so forth.

We have our own unique public garden at the end of our street, which due to its shape , has been dubbed " the Triangle. " It was installed and maintained by the city . The space is very small but the designer did a marvelous job of planting it with long-blooming, low-maintenance perennials that bloom from Spring right up to Fall : Ornamental Strawberry, Stella' d'Oro Daylilies, Knockout Shrub Roses, and Ornamental grasses. A hard combination to beat and one that has thrived with the little attention it gets.