WHY I LOVE THE GREEN STUFF AND I DON'T MEAN MONEY

QUEEN OF THE EVERGREENS

Chamaecyparis Obtusa Gracilis 'Nana'

Every garden deserves to have a Chamaecyparis of some kind. Not only is it hardy in Zones 4 and 5, it adds such beauty and grace to the landscape. It is also a large genus which includes shrubs and trees from very dwarf to very tall. All are extremely slow growing, thus, a good specimen for the urban garden. These Japanese cypress are revered in Japan their native land.

I have two in my garden , 'Confucious ' and 'Templehof', both of which do very well in surviving the harsh climate here.

These are not your ordinary evergreens, they are very special, as you will see if you visit a garden center that stocks them. They are not cheap, but in my opinion, worth every penny.

CORKERS

Snapshot from a Visit to Ireland

For the past week I've had two delightful visitors, Pat and Brendan, from County Cork, Ireland. There is no end to the amusing stories we exchanged, and we all had great fun. Pat told me how in Cork a mother whose son was drowning shouted, " Help, help, save my son, the engineer ! " Are you quite sure she was Irish , I asked ? Then, Brendan who has two sisters, one an " air hostess " ( Stewardess ) and the other an artist slipped and said, " My Sister the artist, " and of course we would not give him a rest after that. For sure Pat will be using that joke when she gets back to Cork for some time.

They were leaving Chicago to go to Texas to visit old friends who used to live in Ireland and Brendan wanted to be prepared with some jokes and tales . I fixed him up with a real " Corker " which is sure to top any tall tales the Texans might have. I'd love to be there to hear his lilting Irish brogue as he tells the story, but I'm sure to hear about it later. " Crickey ! " as he says.

John McGough, my mother's first ancestor in America , born in 1761 in County Down, Northern Ireland , was present at the surrender of the British general to George Washington's army at Saratoga which practically ended the American Revolution. He is buried in White Plains, Georgia, and his grave is marked by the Daughters of the American Revolution with a marker engraved : " John McGough, a North Carolina Revolutionary. We Americans owe a debt of gratitude to the Irish immigrants who made a great contribution to our fight for freedom.

Another thing I would like to thank John McGough for is the family trait he passed down - a full head of hair and only slightly gray at his death at age 88 . Generations of McGoughs to follow show no signs of baldness or early gray.

The Irish immigrants to America did not have an easy time of it and toiled to overcome the hardships. of their new country .Irish culture, music, dance and literature is now renown throughout the world.

Here's to you , Pat and Brendan. It's been a pleasure to have you in my Sweet Home and Garden Chicago. Pat was quite a gardener in her day and Brendan is a great lover of books.

I look forward one day soon to the visit of my husband, the engineer, and I, the garden blogger, to Cork. I can't wait to tour the fabulous Irish gardens there.

APRIL SHOWERS?

Acer Shirasawanum , 'Autumn Moon ', a specimen
most prized in my garden , gets special attention
because it is a newly planted tree.

Where are those April showers when you need them ? It's been the driest April on record. How many more records are we going to break this year ?

SO, water your garden, Chicago gardeners, if we don't get the rain we need this week because it is vitally important for the emerging plants, trees and shrubs. Newly planted trees and shrubs need special attention for the first two seasons to help get them off to a good start. Soak them thoroughly once or twice a week. And please, don't hand water your garden with a hose. It's the worse thing you could do. It's fine to use hand watering to keep newly planted annuals, grass seeds or perennials moist , but other than that, it's not a good idea . Shallow watering causes roots to go toward the soil surface instead of down where they are meant to be.

The rule of thumb when watering : Water deeply, not frequently. Depending on soil types, ( clay or heavy soils need less water, sandy soils more ) most plants need an inch of water per week. To get this amount for newly planted trees and shrubs, place a hose with a small dribble at the base and let it water for an hour and a half at the beginning of the week and then another one and half hours at the end of the week.

To gauge the amount of water produced by your oscillating sprinkler, use a tuna can to catch the inch needed.

P.S. to the post : The heavens opened last night and the forecast predicts we'll get at least 2 inches. Whoohoo !

A Most Welcome Visitor

Archillochus columbris
Ruby-throated Hummingbird

I used to have a neighbor, Mary, who loved hummingbirds so much that her friends would tease her that she'd stand on her head in the front garden if it would attract hummingbirds. The amazing thing is that she agreed she would !

Its my habit to rise early, especially in the summer, and go out into the garden for a stroll. One warm April day last year I spied a Ruby-throated Hummingbird ( the only species in Illinois ) whirling around my Olga Mezitt rhododendron. There's something so magical and fascinating about this tiny creature.

I am planning to plant more flowers this year to attract my tiny visitors. I often plant the annual flowering tobacco ( Nicotiana sylvestris ) and it's red tubular flowers are perfect for attracting the hummingbird. Petunias in hanging baskets or pots are also ideal. The perennials in my garden that attract them are the columbine , butterfly weed and bee balm.

I also keep a source of water nearby. For more detailed information on the Ruby-throated hummingbird and how to attract it to your garden go to : http:www.illinoisaudubonsociety.org.

SO EASY EVEN I CAN DO IT

For the Do-It-Yourselfers out there who are tired of hand watering or for the conservation minded I recommend the micro sprinkler and drip irrigation system, Mr. Landscaper. It not only conserves up to 70 per cent water, but is inexpensive to install and easy to replace any parts that might malfunction.

I installed one myself last summer and it worked very well. There is a timer to attach if you go on vacation or away for a weekend . Since it's an above ground system there's no digging to do and the black tubing can be covered with mulch. Once the plants are established the system is barely visible.

Mr. Landscaper also has a system for planters and pots for deck, patio and balcony gardeners, a godsend for gardeners who have to hand water these constantly.

Visit the website at www.mrlandscaper.com


The Mr. Landscaper system is carried by Lowe's and Gethsemane Garden Center in Chicago.