YOU CAN'T BEAT THE YEW CAN YOU ?

Taxus 'Densiforma '

The green "bones" of my Garden

I find it hard to convince most of my garden clients to plant yews in their garden. Most folks think its too common. I suppose the main reason is that the yew has been over planted in so many front yards to hide the foundation and shaped to look like green bubblegum shrubs.

When planted and left to grow to its natural form, the yew is very attractive. I especially like it this time of the year when it gets the chartruese colored new growth .

I don't trim my yews much, just a light haircut. It will grow 4 feet high and 6 wide at maturity but I've kept my clipped at around 4 feet since my garden is small.

Went to a lecture recently by a famous English gardener and he said that Americans don't use the yew enough in the garden. The Japanese and English gardens are filled with this hardy evergreen.

' TIS A GOOD DAY FOR IRELAND

DANCE FOR JOY

Northern Ireland, the birthplace of my mother's ancestors, has entered a brave new political world. May 9 is an historic day that will long be remembered as the day when rule by the British came to an end.

My ancestors fled Northern Ireland because of persecution by the British. Ironically, it was a Brit , Tony Blair, that helped bring about the power sharing in Northern Ireland.
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SIOCHAIN ( Peace ! ) to all. I know my friends Pat and Brendan in County Cork are elated at this news.

Y'ALL IS A CONTRACTION AIN'T IT ?

We Rednecks are Just Like You,
Only Better Lookin' ( at least
George Strait is ! )

There's something contagious about a Southern accent. When I first came to Chicago I was asked repeatedly to "say something. " " What do y'all want me to say ? " drew a lot of laughter.

I got a lot of comments when I did a post on humorous country music titles, which I like to collect , and requests for more.

Here 'tis :

She Feels Like a New Man Tonight.
I've Got Four on The Floor and A Fifth Under the Seat.
I'm Just a Bug on the Windshield of Life.
I'm Getting Gray from Being Blue.
Once I thought I was Wrong but I was Mistaken.
If Whiskey Were a Woman I'd be Married for Sure.
If You Leave Me, Can I Come Too ?
If You Can't Feel It, It Ain't There.
It Takes Me All Night Long to Do What I Used To Do All Night Long.
My Head Hurts, My Feet Stink and I Don't Love Jesus.
Please Bypass This Heart.
She Got the Gold Mine and I Got the Shaft.
You're Not Much Fun Since I Stopped Drinkin'.
Let's Do Something Cheap and Superficial.
Messed up in Mexico , Living on Refried Dreams.
If I Ain't Got It, You Don't Need It.
Jesus Loves Me But He Can't Stand You.

And one that my sis and I used to sing together : " I Was Looking Back to See If you Were Looking back To See If I was Looking Back To See If You Were Looking Back At Me..... " Actually recorded by none other than Perry Como.

All I can say is that we're a " real mess " aren't we ? Send me your funniest country song titles.

THE REPORT OF MY DEATH HAS BEEN GREATLY EXAGGERATED

I'm Back !

I reported in a late April post that Beautiful Betty magnolia had lost her blooms due to the late freeze. Well, much to my surprise, the warm May sun has revived a lot of the buds. She's a bit thin in places and some buds were killed but I think she looks pretty darn good.

Welcome back, Betty !

SELF-SOWING ANNUALS

Lovely annual Dianthus

I've heard many a client say that they thought annuals were " a waste of money " because they don't come back each year. I always tell them that annuals are worth every penny you pay for them. What other flower will give you blooms from May up until November in Zone 5 ? I rest my case.

Since I have thrifty Scottish blood I love to experiment with annuals that DO come back , sometimes as long as 3-4 years. Needless to say some of my clients are amazed and appreciative when they don't have to plant annuals for this long a stretch.

Here are some of my favorites that self-sow : Violas, Sweet William, Alyssum, Hollyhocks, Marigold, Dusty Miller, Cosmos, Alyssum, Cleome, Bells of Ireland, Nicotiana, or Flowering Tobacco, and Chinese Lanterns. Petunias are prolific self-sowers but can become a nuisance so I always confine them to containers.

Some of you may ask why not just plant the seeds ? You can do that but Mother Nature seems to be better at it and the seeds she sows have a lot more time to germinate and bloom.