RE: re: Apologies- now ideas and links for a few spots

Donna - what about viburnums? They come in a wide variety of sizes and
sun/shade requirements. Blooms, berries for the birdies, pretty foliage
and some even have fall color. My blackhaw (V. prunifolium - something
like that) viburnum gets the most gorgeous burgundy-purple leaves on it
in fall. Forest Farm has an amazing selection on line.

My doublefile viburnum seems to need more water than the others, but
that certainly wouldn't be a problem for you in Monee Monsoon Country.
And my arrow wood (V. dentatum) viburnums - one regular, one
mini-cultivar, Blue Muffin, seem to be establishing themselves at a
record rate. But they are native I believe. Just some food for thought
my dear. I really haven't found a downside to them yet - though they do
need a few years (and more than one in your yard) to start fruiting
well.


What a fun choice to have to make.  

Pam

---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
From: MyTGoldens@aol.com
Reply-To: gardenchat@hort.net
Date:  Mon, 4 Aug 2003 07:08:31 EDT

>Well Donna, there certainly are others on this list far more expert than I, 
>but I'll toss in my 2 cents. You mentioned multi-season interest, which would 
>exclude most flowering trees which are spectacular for a few weeks in the 
>Spring but otherwise are just "trees". Still, I wouldn't rule out some of the crab 
>apples, many of which stay small and have interesting fruit. I like the 
>weeping form of my Red Jade.
>
>Since your island is not very big, you'll want a tree that that doesn't grow 
>out of bounds. And since you'll get some afternoon shade, perhaps a Japanese 
>Maple cultivar might work. There are hundreds to choose from, ranging in size 
>and form from tiny drooping miniatures to ones that grow up to 30 ft. tall. 
>Wayside Gardens has a nice selection, and although pricey, they will cheerfully 
>replace/refund any plant that doesn't survive, no questions asked. <A
>HREF="
>
>

    http://www.waysidegardens.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StoreCatalogDisplay?catalogId=10067&storeId=10151&langId=-1&mainPage=page1";>Wayside


>
>
>Gardens: Welcome to Wayside Gardens Online!</A> 
>
>Mountain Maples is a specialty nursery with a huge inventory, although I've 
>never ordered from them- just gawked at their catalog. <A HREF="
>
>    http://www.mountainmaples.com/WS4D_Cookie=8.4.03_03,16,41_20/index.html";>Mountain
>
>Maples Home</A>
>
>
>Another tree with multi-season interest would be a Beech. There are several 
>gorgeous weeping forms, one with deep purple leaves, another called "Tricolor" 
>with leaves of white, rose pink and green. They grow extremely slowly, so I 
>don't think they would outgrow their spot in our lifetime! I think Mountain 
>Maples sells them too, but you could probably find them available locally, since 
>they are commonly used in professional landscape plantings. 
>
>Then there are a number of beautiful birches, with graceful branches, some 
>with finely cut leaves, some with deep purple leaves, and all with various 
>shades of peeling bark. Some cultivars are short lived due to birch borers, but 
>others, such as the snow-white paper birch and Heritage river birch are 
>resistant. The Paper-bark maple has similar peeling bark and can get pretty big, but it 
>grows very slowly.
>
>One of my favorite catalogs is Forest Farm. I get no commissions, but I sure 
>do put in a lot of plugs for them! Their catalog must be close to 2 inches 
>thick, and no pictures! I have ordered from them for several seasons, and have 
>been very pleased with their stock. Most things are sold in tiny "tubes", but if 
>I pay attention to their zone ratings, things do very well. I have a number 
>of shrubs that were "chopstick" size 3 years ago that now tower over my head. 
>Oh, I have (from them) a cultivar of smoke bush, called "Velvet cloak", that is 
>the most luscious shade of deep purple, with the "smoke" flowers a rich 
>purplish pink. It stays this color all season, and the tree can be pruned to a 
>single or multi-trunk shape. It looks gorgeous early in the morning, all silvery 
>pink from the morning dew. <A HREF="http://www.forestfarm.com/";>Forestfarm plant nursery: Buy plants for your garden 
>online</A> 
>
>You might also consider something of interest that won't grow, such as a 
>large interesting boulder (yes, you'd have to buy it and have it delivered) a 
>piece of statuary or sculpture, a birdbath, an arbor and/or bench, or a fountain 
>or small pool. How about a tiny naturalistic waterfall with a small Japanese 
>Maple behind it?
>
>BTW, I am getting some garden photos developed which will be on AOL's You've 
>Got Pictures. (I don't have a scanner at the moment) How would I post them to 
>the list if anyone wanted to see them?
>
>Hope that helps! My Carpal Tunnel is acting up, so I have to get off this box 
>for now.
>
>Maddy Mason
>Hudson Valley, NY  zone 5/6
>
>In a message dated 8/3/03 10:19:53 PM Eastern Daylight Time,"Donna " <
>justme@prairieinet.net>  writes:
>
>> Well now that you asked Maddy:)
>> 
>> Looking for things to grow in zone 5. Have most of the common things I
>> care to have, but need some new ideas for a few spots :)
>> 
>> Since there is no more room in the backyard, I have started an island in
>> the front yard. So far it is not completed as the picture shows, need
>> more soil, and a finishing cutting on a few blocks. (how can the bottom
>> row fit fine and the top row doesn't!) You are looking at a dogwood,
>> specifically, cornus kousa chinensis 'Galilean'. I plan on putting
>> another tree at the far end, but haven't decided which one yet. So...
>> thoughts folks? Might need this link to figure out what I am taking
>> about--
>> 
>> http://illianagardenpond.org/islandfront.jpg
>> 
>> http://illianagardenpond.org/islandfront2.jpg
>> 
>> 
>> Oh- It is in full sun, but on the east side of my house so the afternoon
>> will be blocked somewhat. Of course, as the first link shows, the
>> southern breezes can be brutal since none of my neighbors do anything.
>
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--
Pam Evans
Kemp TX/zone 8A



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