Our Condo (ongoing challenging karma for me) lost its primary gardener of 40 years this past winter. Until last year when her feisty self was challenged by illness and a ninth decade, Joan Kearney kept up a beautiful perennial border through her devoted & diligent daily activity. People told me they would go out of their way as they walked to the "El" to catch their train to work to enjoy the results of her green thumb. Since then, the condo has reassigned her area to three people, among them they embody a range of garden skill. It is interesting to note that the "vigorous" plants are starting to take over the bed. I wouldn't shed a tear if one of the new gardeners ripped out all the Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldsturm' (Black-Eyed Susan). If you like the yellow flower, there are many better, more restrained cousins available....go look at Demo gardens at Northwind Perennial Farm for ideas.
Our parkway trees used to number six American Elms. Now we have only one left. Last night's rain brought down a number of branches seen here near city recycling bin which gets converted to compost/mulch over at James Park. Not a good sign that branches are weakening. Just on my drive from home to office, about a mile, I have seen a few majestic Elms bite the dust during the period of intense heat in July/August. Of course nothing is simple and the debate in Evanston about treating & saving them might have me on the wrong side of the fence. In my trying to learn about Dutch Trig treatment, from my arborist colleagues I have gotten the sense that because our weather patterns differ so much than Holland, the sap may not be running at the right time here to save our Elms. Also, if treatment begins too late, there isn't much hope. So like many illnesses, one of the tricks is to notice and act early.
Out of sheer laziness, I planted my backyard container with an available houseplant (mother-in-law's tongue) and some Coral Bells (Heuchera 'Caramel' & Heuchera villosa...a native). Then I popped in some left-over red Coleus for contrast. Imagine my delight when the native bloomed recently. The subtle flower provides vertical height, movement and a bit of medium to filter & trap the bit of light it receives while north facing. Note too that the proportions take on the large scale of the courtyard.....FYI: You can't see what's just on the other side of the turf grass (kids): our one backyard tree: the native Ostrya virginiana (American Hophornbeam) well-maintained by Chicago's most forward thinking arboriculture company: Care of Trees.
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