VOTED ON THE ISLAND

Rhododendron ' poukhanense '

Magnolia 'betty '

Wisteria senensis

Shirl at Shirl's Garden Watch has invited everyone to select three plants from their garden to take with them to a Desert Island. Hmmm..... Let's see : Ribbon grass, Plume Poppy and Spiderwort would quickly fill the island but I'd have to dig all of it up before departure and then I'd be constantly digging to prevent their spread instead of enjoying the sun and surf.

What to chose? It's difficult to narrow it down because I love every plant in my garden. I just won't allow anything in my garden that I don't feel passionately about. Plus, in a small garden such as mine every plant must work overtime.

Oh, I know -Azaleas and Rhododendrons. Couldn't leave those behind . Magnolia 'Betty ' for sure because no proper Southern Belle can be without one. Sweet Autumn clematis and Wisteria for fragrance. That's five already. Got to reduce it by two. Since Azaleas are Rhododendrons I'll just have to leave one of them behind. Sweet Autumn will have to be sacrificed because Wisteria is much dearer to my heart.

So here I am heading for the desert island with R. Poukhanense, Magnolia 'Betty ' and Wisteria senensis when the boat springs a leak. " Help ! I yell. I'm drowning in a sea of pink and purple when what I really really love is blue ! " Then I woke up and looked out the window and realized it was but a sweet dream because a foot of snow is piled high against the Magnolia.

Shirl's Garden Watch has encouraged us to follow our dream to a Desert Island during this long, cold Chicago winter and we thank her for the adventure. Yesterday I saw the first sure sign of Spring - the day was at least 15 minutes longer and by this time next month we'll have 75 more minutes of daylight.