PLANTINGS

outdoors

a

zaleas and rhododendrons can be difficult to

grow if you don’t have suitable soil. Chicago-

area gardener Gene Paschall learned this the

hard way. After several frustrating years of

trying to grow the plants in soggy Midwestern

clay, he finally hit on the right solution.

A former research chemist, Gene devised

a growing mix specially tailored for rhododendrons: sand, topsoil,

and mulch (see

page 46).

He mounds the mixture on top of the

native ground, and now his plants put on such a show that he is

often asked to lead tours through his stunning spring landscape.

Gene enjoys sharing his wisdom as well as seedlings from the

burgeoning shrubs. “It gives me great joy to see them blooming

again in other people’s yards,” he says.

GOOD

COM PAN IO NS

Gene Paschall,

below

,

has grown

azaleas and

rhododendrons

for decades.

They’re the

backbone of his

Chicago-area

garden,

left.

4 4

MARCH 2009 BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS