Flowering trees make a small paradise

First of two parts

There is paradise in Chicago.

The word "paradise" comes from the ancient Persian andoriginally meant "walled garden." Searching for small walled gardensin the city has been a six-year preoccupation of Peter Land,professor of architecture at Illinois Institute of Technology. In alecture earlier this year at the Chicago Botanic Garden, Land spokeabout the great number and variety of his discoveries. "I have toreport plenty of paradise exists in Chicago, believe it or not," heannounced.

Another speaker, Robert Hebb, executive director of the GintherBotanical Garden in Richmond, Va., suggested dozens of suitable smallplants for those who desire to create their own earthly paradises.

His list of recommended small flowering trees, shrubs andperennials for a small garden was so extensive that even a cursoryreview of his favorites would take two weeks. Herewith, then, aresome highlights of his discussion of small flowering trees. Paperbark maple (Acer griseum). There's more to a plant than bloom,which lasts only two weeks at best in most trees and shrubs. Thosewith small gardens also should consider autumn color, habit of growthand bark when choosing a tree. The paperbark maple excels in allthese qualities. Hardy, tolerant of both sun and shade, and withlovely peeling bark, it is particularly valuable in winter. Andyes, it does have flowers. You just may not have noticed. Japanese maple (Acer palmatum). This species is only marginallyhardy in the Chicago area, but the cultivar "Burgundy Lace" is thehardiest of the lot. Its lovely red, cut-leaf foliage makes it worthtrying. Provide shelter from winds. Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea). This tree has everything: supercold-hardiness, early fragrant blooms, edible berries, striatedsilver bark and glorious fall color. Dogwoods (Cornus genus). There's good news and bad about this tree. Cornus florida is succumbing to a nasty fungus in the East and islikely to be wiped out there. However, C. kousa apparently isimmune, and this is a great tree. Another tree to try is C.alternifolia, the native American pagoda dogwood. Magnolia. Hebb recommended several hybrids: M. x soulangiana"Andre LeRoi," M. x loebneri "Merrill" and M. x loebneri "LeonardMessel." Among the star forms, he praised M. stellata "Centennial"for its good form and twice the number of petals. Crabapples (Malus genus). Make sure you get a rust-resistantvariety. The species M. sargentii is a true dwarf that's 9 feethigh by 15 feet wide at maturity. The cultivar "Donald Wyman" is asuperlative winter plant with fruit that lasts to the spring. Itsred buds open to white. Malus "Dorothea" has yellow fruit. Cherries (Prunus genus). P. sargentii has beautiful mahogany barkand striking purple leaves in autumn as well as glorious pink flowersin spring.

Next: More ways to attain earthly paradise.