By Evelyn Alemanni

Is there a "Mr. Hardscape" in your life? My husband has earned the title "Mr. Hardscape" through his diligent efforts in creating enduring garden elements in contrast to my ephemeral efforts. Over the years, he's added a signficant framework to our garden by building sidewalks, stairs, gates, fences, pergolas, he even made a cast-concrete bench, and quietly rebuilt my attempts at home-carpentry so they wouldn't collapse. He has reroofed my greenhouse and rebuilt the barn. Last year he sculpted supports for the vegetable garden from rebar. In fact, his work is so wonderful that a year after he built the vegetable garden, it was named one of the gardens of the year in San Diego County. A few months after he built the fabulous purple pergolas, they were featured in Better Homes and Gardens.

He creates the frame, I paint the picture, and together we have created a pleasant space filled with interesting specimens ranging from roses to annuals, perennials, cactus and succulents, fruit trees, and even a grove of macadamia trees.

So what's the downside you might ask? It's the teamwork part. Essentially, teamwork requires, well, a team to get the job done. While Mr. "H" is miraculous at building things, he hasn't quite worked out how to keep plants alive. So when half of the team (that's me) is off judging for America in Bloom, doing the work of the entire team becomes a challenge. When I return home from judging trips, most of my garden is seriously stressed (living in Southern California, we usually have no rain between mid-May and the end of November).

Even before unpacking my suitcase, the first thing I do is turn on the irrigation and hand-water for a few hours to supplement. The next day, I break out my Daniels plant food, which is just amazing. I mix a 1/2 teaspoon of Daniels per gallon of water and water everything thoroughly with another application a week later. Sometimes I spray it on foliage in the late afternoon. It seems that within just a few days of using it, the plants in containers have recovered and are blooming again. You might say that a good fertilizer saves more than plants, it can save a marriage!

Ah, did I mention that Mr. Hardscape is also quite skilled with a chainsaw and does most of the heavy-duty tree work for me? So there are days when he goes by another name, "The Chainsaw Gardener". Every garden and gardener needs one.

by Evelyn Alemanni

Beginning early in May through the end of August, America in Bloom judges will experience the epic adventures of judging 28 towns and cities throughout America. To keep the playing field level, a team of two judges is assigned to evaluate one population category. They spend two days in each town, touring, meeting with local movers, shakers and horticultural enthusiasts, and giving presentations to groups when asked. They also take copious notes and photos.

At the end of the touring, the judges start the process of scoring and writing the evaluation. Although they are supposed to have a minimum of three to four hours in the host city to start the evaluation, writing can take many more hours, days, weeks... to generate the 20 to 30 page evaluation which lists noted accomplishments and suggestions to consider for the future. Mayors of many towns have told us that their America in Bloom evaluations are more valuable than consultants' studies which have cost much more than the AIB entry fee.

During the past eight years, I have judged more than 60 towns in five countries. It has been a remarkable experience to meet so m any smart and talented people who are passionate about the places where they live. I have learned so much from them, and it is my honor and pleasure to share with towns gleanings from places I've visited.

The Best Ideas book was born from these adventures... if you don't already own a copy, you can order it online at www.americainbloom.org.

But, as I was saying, the host towns and their people are simply wonderful. Sami is ready to party with them, too bad I can't bring her along.


Good gardening,

Evelyn