Westward, Ho! To Galena We Will Go!
by Rommy Lopat

ARTICLE FIRST APPEARED: 1998 Winter

Our family had a great time on our trip to see nurseries around Galena, IL, and visit TWG subscribers Jim & Elsbeth Sheerin. You will be amazed to know that I left only one child behind in order to fit all the plants I bought into the car.

I had a ball visiting the Dubuque (IA) Arboretum, whose president, Gene Heineman, graciously arranged a tour for us despite a serious recent surgery. The most amazing thing about this 50 acre arboretum is that it is entirely staffed by volunteers! 325 of them, to be exact. The next most amazing thing is that the Arboretum has never bought any plants: they've all been donated. (This made my husband John grow very quiet and then start making a low, ominous growling noise). Our guide, volunteer Bob Buelow, showed us their collection of 320 roses (winner of 11 AARP maintenance awards), an incredible 800-variety (!) Hosta collection, a soon-to-be-magnificent Japanese garden designed by Hoichi Kurisu (who also designed Anderson Gardens in Rockford), and a huge Dwarf Conifer collection. (Why is it that dwarf conifers, when planted all by themselves, look more like a memorial park than a garden?)

I learned much on our tour of the Dubuque Arboretum, such as the theory that the Garlic Mustard running rampant in their surrounding woods seems to act as a barricade to deer. The Arboretum is also home to the only plant of Hosta 'Frances Williams' that has not developed rust, a problem affecting all of Frances' progeny. And on a lighter note, here's a fun combination from the Annual Garden: try out Ornamental Purple Peppers (those little ones) with 'Bells of Ireland' (Molluccella laevis, a great name to say out loud, don't you think?). Trust me on the combination.

Speaking of Dubuque, just a stone's throw south in Bellevue is Ridge Road Nursery, owned by Dr. Gene Coffman. For any tree- or shrub-o-phile, this is paradise. I definitely felt baptized into the high echelons of collecting when I saw Dr. Coffman's selections. If you want to buy the very coolest stuff, make an appointment and go visit. His passion is obvious: he plants wherever there's room and tries to keep up with the weeds, but to no avail. It's a certified "weedpatch" and therefore deserving of special recognition by this editor, who prizes those who put their passion for plants ahead of all else, especially neatness.

What did I see at Ridge Road that will come to our house one day? The Striped Maple [Acer pensylvanicum], Snakebark or Manchustriped Maple [Acer x tegmentosum], Hedge Maple [Acer campestre], the Carolina Silverbell [Halesia] for complete shade, Sapphireberry [Symplocos], Korean Stewartia, the American Beech [Fagus grandiflora], any Hornbeam [Carpinus], the Sargeant Cherry [Prunus sargentii], Amur Chokecherry [Prunus maackia], and Spirea dolchica (a great pink). Coffman's Viburnum collection is unbelievable: take a look especially at V. nudum 'Winterthur' and V. dentatum 'Deamii': their leaves appear varnished! And don't forget Viburnum dentatum ÔNana', which stays under 4'! By the way, did I mention the hardy Vitex negundo? If these plants sound like Greek to you, don't be intimidated. These may not have marketing gurus behind them, but they would make great additions to your landscape. Make an appointment with your banker and then take a drive to load up at Dr. Coffman's nursery--your eyes will spin!

Of course, it was the irrepressible Mary Ann Leigh of Timber Ridge Nursery in nearby Elizabeth, IL who was kind enough to introduce me to Dr. Coffman. I don't know how many times over the years I've suggested that you spend a day over at her farmhouse in the rolling hills near Galena, but if you don't go this year you will be excommunicated. By the way, if Mary Ann ever starts a franchise, I want to be her first franchisee. I'm ready with a name: my nursery will be named The Cool Stuff but it'll feature her plant picks. That plantswoman is cookin'!

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