CHUCKY'S LITTLE EVERGREEN GARDEN IN THE BACK YARD OF OUR CONDO AT DUKE AND QUEEN IN HAMILTON ONTARIO - EVEN THE PAVING WAS MY DESIGN THOUGH I DIDN'T DO THE WORK - THE GARDEN WENT THROUGH MANY ITERATIONS OVER TEN YEARS BECAUSE THE SOIL WAS GODAWFUL BUILDER'S FILL, NOT ONLY VERY HARD TO DIG INTO BUT LETHAL OVER A LITTLE TIME TO MANY PLANTS WITH ITS LACK OF DRAINAGE - EARLY ON I HAD A ROW OF GORGEOUS RHODIES WHICH BLOSSOMED BRILLIANT PINK ALONG THE FENCE BUT THEY DID NOT SURVIVE LONG - I DID SOME SOIL REMEDIATION BUT THERE WAS NO REAL SOLUTION SHORT OF HAVING A BACKHOE DIG THE WHOLE THING UP FOR A FEW FEET DOWN WHICH WAS IMPOSSIBLE IN THE SPACE - THE TREE-SHAPED GOLDEN EUONYMUS WAS MY PRIDE AND JOY (IT GREW CONSIDERABLY LARGER AFTER THIS PHOTO) - IT THRIVED IN THAT HORRIBLE SOIL BUT THEN IT CAUGHT A NASTY SCALE INFECTION WHICH IS INCURABLE - I LEARNED YOU CAN SUPPRESS IT WITH WINDEX OR DILUTE AMMONIA SPRAYED REGULARLY THROUGH THE GROWING SEASON - A PLANT THIS BEAUTIFUL IS WORTH THE TROUBLE - A JOHN CHUCKMAN IMAGE