cuitivatin s TASTES H ostas, day lily hybrids and raised flower beds are trends in landscaping for Michigan gardeners, according to gar- den guru Jim Wilson, who'll be dishing the dirt this weekend at the Meadow Brook Hall Landscape & Garden Show. "You get into painting with colors, as well as growing things, when you're land- scaping," says Wilson, a master garden- er, lecturer, book author and former guest host of PBS's "Victory Garden." "It's a real pleasure to use hostas and day lilies when you can complement them with blue and white flowers and silver fo- liage," he said. "The degree of sophistication has in- creased; people are planting more choice plants. They don't want just the same old plants. They want new, better and differ- ent. There are trendy plants every two or three years," said Wilson. "In Michigan, it would be hostas because they grow ex- tremely well here, plus some of the breed- ers are based here. Hostas like shade, and many of the homes now have enough shade so that hostas can grow." The Meadow Brook Hall Landscape & Garden Show, now in its fifth year, is spon- sored by the not-for-profit Metropolitan Detroit Landscape Association (MDLA). "The Fountain Garden," presented by R. Rowe & Associates, is one of 21 on display this weekend at Meadow Brook Hall. Members of the MDLA have donated their time, labor and materials to enhancing 15 permanent gardens and creating six more areas on the grounds of Meadow Brook Hall. The 100-room former estate of Matil- da Dodge Wilson is listed on both the Michigan and National Historical reg- istries. Those wishing to commune with nature, while picking up great tips and landscap- ing ideas, can stroll through the 21 pic- turesque gardens and at- tend seminars (conducted by Wilson and others) on container, herb and water gardening; native tree landscaping; wildlife habi- tat gardens; perennials; and choosing plants and gardens to attract birds. In addition, several Mar- shall M. Fredericks sculp- tures will be on display as well as a special Children's Garden, the site for face painting, craft ac- tivities and a miniature maze garden. What tips does Wilson recommend for Michigan green thumbers? "My advice to people when they get past Memorial Day is to be super careful about planting — wait until the evening hours and water thoroughly and faithfully for the next three days. "Also, people are going toward drip or trickle irrigation (kits are generally avail- able) as opposed to sprinklers. Attach the `leaky hose' to the faucet and serpentine it through shrub and flower beds. This method drips, not sprays, into the soil and doesn't wet the foliage. You use less wa- ter and you don't get the plant diseases that come from wet foliage." ❑ Yolles e Show hours are 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Fri- ay and Saturday, June 7 and 8; and 0 a.m.-6'p.m. Sunday, June 9. Semi- will. be held at 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m., ., 3:30 p.m. and 5 p.ra. daily (no 5 m. seminar on Sunday). Admission 7 per person at the gate; $3 for chil- i) 6-12; and free for children under king. Meadow 13rook Ilan is ear I-75N and Exit 79 (Uni- Drive). Its entrance is south on ams Road. For more information, 10).646-4992. This Week's Best Bets Ann Arbor Film Festival Fund-Raiser Three hours' worth of award-winning films from last March's festival, projected outdoors at Zingerman's Deli. (313) 663-3400. Fri., 8:30 p.m.-12 a.m. John Heffron Jim Carroll He "Qs" up the morning drive with Danny Bonaduce. Now he talks Generation X trials and tribulations in the evening at the Mainstreet Comedy Showcase, Arm Arbor. (313) 996-9080. A Spoken Word Perfor- mance by the musician and author of the memoirs The Basketball Diaries and Forced Entries. Magic Stick, upstairs from the Majestic, Detroit. (313) 833-POOL. Fri.-Sat., 8:30 & 10:30 p.m. Sat., 9 p.m. Vivaldi I s Ring of Mystery - Imagine a kids' version of "Alfred Hitchcock Presents." The musical suspense drama is a DSO Classical Kids performance. Orchestra Hall, Detroit. (313) 833-3700. Sat., 11:30 a.m. & 2 p.m. Beth Shalom Spring Concert Experience the folk instrument music of Gennady Zut's Russian Souvenir along with Kol Hakavod, an a capel- la choir singing Hebrew/ Jewish songs, on this double bill. 14601 Lincoln, Oak Park. (810) 547-7970. Sun., 8 p.m.