Dogwood With Pink Leaves Is Native To Korea, Japan

Q. I hope you can help me find a tree. A neighbor of mine has what she calls an Oriental Dogwood. The thing I love about the tree is its soft pink-mauve leaves in the fall. It has small, white blossoms in the spring, then a soft, light-green airiness throughout the summer. The fall's pale-pink leaves gradually darken into deeper pink, and finally a rust before they drop off. I have called several large nurseries and they seem puzzled. Can you help me?

A. I think you're referring to Cornus kousa. It is native to both Korea and Japan. I have had it in my garden and think it is a nice tree, not only because of the autumn-leaf color but for its attractive flowers, and the fact that the tree is not affected by disease like most other dogwoods. It has a more upright habit of growth and the leaves are deeper-veined and more pointed. Mine had fall colors in shades of pink, rose, red and even a few yellow leaves. This one blooms in June and July - a little later than most.

Q. When I shelled my dried Blue Lake bean pods, I noticed there were several pods of black, instead of white, beans. Last year, there were also a few pods of black beans. The green beans and dried pods resemble the regular, white Blue Lake beans. Can you tell me what kind of beans the black ones are? I did not plant any of the black beans from last year.

A. The black beans probably are the black-seeded Blue Lake variety. There is such a variety, it takes about four days longer to mature; the pods are slightly longer than the white-seeded variety and are generally just a little lighter green in color. The black seeds either got mixed in with the seed from the previous year or dropped from the pods when they were being harvested last year.

Q. How close to the foundation of a house is it safe to plant trees?

A. It depends upon the type and variety of tree. Small-sized trees should be kept at least 10 to 15 feet from the house. Larger trees should be planted considerably farther from the house. This is done to allow for the growth of the trees' canopy and roots.

Q. Most of us have heard, then forgotten, the Washington state flower, tree and bird. What are they?

A. The state flower is the rhododendron; the state tree, the western hemlock; and the state bird, the goldfinch.

Q. My glads all sprouted tall sword-like green leaves and then turned brown, fell over and died. Not one gladiolus bloomed, nor even formed flowers. They were planted in new soil with steer manure, lime and bone meal. What went wrong? Did they rot? I did not notice any squirrel diggings. There is evidence that a mole might occasionally visit the area, as the soil is slightly risen in tunnel shapes. Should I replant these same bulbs next year, if they still exist?

A. It is very possible that the moles have created the problem. They make runways that are then used by field mice, and the mice may be eating the bulbs. Also, the moles leave the bulbs high and dry. Consequently, the bulbs dry out and die. Thrips, which attack both foliage and flowers, have also been bad this year. If the bulbs are still in the soil, dig them and check to see it they are still firm. Then go ahead and replant them again next spring.

Gardening by Ed Hume appears Friday in the Scene section and Sunday in the Home section of The Times. Address gardening questions to Ed Hume, c/o The Seattle Times, P.O. Box 70, Seattle, WA 98111.