August 26, 1998

Since it was built 100 years ago, the mansion on the southwest corner of Chestnut and Prospect Streets in Kewanee has been a landmark.  Today the building serves the community as Rux Funeral Home and is the residence of Gerry and Lou Rux.  The property is also the site of some beautiful gardens and landscapes and is known for the seven huge hanging baskets that grace the elegant front porches.  It's obvious that someone in that house has a green thumb and a love for plants.  Gerry and Lou have gradually expanded their gardens and beds over the years to the point that there is hardly a corner or walk without a garden of colorful annuals and perennials.

But there was a problem.  The Rux family residence is on the second floor, which means views of the gardens from the home are long distance at best and often obstructed by the trees.  Gerry decided to bring the gardens closer to home.  To solve the dilemma, he created a rooftop garden that they could enjoy from their second floor sun porch and living area.  Now the roof above the southern portico of the house is like a patio decorated with a number of large pots and containers filled with bold colorful plants.

Growing plants on a hot windy rooftop is not easy, but Gerry's success in these tough conditions is the result of using large containers, well-prepared planting mix, plants that tolerate arid conditions, and plenty of water.  "Watering is very important.  When we're on vacation I'll call back home, not just to see how the kids are, but to make sure the plants are getting watered," he jokes.  He waters all his plants and hanging baskets with rain water collected in his cistern.  The rooftop garden alone uses ten gallons a day.  "I use a sprinkling can, not a hose, because it's most like rain.  If I just use a bucket or a hose, it's like a gully washer and just runs through," he says.

He uses a variety of containers, both plastic and clay, ranging from 12 to 24 inches in diameter.  Containers smaller than that cannot hold enough water in the soil to get through the day.  His approach to the soil is especially interesting.  "I use a soil-less mix, never soil from the earth or 'potting soil', and I don't discard my mix at the end of the season.  In the spring, I spread a big tarp on the driveway and dump all the containers out. I remove the old plant roots and crowns from the mix, break the clumps down, add some compost and some worms, mix it all together, and refill the pots.  I don't know if this method is healthy or not, but the fun of it is in the surprises from the reseeding and the sprouts.  Whatever comes up, I let it grow along with the flowers I plant."

Gerry uses a variety of plants including giant Canna 'Tropicanna', with bold striped red and yellow foliage and orange flowers, red Pennisetum, yellow melampodium, blue salvia and ageratum, red celosia, snapdragons, nasturtiums, and white vinca.   One container is a half whiskey barrel filled with assorted water plants.

"I like to do what people say can't be done in the garden," Gerry says.   "They told me my rooftop garden wouldn't work because it's too hot and dry.   Well, see for yourself.  I even have a water garden up here".