Towering azaleas, some up to 50 years old, line the driveway to Henry Ochs' home. "Would you like to see the first azalea in Cape Girardeau?" Ochs asked.

The beautiful full bush as tall as Ochs was bursting with blossoms last week. "Want to see the newest one I have?" he asked, walking across the lawn to a small, twiggy bush. "Look at that. It was the highest priced one also."

Ochs, a longtime nurseryman in Cape Girardeau, will open his garden to the public this weekend along with five others for the second Garden and Kitchen Tour benefiting Cape Christian School.

The tour is Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. Proceeds will be used to purchase books, classroom computers and software, student desks and chairs, said Nancy Bahn, who is helping organize the tour.

This is the second year for the spring garden and kitchen tour.

"We have a nice variety of gardens this year, new gardens, redone gardens and old, established gardens like Mr. Ochs'," Bahn said.

The kitchens also show variety, she said. "We have modern kitchens, new kitchens and old traditional gardens," Bahn said.

During the tour, master gardeners will be at each site to answer questions.

"These are certified, knowledgeable gardeners, certified by the University of Missouri Extension," Bahn said.

The master gardeners can answer questions about varieties, growing conditions and planting techniques.

Ochs brought azaleas to Cape Girardeau in the 1940s.

"I saw these azaleas in New Orleans when I was there for Mardi Gras," Ochs said. "I thought they would grow in Cape Girardeau."

His garden also includes the oldest weeping cherry tree in the city and a marble patio lined in garlic. Ochs says his recipe for garlic and eggs is wonderful.

While Ochs' garden is well established, across town Bud and Becky McMillan have just developed a new terraced shade garden. It is full of hostas, ferns and very little grass.

"I got tired of lugging the lawnmower up here," Bud McMillan said, looking up at his terraced backyard. Most of the yard has been changed to a garden with established oak trees and birch trees as the focal point.

The terraces are lined with stones. The new plants have taken hold, and McMillan often comes home with a few more plants in the trunk of his car.

Sometimes McMillan sits on the back patio and looks at the yard. All the work has paid off. "I think it looks pretty good," he said.

Mike and Mary Trueblood can't imagine why anyone would call the expanse around their home a garden.

"It's just a yard," said Mike Trueblood, taking a break from mowing the lawn.

In fact, the Truebloods are thankful to have just about anything growing in their yard.

"When we moved here 19 years ago it was a rock pile with no trees or anything," Mary said. "We have worked on this every weekend."

The scene is picturesque. A small creek runs through the backyard. Wildflowers bloom beside the creek. A more tailored lawn surrounds their home.

The Truebloods do the yard work themselves. "Yes, we've done it one mistake at a time," she said.

"A lot of this stuff is volunteer," Mike said. "Anything with enough stamina and spunk to live here, we keep."

It's not all volunteer. Azaleas and ivy, perennials and annuals dot the landscape.

Refreshments will be served at the Trueblood home, including cookies from the school's "Only the Best Cookies" cookbook.

Garden and Kitchen Tour 1998

Details:

Sunday, May 3

1 to 5 p.m.

Rain or shine

Tickets $10 per person

On the tour:

Mr. and Mrs. Steve Crain

3035 Keystone Drive

Mr. and Mrs. James Loiseau Bauerle

30 Chateau Estates

Mr. Henry A. Ochs

931 N. Cape Rock Drive

Mr. and Mrs. Bud McMillan

2434 Brookwood Drive

Dr. and Mrs. Morris Osburn

1011 N. Henderson Ave.

Dr. and Mrs. Michael Trueblood

9 Bienville

Refreshments will be served in this garden