Naked as a….

Many of us are quite familiar with the phrase, “Naked as a Jay-bird,” although no one seems to agree on where, when or why it originated. It seems to me the most likely explanation refers to baby birds that have no feathers when hatched and for some time afterward. The phrase certainly refers to one being completely without clothing and in that state, like the little bird, somewhat helpless. Since I have never seen a naked jay-bird, and since I tend to think about conifers quite a lot, I’ve caught myself using the phrase, “Naked as a deciduous conifer,” much to the confusion of anyone nearby hearing my words. People usually give a little chuckle as they think quietly to themselves about how I must be starting to loose my mind.

Taxodium distichum 'Cascade Falls' pp#12296

Believe it or not, some conifers are exhibitionists. Yes, it’s true, some conifers shed every bit of foliage, completely exposing their bare branches and inner form. There are four genera of deciduous conifer in cultivation in North America: Larix (larch), Metasequoia (dawn redwood), Pseudolarix  (golden larch) and Taxodium (bald cypress). Within each of the listed genera, there are several species and dozens of selected cultivars grown and marketed for home and commercial landscapes. Possibly the most popular deciduous conifer, with the most cultivars grown for the landscape, is Larix. With many different shapes and sizes available and color variances throughout the green and bluish tones, the larch alone could satisfy the gardener’s desire to include deciduous conifers in their garden. Other deciduous conifers are worthy for the garden as well, and below I list seven of my favorites.

Larix gmelinii 'Romberg Park'

Larix decidua ‘Pendula’ – Popular weeping larch with soft green foliage that turns golden in autumn.
Larix gmelinii ‘Romberg Park’ - an excellent dwarf form with an irregular mounding shape.
Larix laricina ‘Deborah Waxman’ - Formal, upright pyramidal form with blue-green foliage.
Taxodium distichum ‘Cascade Falls’ PP#12296 – Magnificent weeping form with rich green foliage.
Taxodium distichum ‘Peve Minaret’ - A dwarf, upright form with distinctive branching.
Metasequoia glyptostroboides ‘Gold Rush’ - Intensely colored golden yellow foliage make this a standout in the garden.
Psuedolarix amabilis – A large tree that can provide cooling shade in the summer and allow the warmth of the sun in winter.

Metasequoia glyptostroboides 'Gold Rush'

Keep an eye out this autumn for conifers that turn golden yellow and then drop their foliage – it could be that you will have spotted a naked conifer!

Ed-
Conifer Lover

Thanks to Iseli Nursery for the photo links.

Great Gardens

I had an opportunity to visit some fantastic public gardens in the mid-west while my wife and I enjoyed a little vacation in that part of the country. Our first garden was the Chicago Botanic Garden. This public garden is free to visit but does cost $15 to park on site. The entire garden was larger than we were able to see in the four hours we spent there.

My two favorite areas were the new conifer garden (surprised?) and the garden railway (which included many dwarf and miniature conifers in its design). I was particularly pleased with the conifer garden. It was laid out nicely and displayed a great collection of primarily dwarf conifers. 

Garden Railway at the Chicago Botanic Garden

Overall the Chicago Botanic Garden had a lot to offer anyone interested in gardening. There were formal gardens, English gardens, vegetable gardening ideas, a large Japanese garden and much more. If you have a chance to visit, schedule plenty of time!

The second garden we visited was the Bicklehaupt Arboretum in Clinton, Iowa. Just days before we arrived, the American Conifer Society held its 25th annual membership meeting in Dubuque which included a tour of Bicklehaupt. I was disappointed that we were unable to attend that event but I did enjoy the solitude of walking around the garden with virtually no other guests.

The Heartland Collection at Bicklehaupt

A big section of Bicklehaupt is dedicated to garden conifers in their Heartland Collection. This place is a conifer lover’s dream come true. Mature specimens of conifers that many of us have only seen as smaller sizes available in our local garden centers. This collection really demonstrates the vast color, shape, and texture that conifers provide all year long. If you ever find yourself in Clinton, Iowa, be sure to plan at least a couple hours to stroll through the Bicklehaupt Arboretum.

Ed-
Conifer Lover

Thanks to Randall C. Smith for use of his photos!