Invasion of conifers

I had a great time working with the folks at Iseli in the creation of their new display garden. It was quite a luxury to see a garden come together from 40,000 square feet of flat open space. But even though we had room to plant just about anything in our heart’s desire, we did try to limit ourselves during plant placement to allow for at least five years of growth.

That luxury was lost in my own garden years ago, but it hasn’t stopped me from adding great new conifers to my garden. I’ve always been more of a “find a place for the plant and move it later if needed” kind of gardener. Over the years I’ve designed several gardens for people that wanted a plan they could follow. I even tried that a few times in my own gardens, but once I get out and begin the planting process, I’ll change my mind and things go where it feels right at the time. Now, years later, I have limited places that I can fit new plants.

Dwarf conifers and companions fill a small space in the garden

Like this past weekend, my wife and I stopped at our local garden center to pick up a couple of pumpkins for carving – they always have the best products in town. We left with a cart full of new plants. Now, most of the little treasures we found are planned for a new container I’ll be planting this week, but we did come home with a couple things that we’ll need to find a home for in the garden. I chuckled to myself as I pulled out the end of season annuals in just the right spot for my new Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Baldwin Varigated.’ My wife didn’t mind at all when I pulled out a couple of other poorly performing plants for her new Rhus typhina (Staghorn Sumac) that she had been wanting for years (another great plant for fall color).

My point is simply that I prefer to allow my garden space to help me decide where to plant something new. After all, it’s not all that difficult to dig and move most conifers if needed. In fact, my neighbors first thought I was a little crazy spending so much time out in my garden moving things around. Now though, they are quite pleased when I dig a few nice things out of my garden and offer them the opportunity to plant them in theirs. It’s almost like my garden is expanding out into the neighborhood like an invasion of conifers.

I know I love it, and my neighbors seem to as well.

Ed-
Conifer Lover

Eye-popping color

The colors this autumn are fantastic! Our little storm blew through rather quickly, and today I see sunshine and blue sky! As the sun comes up and begins to illuminate parts of my garden, I can see a blaze of color in the spotlight. It’s really quite a sight, the intense reds and orange of the leaves shimmering in the light breeze and sparkling with morning dew. 

Fall Color - Fothergilla gardenii

Fothergilla gardenii is a great companion to my conifers. In autumn, its foliage color is simply spectacular, but that is not this plant’s only redeeming feature. Early in spring, the plant becomes covered with creamy white, bottle brush shaped flowers at the ends of the branches. The flowers last for several weeks and then rich green foliage covers the plant through the summer months.

Spring flowers

Now the sun has risen enough to raise the lights on the entire stage of my garden, but even without being in the spotlight, Fothergilla gardenii, provides some of the best eye-popping color in my autumn garden.

Ed-
Conifer Lover

Brightest of the Blues

We have had a very pleasant late summer and early autumn this year. Oh, sure, we’ve had several showery days since the end of August, but the showers have been brief and the temperatures moderate. Today though, I’ve really been feeling like fall is here to stay. It’s much cooler out, the wind is blowing, and we’ve had several showers. I’ve found that it’s been a great day to enjoy in my favorite chair, next to my woodstove and picture window overlooking my garden.

Picea pungens 'Hoopsii'

The foliage on my Japanese Maples continue to turn to bright hues of red and yellow and orange – which look fantastic in the conifer garden complementing the various blues of my Blue Spruce. One tree is really standing out today in this delightful parade of color. Picea pungens ‘Hoopsii’ is probably the brightest blue spruce available. If it is not the brightest, it is certainly the one to measure any new selections up against for its great blue color.

According to the American Conifer Society, this hardy selection of the Colorado Blue Spruce originated at the Hoops Nursery in Germany and was introduced in 1955 by Grootendorst Nursery of Holland. The tree has a reputation of being an irregular grower when young, but with good early care by the professional nursery folks, plants available to consumers should be well shaped and trouble free.

This stately tree is not a dwarf, so place it with room to grow expecting up to 12″ per year and a 10 year height near 15 feet. ‘Hoopsii’ is such an amazing selection with bright blue color and mature formal shape, it is one tree worth finding a place for even in smaller gardens.

Ed-
Conifer Lover

Thanks to Iseli for the photo links!

Easily distracted

I climbed out of bed this morning and began my regular routine when suddenly it hit me, it’s the middle of October! I know they say time goes faster as you grow older, but at this rate the years will fly by at the speed of months and I’ll be 90 before I know it! As I shook the sleep out of my foggy skull, I also realized that the joys of autumn are upon us.

There is something very special about autumn. I’m not sure if it is the crisp cool air, the scent of apple cider and wood stove smoke or the sight of pumpkins and scarecrows and witches, oh my! Whatever it is, I really love autumn. 

Wait a minute - I know what it is – it’s the intense color of fall foliage!

Acer shirasawanum 'Aureum' in the autumn garden

Today, I need to share with you a very special small tree called the Golden Full Moon Maple or Acer shirasawanum ‘Aureum’. This native of Japan is a sturdy tree hardy to Zone 5 with very bright yellow new foliage in spring. The new leaves look soft and delicate. As they mature, the leaves will develop a rich golden yellow tone and in some climates, may actually sunburn just a little. Planting the tree where it will receive some protection from hot afternoon sun is a good idea. As autumn arrives, the yellow leaves begin to transform into bright golden yellow then orange and finally a blend of intense reds. The show is spectacular and can last for several weeks. I noticed this morning that mine is just showing the first signs of turning.

Autumm foliage colors

Ordinarily my focus is on my conifers, but this time of year I am easily distracted by the explosion of color provided by my collection of Japanese Maples. I have a feeling, I’ll be sharing more of these with you in the coming weeks

Ed-
Conifer Lover

In my own miniature world

When I am physically or mentally exhausted, I love to go into my special miniature world. When I’m there, the worries of this world melt away; there are no wars, no economic crisis, and no endless parade of political propaganda – just a peaceful garden where I am the king. In my miniature world, weeds (if they even sprout) are easily uprooted, plants receive the optimum water and sunlight conditions and I am able to spend time there consumed in the simple pleasure of marveling at the natural order of creation. I invite you to create your own miniature world, to enjoy as I do, its therapeutic qualities.

Hypertufa troughs in the garden

First, you’ll need a fairly good sized container. One of my favorites is hand-made out of materials easily found at your local home and garden store. I like hypertufa containers because they allow me to have a hand in the creation of my miniature world from the very beginning. I’ve found a great resource for the construction of hypertufa containers here, and I think if you have the time, you should give it a try. Of course, any container that is good for growing plants will do – I’d look for one that is broader than tall.

Miniature conifers and companions

My miniature world is dominated by conifers. Miniature conifers can easily be grown and trimmed, if desired, into tiny trees fashioned after their giant cousins. Left untrimmed, their own natural forms reveal fascinating shapes that make my mini-world a unique and delightful place to visit. I also love to include companion plants such as sempervivum, saxifrage and moss into my little world.

I usually begin with an upright grower as a focal point in my mini-garden. Then I choose tiny conifers that grow less than an inch per year of various colors and textures. Some of my favorites are the miniature Hinoki Cypress such as Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Nana’, C.o. ‘Golden Sprite’ or, C.o. ‘Ellie B’. I also love the Hemlocks, Tsuga canadensis ‘Minuta’, T.c. ‘Abbott’s Pygmy’ and T.c. ‘Horsford’. Very hardy selections of Spruce include, Picea glauca ‘Echiniformis’, P.g. ‘Pixie Dust’ and P. orientalis ‘Tom Thumb’. Finally, I’ll fill in spaces with interesting little rocks or drift wood.

Visit the American Conifer Society for an explaination of dwarf and miniature conifers and use their tools to discover other miniature conifers for your special little place.

If you are like me, you’ll love visiting your miniature world everyday – just remember to come back and pay your bills.

Ed-
Conifer Lover

Thanks to Iseli for the photos!