And the winner is….

Are you a member of the American Conifer Society? I can think of two reasons that you need to join right now. Last autumn, the ACS announced its two Collector Conifers of the Year for 2009. These two specimens are definitely conifers that you want in your own garden. They are both available to members through the ACS (SOLD OUT). You may be able find these two amazing cultivars in your fine local garden centers or from online vendors – but they are still quite rare.

Pinus heldrichi 'Smidtii'

The dwarf selection is Pinus heldreichii ‘Smidtii’, a very slow grower that could attain a height of about 12 inches in ten years. This little fella is perfect in the rock garden or in containers. If acquired when quite small, it could live in a container garden for many years. In the rock garden, it is unlikely to ever outgrow its space. I love its rich dark green foliage and neat, compact habit. Mine is tiny compared to the one pictured here which is close to ten years old and nearly 10 inches high and 12 inches across. 

Pinus strobus 'Niagara Falls'

The second CCOY for 2009 is a weeping form of the Eastern White Pine. Pinus strobus ‘Niagara Falls’ began as a mutation on Pinus strobus ‘Pendula’. ‘Niagara Falls’ is a slower growing form with dense foliage that cascades as the tree will mound and sprawl looking quite like the famous falls on the border of New York and Ontario. As much as I have always loved ‘Pendula,’ this new form is a premium selection that should tend to be scaled more for today’s smaller gardens. Great weeping form and compact size.

These two selections are very likely going to be difficult to find for the next few years, so if these things have gotten you excited, why not become an ACS member and get your order in on these beauties before they are all gone? (Ok, it’s too late to get them from the ACS – but membership still has benefits like a great quarterly bulletin and an opportunity to get your hands on the 2010 Collector’s Conifers of the Year next spring.)

Ed-
Conifer Lover

Sugar coated conifers

We had another little snowstorm breeze through the other day. It was one of those kinds of snows that we typically get here in the Willamette Valley (unlike that big snowfall we had in December of ‘08). This time, there was just enough snow to powder coat the conifers in my garden as with sugar. I remember a year ago, I wrote in the blog about the snow looking like it was whipped cream plopped over the garden. I wonder if there is a trend developing?

Sugar coated conifers

The December snow was beautiful and it did make for an interesting landscape, but it did bury all but my largest conifers. This little dusting was just enough to make nice highlights in the garden. What I particularly enjoyed was the way the snow enhanced my container garden.

Miniature conifers make great container plants. In my climate, I rarely become concerned with the temperatures dropping low enough for a long enough period of time to wreck havoc on my ceramic pots. Years ago, I would plant annuals and occasionally perennials in my containers. One day it occurred to me that my containers could be enjoyed all year long if I planted them with dwarf and miniature conifers!

Now my patio is becoming nearly as full as the rest of my garden as I fill more and more of its space with containers of all kinds filled with diminutive conifers and companion plants. My patio is a great place to display these containers with their year-round color and texture provided by conifers.

Ed-
Conifer Lover

Thanks to my friends at Iseli for the photo!