My name is Ed Remsrola. I am a gardening enthusiast with a special interest in conifers. I’ve been collecting conifers for nearly 40 years and I am good friends with the fine gardening folks at Iseli Nursery.
I absolutely love conifers! Big ones, small ones, miniature ones, green, blue, yellow and varigated ones – I just love them.
I’ve gardened with conifers most of my life and I can’t get enough of them. I’ll be sharing with you pictures of some of my favorites and telling you stories of my adventures as a conifer gardener.
I hope you’ll enjoy the journey.
Ed-
Conifer Lover
Ps. Be sure to check out the website of Iseli’s photographer.
I recently acquired an Abies lasiocarpa that supposedly came from Iseli. It is named “Marty Jones” It is in a 1 gal pot and looks like pretty good bonsai as it is. Can you tell me anything about it or how to contact someone who can.
wtmsjr, thanks for your comment – I’ve just talked with my friends at Iseli and here is the story on Abies lasiocarpa ‘Marty Jones.’
Marty Jones of Colorado Alpines in Edwards, CO discovered the original plant in the wild (I presume in Colorado although I do not know for sure.) He sent propagation wood to Iseli and several grafts were made. After some evaluation time, it was decided not to be a plant to pursue by Iseli, so the plants propagated from his wood were shipped back to Marty so he could grow them on.
I hope you have success with your find – it sounds like you found one with great character.
Ed-
Conifer Lover
Hello Ed,
Let me start by saying that your conifer blog is outstanding. I have a landscape project that I am working on in Rocklin, CA. It is inland northern California about 25 miles from Sacramento. It gets very hot (many days over 100 degrees) and dry here in the summer. I am loking for conifers that will be succesful here. Everything will be planted in full sun. Any suggestions?
I have about a 1/3 of an acre. The perimeter of the property is elevated and retained by moss rock boulder retaing walls. I have 12 Aptos Blue Redwoods and 3 hollywood junipers planted on the perimeter. I also have a Fireglow Japanese Maple that will be planted. Now I am looking for colorful conifer shrubs in a variety of sizes and small conifer trees to go in front of the redwoods. I am also looking for something to hang over the walls. I was considering Juniperus conferta blue pacific for that. I would be happy to send you a picture of the project. Iseli sells to a local nursery so I have the access. I just don’t want to plant a lot of stuff that can’t take our heat and incredibly hard/rocky soil. They don’t call it Rocklin for nothing. The native soil is like 70% cobble and lava cap and 30% dirt:)
Also, do you have a list of your favorite non-conifer shrubs and trees for use with conifers. Obviously japanese maples are one of the best. What else works well? Lastly, what type of allergy/pollen problem do conifers create compaerd to other plants?
Regards,
Bryan
stelers, Thanks for you kind comment about the blog! Great questions, I’ve forwarded them to a local expert.
Ed
Ed love your blog. The photos of the plants from Iseli are always stunning.
I’ve started my own blog on conifers and other things.
Thanks
Steve
Hey Steve! Thanks for the kind words.
Ed,
Thank you for a wonderful web site. Could you suggest an alternative to Balsam Fir? Our neighbor suggests 2 offset rows of trees on our property line. I am concerned about loss of views above the trees in 20 years when the tree height exceeds 25 feet. I hoping for a maximum height of 25 feet. We live in zone 7.
Thank you – Mike
First off, thanks for stopping by.
Second, let me point you in a couple directions to do some research. Be sure to check out my blog post here: http://coniferlover.wordpress.com/2008/05/28/a-few-simple-words/ I discuss conifer growth rates and how to determine mature size. Keep in mind that conifers don’t stop growing at some given height. Also check out the American Conifer Society site and the Garden Web Conifer forum (links to the right).
Other things to consider:
Your relationship with your neighbor.
Amount of space on your property along the proposed tree line.
Do you simply want a windbreak/screen or do you desire something else?
You might plant an assortment of different trees with differing growth rates to achieve your purpose while adding interest to the garden space and ensuring the preservation of at least some of your view.
Ed
Thank you for the very thoughtful suggestions.
Could you suggest a designer(s) who’s plan would result in .. Oh – wow and Oooooo? The location is Virginia.
Mike
45 mins. south of Harrisonburg, in Lexington.
Thank you
OK Mike, I’ll see if I can have a local expert contact you by email.
Thank you very much for your help.
I hope in the future to share pictures of a beautiful landscape.
Great! Glad I could help.
I have a client in Logan, UT zone 4. Who would like an evergreen tree or shrub that can be pruned to take on a bonsai type look (4-8 feet tall and wide approx.). I would love to get any feed back you might have. My email is jake@threemenlandscaping.com
thanks, Jake
Brrrr… I’m thinking that is some cold winter territory there, Jake. First thing that comes to mind is Pine. Perhaps a couple cultivars of P. heldrechi leucodermis or P. mugo would suit that region. I’ll have a local expert be in touch with you via email. He should be able to guide you in the right direction.