And I thought the Flower Girl was a tough sell

I have been friends with a gentleman for quite a number of years. He and I hit if off fairly quickly way back when our wives worked together in a small private school. Since that time, we have been through good times and difficult times which included a painful divorce and eventual re-marriage for my friend.

His new wife is a treasure – except, perhaps, for her inherent dislike for anything conifer.

I was excitedly telling my friend that I had some great new conifers to share with him. These are some of the extras from my hobby grafting of a couple years ago. His eyes grew large and he stood tall in his 6’2″ frame as I described the cultivars I had for him, then all at once he slumped with a look of sadness.

How in the world could anyone not like conifers?

“I’ve given my wife full control of the garden, and I’m in charge of any house remodeling.”

“Yeah… okay…. So, where is she, I can’t wait to tell her what I’ve got for you guys!” I said, wondering why the sudden change of countenance.

“She likes flowers” He stated.

“Cool! Me too, so wher-” he cut me off mid-word.

“No, you don’t get it, she ONLY likes flowers… well, and flowering trees. She says conifers are… here she is now!” he stopped short and turned the conversation back over to me.

Now, I must say that I thought I had a hard sell with my friend, the Flower Girl, who I have known for many years and she and I do kid around a lot about our love of conifers vs. flowers, but this woman was something else entirely. I was not at all surprised when her first comments of dislike were expressed with descriptive words like, “dull green”, “prickly”, and “huge”, but when she got to, “stinky”, I must admit I believe my mouth dropped open as I stared ahead, wordless.

She was busily on her way out when we had our brief encounter, but I told that our conversation was not over yet and that we would duel again on this subject. In the meantime, I think I’ll just up-pot these plants for my friend and hold them another year. That will give me time to work out my strategy of attack to convince this dear woman of the amazing beauty of dwarf, colorful and low-maintenance conifers.

Ed-
Conifer Lover

Moments of gardening ecstasy

The morning had begun like many other autumn mornings in the Pacific Northwest, with the sound of a heavy shower pounding the roof as I laid in my warm bed, with no real desire to climb out and begin my day. Before long, I noticed that the deep pounding tones, like thousands of soft-tipped drumsticks being played on my roof with no discernible rhythm, had come to an abrupt end. “That’s my cue” I thought to myself and finally forced myself to start the day.

Upon opening the curtains to assess the damage of the heavy wind and rainstorm, and much to my surprise, I witnessed not a debris strewn garden, but instead, the very beginnings of a beautiful sunrise. Admittedly, this was not one of those magnificent sunrises which paint the sky in glorious swirls of brightly colored orange, gold, red, pink and purple clouds. No, not at all. But, it was the sun revealing itself here and there through the clouds that were beginning to dissipate after dumping the last of this storm’s autumn rain.

Thuja occidentalis ‘Golden Globe’ glows in autumn’s early morning light.

I looked out across the garden to thousands of tiny, shining droplets of water clinging to the foliage of every plant, which caused the entire garden to sparkle as the emerging rays of sunlight glistened off of these miniature shimmering orbs. I stood in somewhat of a state of awe as I witnessed more of the clouds evaporating away and the sun becoming prominent in its low position in the sky. It had risen just enough to begin to cast light on some of my conifers, lighting them up one by one as it moved slowly higher and steadily toward the south.

One plant stood out more brightly than all the others, and honestly it took me a little by surprise. My Thuja occidentalis ‘Golden Globe’ was suddenly standing in a spotlight of the early morning rays of the sun. It was spectacular! Much of the garden all around this golden-colored, globe shaped, hardy American Arborvitae remained in shade which accentuated the effect of the light on this small tree.

‘Golden Globe’ is not the brightest yellow in the pallet of conifer colors, but generally more of a subtle statement. Its yellow color is best when growing in full sun and does intensify through the growing season. As winter arrives, its yellow color becomes more golden as the foliage begins to include a hint of bronze during the coldest months. As spring brings new life and warmer temperatures, new growth begins to emerge and the whole plant brightens. A hardy, small, rounded conifer, ‘Golden Globe’ can be used as a single specimen, part of a wide border, or, since it responds well to shearing, it could be grown in containers on either side of a walkway in a formal garden.

Just about the time that the sun was climbing high enough to cast light upon more of my garden, the next wave of clouds blew in, filled the sky while hiding the sun, and it was not long before our familiar autumn showers returned. Sometimes, all it takes is a few moments of gardening ecstasy to turn what may have otherwise been a dreary day, into one filled with joy!

Ed-
Conifer Lover

Revisiting an old and reliable friend

One of the first conifers I wrote about, nearly five years ago when I began this blogging adventure, was Picea pungens ‘Sester Dwarf’. My own specimen was fairly young (in conifer years) in my garden and the oldest one I had ever seen was growing in the Jean Iseli Memorial Garden at Iseli Nursery. Over the past five years, my small tree has filled out nicely and seems very happy in my garden. During my recent visit to Iseli, I was drawn to the wonderful old specimen of this slow-growing blue spruce with its symmetrical form, compact habit a bright blue color.

Of course, I have seen this same plant on many occasions over the past five years, but the sun, in its lower autumn position, must have been hitting it just right, because it seemed to stand out more prominently than I had noticed in the past.

I have always been impressed with this beautiful blue tree, from the time many years ago when I saw a row of them growing in the field under evaluation at Iseli, to the time I finally obtained my first little plant, and especially during that recent visit as I gazed upon the elegant beauty of this dwarf conifer. It is trees such as this that inspired my early love of dwarf conifers back when I was but a young lad just beginning my journey into the amazing world of conifers.

The specimen pictured above is nearly eleven feet tall and about five feet across its fairly uniform breadth. Putting on six to eight inches of new vertical growth per year, I am going to presume that this tree is approximately 25 years old, making it perfect for just about any of today’s smaller gardens.

Perfect conical shape, tremendously hardy (USDA Zone 2), brilliant blue color, slow-growing and behaves well in a container for many years; I simply can’t think of a reason more folks don’t have at least one of these pretty trees in their gardens.

Ed-
Conifer Lover

There was a reason it was priced so low

I was puttering around in the little wooded corner of my lot the other day. While there, I heard the neighbor dogs begin to bark in the fashion which I have learned means that their masters have arrived home. I could see Mrs. Neighbor climb out of her SUV, greet her happy dogs and immediately roll a wheel barrow to the back end of her vehicle. That behavior, I presumed, would lead to an assortment of new plants being unloaded and a fun day of planting was ahead for her.

I walked over to the fence and gave a little wave as she turned and caught my eye. “Hi Ed!” she called out, “I’ve brought home some new color for my fall displays – wanna’ come see?”

That was all I needed and I began to make my way over the low fence which stands between our wild-garden and their front driveway. “Looks like you’re all set for autumn, all right” I said as I approached her nearly full first load, “Let’s see, looks like, mums and asters and pansies and… What’s this, a conifer?”

Turning a slight shade of red, “You caught me!” she said and quickly followed with, “Well, you see this one is such a bright yellow color, and it fits in with my color scheme – besides, you always tell me that conifers are easy to grow and low-maintenance… and it was on sale!”

The early autumn conifer garden is full of color, texture and form – and it’s incredibly low-maintenance too!

“Mmmmm…”

“What?”

“I am so happy that you have decided to add a colorful conifer to your autumn display, but… I do believe there is a reason that this particular specimen was on sale.”

“I saw the bright yellow color and thought you’d be thrilled to see I picked a conifer.”

“Yes, I am… it’s just…”

“What?”

“It’s just that this particular conifer is supposed to be blue.”

What my friend had found “on sale” at the big-box garden center was a terribly stressed and neglected Blue Star Juniper which had actually turned a surprisingly yellow color. She did get a great price, and the plant might survive, but it will definitely require some extra care to nurse it back to health.

Deciding that it would cost more in fuel to drive back to the store for a refund than she paid for this bargain plant, my friend opted to consider it a one-season addition to her autumn decorations. I smiled and carefully crawled back over the fence, grabbed my favorite chair, carried it out to the middle of my garden and enjoyed all of the beautiful seasonal color that my healthy conifers and companion plants provide. I sat back happily enjoying the late summer sun without the need to dig out old and tired plants and replace them with new seasonal color.

Conifers truly are the most reliable, most colorful, least labor intensive way to enjoy year-round color, texture and form in the garden.

Ed-
Conifer Lover

The amazing green world

I heard the silliest story the other day. A good friend and I had an opportunity to meet for lunch and get caught up with each other’s activities over the past several months. We are both gardeners, so we spent most of our time talking about the world of gardening. My friend had an opportunity to go to a symposium which included a rather well-known horticultural celebrity as one of the featured speakers. Apparently, this fellow was trying to sell the concept that the color green was not a color. From what I was told, he had his audience repeating, “Green is not a color! Green is not a color!…”

Green is not a color? That was one of the silliest things I had heard in quite a long time. Not only is green a color, but it is a color within which many shades and hues exist – so much so, that I devoted an early garden design to the color, relying upon the various textures, forms and growth rates of the plants to create interest in the space.

Green is possibly the most prominent color found in nature. Our planet has millions and millions of acres of green forests, green lawns, and green algae. Not only does the color green dominate the plant world, but many shades, hues and tones of green are found prevalent in animal life, from skin and feathers to tongues! Green is most certainly a color – and an important one to our lives. Imagine a world without the green of chlorophyll, and you have a world without photosynthesis. Without photosynthesis, the inhabitants of the world would certainly turn blue – from the lack of oxygen!

Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Nana’

Green is also known as a color that inspires balance and harmony. Many hospitals use light green in the patient’s rooms because of its calming effects. Green is the color of renewal and restoration and is a natural peacemaker. I know I always feel a sense of peace and calm when I am in a forest, mature garden or just lying on a green lawn.

The color green is very well represented in the conifer world. From giant forest trees to tiny miniatures and trees growing at the edge of the alpine tree-line to lush sub-tropical regions, green conifers are found almost everywhere on planet Earth. Believe it or not, I have a few green conifers in my garden too.

Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Filifera’

Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Nana’ is one of my all-time favorite selections of Dwarf Hinoki Cypress. During the peak of its spring flush, its new growth is a bright green color which hardens to the rich, lush, dark green that persists all summer and autumn. As winter sets in, ‘Nana’ seems to darken to one of the darkest greens in the garden.

Another form, Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Filifera’, the Thread-Branch Cypress, though green, is a lighter green than ‘Nana’. To my eye, its green color appears to have been brightened with a hint of yellow, which I presume indicates a little less chlorophyll production in its genetic code, but experts with far more scientific knowledge than myself might have another explanation. Most important to me, is that this slow-growing conifer adds a very pleasing color to the garden with the added interest of its unique texture, due to the long filament-like foliage.

Chamaecyparis thyoides ‘Heather Bun’

Chamaecyparis thyoides ‘Heather Bun’ is the final selection in today’s tiny look at the color green in the conifer garden. The Atlantic White Cedar is not truly a Cedar at all, but another species of Cypress which simply adds confusion in the garden world, but the silliness of most common names is the topic for a future post. I chose ‘Heather Bun’ because of its color changing properties. In spring, it pushes its soft, lush, grass-green foliage which, like ‘Nana’ above, will harden off to a darker green color. Though the green of ‘Heather Bun’ seems to be tinted with a bit of blue giving it a hue all its own. When winter arrives, ‘Heather Bun’ begins to take on a plum blush as if shyly responding to the kiss of a secret admirer.

Of course, these three plants are just a tiny sampling of the vast and wondrous variations of the color green that can be found in the amazing world of conifers.

Ed-
Conifer Lover

So much color! (part one)

You have heard me go on and on about the wonderful year-round color that conifers provide for the garden. From time to time I have even discussed non-coniferous plants with exciting characteristics including, but not limited to, the great color they add to the garden. Today, I thought it might be fun to take a look at some of the most color-saturated plants in my garden and shortly after I began I realized that this will be the first part in a series on intense garden color.

Red is a color that conifers generally add to the garden in small doses. There is Picea abies ’Rubra Spicata’ with its blood red new foliage push in spring, but it is a rather quick display lasting only a week or two. Many conifers put on a spring-time show with their colorful, and sometimes, bright red cones. Some of these will persist in their colorful stage for several weeks to a few months while others have a shorter duration. For the longest lasting and most intense red color in my garden, I look to broad-leaved trees and shrubs.

Acer palmatum dissectum ‘Crimson Queen’ is a shapely Red Laceleaf Japanese Maple that holds its red color fairly well, even in the heat of summer.

Without a doubt, some of the best reds in my garden are provided by Japanese Maples and there are two which have become favorites of mine. First, Acer palmatum dissectum ’Crimson Queen’ (Crimson Queen Laceleaf Maple), is an older selection that has been used in gardens since it was introduced in 1965. Rich, purple-red leaves emerge in spring, slowly covering the weeping branchwork with deeply cut, lace-leaf foliage. There is a graceful delicacy to the way each individual leaf is held on the stem which gives ‘Crimson Queen’ its delightful good looks.

As the temperatures rise in summer, many red-leaf Japanese maples begin to lose their color and fade to a muddy green as the red pigment becomes an undertone to the green. ‘Crimson Queen’ holds up particularly well to summer heat – especially if planted in a location which will provide some afternoon shade. With the onset of autumn’s crisp, cooler temperatures, ‘Crimson Queen’ becomes a bright scarlet red exhibitionist drawing many eyes before she finally disrobes, showing off her internal structure.

Acer palmatum dissectum ‘Red Dragon’ retains amazing color through the heat of summer. Both shot were captured during our current local hot spell.

Second, there is a newer Red Laceleaf Maple in town, one which has earned a tremendous reputation for unbeatable, dark, rich, reddish-purple leaves with color that just won’t quit! Holding its dark, rich color all summer long, ‘Red Dragon’ just brightens up in autumn before finally exposing its attractive branch structure through the winter months. Acer palmatum dissectum ’Red Dragon’ has a neat and tidy, dome-shaped, habit similar to ‘Crimson Queen’, but without the same delicate grace. That’s not to say that ‘Red Dragon’ lacks any beauty, in fact it is one of the most attractive Red Laceleaf Maples available today!

Adding these two Red Laceleaf Japanese Maples to your conifer garden will bring a pleasing addition of red color to complement the array of blues, greens and yellows available in today’s colorful conifer selections. Don’t just imagine your garden full of year-round color, make it your reality with amazing conifers and other exciting garden plants!

Ed-
Conifer Lover

The beauty of the sea

My wife and I absolutely love the Oregon coast. Yes, I am referring to the entire 363 mile length from the Columbia River to the California border. We might even love the Oregon coast as much as we love conifers!

A few years ago we decided it was time to travel the entire length of the coast and stop at all the lighthouses along the way. We had a wonderful time and we met some great people along the way – we even met the daughter of one of our Mid-western friend’s elementary-aged child’s teacher!

Yaquina Head Lighthouse at the central Oregon coast.

Two of our very favorite destinations on the Oregon coast are the Oregon Coast Aquarium and the Yaquina Head Lighthouse. The Oregon Coast Aquarium is a very large indoor and outdoor venue with great displays of our local coastal creatures. One of our favorite displays is the giant column shaped tank filled with jellyfish. We would sit and watch them for hours if we were allowed to set up our lawn chairs right there. The gentle, constant movements of these amazing creatures is very enjoyable to watch – much like a lava-lamp, but cooler!

You can capture your very own Pinus strobus ‘Sea Urchin’ at your favorite independent garden center.

The lighthouse itself at Yaquina Head is great, but some of the best times have been when we have timed our visit to the low tide, which reveals hundreds of tide pools, and the sea creatures that dwell within them. We will find sea stars, a few different species of Anemone, Mussels and one of my favorites, the Purple Sea Urchin, among many other fascinating sea critters. Perhaps coincidentally, one of my very favorite, dwarf, Eastern White Pines is also called ‘Sea Urchin.’

Pinus strobus ‘Sea Urchin’ was the first, dwarf, five-needle pine planted in one of my first conifer gardens, many years ago. I would love to see that old specimen today! ‘Sea Urchin’ appears somewhat like its namesake growing in a small, dense, globe-shaped form with spiky looking needles held out in all directions around the plant. With a growth rate of approximately one inch per year, this soft-needled, bluish-green pine will remain small in the garden for many, many years. This slow growing pine loves full sun and a very well-drained soil and is ideal for growing in a container on the patio, deck or balcony.

I love my ‘Sea Urchin’ at least as much as the real things that I see at the aquarium!

Ed-
Conifer Lover