Dax, I'm very glad to see that you've a very neat and well organized conifer propagation place.
Good luck with your grafts!

Dax, Awesome pictures! Looking forward to seeing my brothers

'Al's Irish Drift' in the future. Al tells me your interested

in birds as well. Had Bald eagle in yard and nesting Red Shouldered Hawks in back yard, thought you would appreciate that.

Jack

Ultra cool!!!

If only there was a way to get my hands on an 'Elko Run' and one 'Sharp Cheddar' (it will look great next to a 'Hoopsii'

Best regards,
Fotis

Well I already said how I love Sharp Cheddar and what do you mean "haven't been doing a whole lot of grafting"? Looks like pretty much to me. Like your setup and as joy said, I like the neatness of it. I see you have Elko Run grafted now too.
Cher

Really impressive! Nice work.

J

Thanks you all, I believe in a clean propagation space and I clean it thoroughly between each time I graft and I clean my tools of course, too. Then (you) feel good each time you walk into there whether to work or to look. A clean house just does it for you, you know.

I love birds Jack. A lot of us on here do. Wolfgang, tj, Dave in Kansas are just a few. The Great Backyard Bird Count is this Friday-Monday and if you feel like participating (anyone) please do. I'll link below.

Fotis, keep your fingers crossed ;-).

Thank you Cher. Always kind words from you, and I enjoy reading your posts.

Hope all is knitting for you taxo-man!

Onward!

Dax

Here is a link that might be useful: Great Backyard Bird Count

Dax, your set-up is sweet...your attention to detail speaks volumes...its no wonder your success rate is high !!!

Nice work!
I'm glad to see some of the great finds this year in your grafting space!
Cheers,

Josh

Hey Dax,

got your care package today, brotha. Into the fridge 'til I can get to Bob's grafting chamber on Monday.

You've got some pure gold percolating there (awesome set up). I hope the Elko Runs, Al's Irish Drifts, and Sharp Cheddars all make it. I'm looking forward to some trading to this summer!

Keep in mind, y'all, these are cultivars found by hobbyists, not the pros. For some reason, I think that's really cool.

~Dave

Quite the teamwork, quite the teamwork folks. You guys are the coolest folks around.

Later Irish, Later Josh.

Dax

Thanks for the post, Dax. That set-up is first class all the way. Keep us posted on the progress. Its fun for us to follow these cultivars from a blob on a branch (or a poignant pungens) to a plant in a pot.

tj

WOW Dax, what a beautiful set up you have. It looks like you could even add a second level on top of all the plants you have grafted now if you wanted. Very nice!

It looks like you have some very beautiful scion grafted there. What is happening in the photo with Al's Irish Drift, there is a branch bent down with an orange tie? What is the reason for that?

Where did you purchase the tubs that your tree bands are in? They really look convenient and a very nice size to cart around. I'm using those totes with wheels that you can store under a bed. But they are really heavy for me to carry around.

Thanks for sharing your photos...everything does look so nice and neat.

Super! Thanks for the update and tour!

Wow, you have quite the operation going on there, Dax. It looks awesome! Do you get all of your under stock from Western Evergreen?

Yup, yup Dave. I didn't see your post. Lot's of 'excellent adventures' - can anyone say sweeeeet to the GW team :-) (good timing Dave!) we were thinking the same thing.

Lady, that orange tie is there to keep an additional branch on the understock that I deemed necessary to keep on to feed the scion. Unfortunately, it was standing up and in the way so I couldn't tie the scion on the other branch.

I buy my flats from here

Matt, my understock except spruce came from Western Evergreen, yes. The spruce I bought potted from Brooks Tree Farm, folks that are friends of Jason's.

Lots of grafting yet to do. I'm probably 1/2 finished or a tad more.

Dax

As of yesterday, I'm done grafting. Thought you all may enjoy another round of pics.

Dax

Pinus parviflora 'Yatsubusa'
{{gwi:649492}}

Thuja occidentalis 'Maks' cuttings
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Taxus 'Lewandowski' cuttings
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Thuja occidentalis 'Krasnal' cuttings
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Pinus mugo 'Carl Fricard' single bud graft
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Pinus banksiana 'Angel'
{{gwi:649502}}

Pinus pungens winter-gold-provisional-seedlings-four-clones
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Picea pungens 'Edith'
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Picea abies 'Chillin' Phil'
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Pinus reflexa 'Southbridge'
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Picea engelmannii 'Blue Magoo'
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Pinus strobus 'Puffer Ball'
{{gwi:649517}}

Picea pungens 'Bialobok'
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Picea glauca reversion of Rainbow's End called 'Crestwood Kenny'
{{gwi:649525}}

Pinus mugo 'Bierun'
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Picea schrenkiana
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Picea schrenkiana - Buds
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Picea glauca 'Spring Surprise'
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Picea glauca 'Spring Surprise'
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Picea glauca 'Terry's Variegated'
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Picea abies 'Sherrie'
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Picea abies 'Sherrie'
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Picea pungens 'Olo'
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Picea pungens 'Olo'
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Picea pungens (Dax's Provisional) seedling showing fastigiate branching
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Pinus strobus 'Courtney'
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Pinus parviflora 'Cleary'
{{gwi:649576}}

Very cool, as always, Dax! I really really like 'Terry's Variegated'. Where is that from? What's ''Spring Surprise' and Pinus mugo 'Bierun' all about?

How long does it normally take the scions to break bud?

They look great Dax. Looks like you are going to have a heck of a lot of new conifers to plant out on your property over the next couple years.
Cher

Dax, Looking at your new grafts is sure therapy on an overcast, windy, stormy day. What species is Taxus 'Lewandowski'? And we have a Pinus 'South Bridge' that we got from Joe Stupka years ago that we thought was a strobus. Do you happen to know if these are two different plants. Thank you for the pictures, Jay

Matt, about four years ago on the forum a lady named Terry posted a photo of a sport growing on a Picea glauca at a golf course in Canada. I referred her to Darren Heimbecker at Whistling Gardens and the spring of the next year, Darren sent me a graft.

Spring Surprise is a globe with very tight growth. That's all I know. I actually don't even know the flush, etc-.

mugo Bierun, your guess is as good as mine. lol

Hope that helps!

Cher, it is possible I may make a few beds but I haven't committed to doing that yet. All I know at this point in time is I have way too many plants, lol. ohhhhh

Jay, Taxus 'Lewandowski' is all I know. Your question about South Bridge (2 words), strobus, I have no clue about. I'm sorry, I wish I could help. On one note, however, my plant was cone-id' by Resin as reflexa and came from none other than our local conifer/comedian - Ken!

Dax

Yeah, Jay,

Ken's plant was labled as flexilis prior to id.

=========================

Matt, buds will break as daylight hours increase. A friend has parviflora breaking now but he started grafting at least a month ahead of me. I suppose a month from now I'll see quite a lot of things popping. I started grafting middle of January.

Dax

Pretty awesome Dax, makes my toes curl. Looking forward to seeing these plants as they grow over the years. What did you do, 300-500 grafts this year? Seems like a good number.

here's to a 100% take on the grafts. Sending good propo-karma your way, Dax. There's some good trading material in there. LOL.

~Dave

Sahweet! You are like the pimp of conifers!

Dax, you look like you have some wonderful conifers grafted. I'm glad everything is still looking good for you. Your plants all look so healthy. Nice job.

I lost several Picea abies grafts so far. But everything else looks good so far. Picea must be harder to obtain success with.

Thanks for sharing all the photos.

Looking good, Dax. It's always nice to get a glimpse of your grafting operation, a model for the rest of us!

Dax...you the man.

'Sharp Cheddar' front and center.

I bet you have a long list of those wanting that cultivar.

Still want any cuttings of Cham. o. 'Melody'?

I know you don't especially like Cham. obtusa but this one is to have.

Dave

Gosh, I am pimped to the max with enthusiasm. Thank you all!
I can recall years and years ago the last time I had such a 'crowd'. This feels great, thank you.

Will, I have room for 330 band pots. I try to leave 30 spots for cuttings. Next year, however, I've ordered 400 understocks and of course seedlings aren't graded the same, in every circumstance and others will fall short of making it to the greenhouse. And, I'll probably leave my 30 spots and anything surplus of seedlings I'll bag em for grafting. I also start seedlings and have a rack for another 330 spots. I'm growing Mexican spruces this year-mainly.

Will - you know what's up pimp.

Lady, spruces are touchy let's say. Stick to it baby, you'll see the results if you're getting others to (still stay alive this far along). Good job!

Dave, Your propo-karma has been well-receiveed and my plants will be sent the vibes. Now go have a beer at Hooters.

Alex, it's all on. Cheers, man.

Dave, thanks Champ! I'll email ya.

Tango,

Dax

Nice, all around!

Looks like some of the understock is pushing a bit, it's about that time!

It sure is. Today I filled the last vacant spots with cuttings. Now it is time to wait and watch.

This will be the last round of pics until the grafts take off.

Dax

Abies firma 'Golden Hue'
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Pinus mugo 'Kvaca'
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Pinus resinosa 'Aurea'
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Thuja occidentalis 'Hillside'
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Pinus strobus 'Keokuk Koner'
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Pinus strobus 'Keokuk Koner'
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Picea glauca ?Aurea? buds are right, cultivar name not known for certain.
{{gwi:649593}}

Picea glauca ?Aurea?
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Picea glauca ?Aurea?
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Pinus koraiensis 'Blue Ball'
{{gwi:649600}}

Pinus koraiensis 'Blue Ball'
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Bagged Graft
{{gwi:649606}}

P. glauca "Goldilocks' ?

I think, possibly.

Dax

Yesterday, a bad day. Old Abies understocks have died (almost all). And Pinus mugo understocks have almost all died. I won't be using Pinus mugo ever again.

15 of my Pinus virginiana 'Al's Irish Drift' died that were grafted to mugo. Then most all my firs which I didn't graft many of to begin with, are dead. Luckily I had a dozen Abies koreana that were freshly potted 2011 and all those are fine. And also, luckily I grafted 3 Al's Irish Drift to Pinus sylvestris and those are fine. And, I was smart enough to graft separate cultivars of my firs to Abies koreana, as well, knowing my other understocks were junky.

When you're on a shoestring budget, sh#t happens.
Dax

The dreaded pictures:

{{gwi:649609}}

{{gwi:649611}}

{{gwi:649613}}

I could peel the bark right off them.

Dax I am so sorry. All of that work is bad enough but to lose all these future beauties is sad. I hope everything else keeps going for you.
Cher

Thanks Cher, next year I'll have everything I need. It's a shame to lose these, but, there was nothing I know of I could do. I could have told anyone those firs were past-iffy mid-summer, last. Buying potted understocks beginning of winter costs a fortune, so, I skipped buying firs, trying to make due.

Dax

Hang in there Dax...You still the man!

Thanks a lot Al.!

Dax