I love Picea pungens for keeping their beautiful blue color in sun and shade!

Barbara

Hi Ken. Keep your pictures coming. I can really relate to your gardening conditions -- they are very similar to ours. Although we have had pretty good luck with all the Cham. obtusas we have acquired, but I tend to keep them in fairly shady and protected locations, after frying a 'Fernspray Gold' in full sun. I love your 'Aurea' in one of your other posts - great Harry Potter Hat shape! How much sun/shade is your 'Aurea' in? I also find it interesting that your Picea pungens do so well in full shade, as that is one species I thought really had to have full sun. We found an Abies concolor 'Candicans' last summer (first I've seen around here) that is smaller than yours, but is similarly open. I'm just thrilled to have a fir that's still alive as they really struggle here, presumably from the high summer humidity.

Enjoying your posts. Keep 'em comin'.

Kim

For those interested in trees my good friend Len Phillips conducts this site for professional arborists. This is for arborists but there is much to learn for the hobbyist.

Often before I address the soil and growing in general the comments have been vetted by Len.

Here is a link that might be useful: arborist

I love that 'Royal Knight'. Do you know hold old the specimen is? A fantastic mix of colors, almost purplish blue and in part shade no less. Thanks for taking all the time to shoot these conifers Ken, the true treasure in conifers is enjoying them up close and though I can't visit your property, I can certainly get pretty close via your photography.

Hi Butch. Most interesting site.Everybody should at least read the 'General root Growth' subject.
Paving slabs made with re-cycled car-tyres...brilliant idea!Over here they used to burn them in the cement-ovens or--and that's more recent--someone used shredded tyres as a substitute growing medium! Flexible attitude! T.

the playground at the middle school is now covered .. about 6 inches deep ... in shredded tires ... its like walking on a sponge.. though i seem to think there was some odor on very hot days ...

you are welcome fire ... of course i know how old it is.. i have a database ...

bought at hidden lakes gardens annual sale ... may 2001 ... i dont recall it being of any size .. so presumable 2 to 3 years old at purchase .... later found out that gee tree farm donates all the conifers at the sale ... so that is probably the source of the plant..

do note... that it is growing in full shade... and that may have a significant effect on its coloration ...

ken