How did you know this guy? I'll admit I've had passerby's stop and question me about my own garden, but they have all been on foot. I'll bet you thoroughly enjoyed that day. Elderly people are not only a walking encyclopedia and library of knowledge and experience, but like big grown up kids.

Dax

I bought a couple of maples from Frank Byles last spring and Frank told me about him. I knew that I was going to have some time in Salt Lake yesterday so I called him last Sunday and he welcomed me to come have a look. We talked about his preffered sellers (no longer any in state), his memories and experience and even family.

Yah that's alot of JM's... I do love 'em but I don't think I'd want my yard to look look a nursery ...Even trimed and kept small that's probably 10 times the amount to have have in a smaller space... Thats probably why the folks that bought his old place went clear cutting ...but that is sad...If I EVER sell my place I'd move em at any cost or only sell to someone who agrees not to clear cut them.... Some folks are are BUTT UGLY and others just PLAIN IDIOTS the buyers the latter...I'm sure they could have had them professionally dug, balled and burlapped and sold them made a fortune and best of all someone else could have enjoyed his priceless collection. David

Pruning is an artform! We must not forget!
That man's gotta be a cool cat!
Later on..

kvolk, how did this guy get Japanese Maples and an Atlas Cedar to grow in his soil? I assume it is alkaline like most of the valley.

Up on the bench the soil is much better than on the valley floor. On the bench in Logan they can grow things that I can't in spite of thier colder temps. The valley floor where the old Lake Bonneville finally evaporated has a higher alkalinity than just 100 or so feet up higher on the benches.

Thanks for your response. I just moved here from lush Missouri. Actually, one of the reasons I chose Utah was to learn how to plant beautiful landscapes in this soil and climate. I see you have found your way with this. Your success with the Japanese Maples is just amazing to me. Do you treat your soils with any sulfur products? A friend of mine up here owns an apple orchard. He told me that every time they water the orchard, they add sulfuric acid to the water. Every time. He's got it down to a science. There is another farmer up here that is going to attempt to grow blueberries in the spring. Blueberries like it very acidic. I imagine he will be doing something like what my orchard friend is doing. But, I wonder if it is worth the investment of the ammendments. I guess when he goes to sell blueberries, he will find out. Again, thanks for your direction.

Prior to this spring I used no sulfur products. I amended the soil in the planting holes with a lot of fine bark mulch. That is long gone though in my earlier plantings. This year I have planted 3 palmatums, a japonicum and a shirasawanum. I mixed sulfur granules in with the backfill on them. I don't know if it will help or not but decided that I might as well try it.