We have ordered quite a bit in the past from Musser. Everything grew well after soaking in a bucket to rehydrate. The sugar maples that were sticks 4 years ago are now a nice 8 to 9 feet. Black Locusts grew that much in 2 years. I can't remember all the varieties that we have tried but overall were really happy with the cost and results. Good luck with your project- you re-inspired me to get back after the buckthorn patch.

Thanks for the info- I havn't been able to check out those sites yet- but will soon!
Thanks again-
Julie

Hey- lookie what I found! HHmmm- tis the season to re-consider an order....

I can order bundles of 25 seedlings from my county soil & water program. I have the brochure at home, but I think they are about $20 per bundle, they offer several oaks, maple, pine, fir and other varities of trees and shrubs. E-mail me if you want more info.

Linda

mmmmm, yep - still on my to-do list. Got the Musser forest cat a couple of weeks ago and it remided me. I doubt the county soil & water program will have too much of what I'm interested in since I'm rehabing an understory of mature oak. My choices must do well in shade to part shade. About the only things I remember off the top of my head were spicebush and uh, think it was a dogwood - I'll have to pull out my notes.

Hey - Thanks Linda for the list!! There are many nice selections to choose from- but not too many for shady understory shrubs...
Yes- I too am looking for understory plantings- Blue cohosh (?) is a plant that I would add to my understory- among others-
Yes- you were correct- dogwoods are a good understory shrub- as are chokeberries- snowberries- nannyberries- even elderberries is a bright moist understory condition-
There are many more available to us in this zone- but I too don't have my notes handy....

Have you given any thought to how you will care for these? Are you going to just plop them down in your woods and hope for the best, protect them with tubes/mesh or pot them up and grow them on for a while? I'm an incredibly lazy gardener and I'm afraid if I stick them in the woods I'll have a high mortality rate because supplemental watering and monioring will be minimal.

I will probably soak them for 24 hours in a bucket of water upon their arrival- and then plant them into a nursery bed where I will see them and the hose reaches easily for a year or so- and then move them out into the woods- and I will have to be sure to rabbit proof with a wire cage for another year or two- as those dumb bunnies love anything new and tender that is not already there in abundance...... although- I did just start a new bed in the woods late last summer- where I will be needing to water well this year to keep those new plantings alive.... Maybe I will just plop them there.
I hear what you are saying abot being lazy- weeding and watering and pulling buckthorn does get quite tedious- especially when the mosquitoes are out in force! And then there is trying to find a needle in a haystack thing with so many sticks looking alike when you know you need to water the "new" plantings.....
I have tended to the nursery bed usually quite well though- I guess I see alot of the future there - all your eggs in one basket as it were- I tend to be a bit harsher and let the other beds fend for themselves somewhat.....
Julie

Julie, I can probably spare some elderberry from my woods. I do have blue cohosh, but have only found a few so I can't offer you any of those just yet.
If there's anything else I may have in my woods, I'd be glad to share!

Linda