I have several, including one that is about 15 years old now, 13' x 15' approximately. I have a few named cultivars and a lot of ones I've grown from seed, including a few lace leaf trees.

Hi... Im so glad someone else has those wonderful trees here in zone 4! Your 15' must be the mighty Emperor, mine is about 5' but a real beauty! I have alot in pots but the ones in the ground it seems are 'happier'.

Lori, mine is an acer palmatum atropurpurea I bought as a 10" seedling, I selected it becuase of its rich red color. I sited it well, babied it, and now it is my pride and joy. Its fall color this year was outstanding, a couple of people stopped and asked to take pictures.

I don't do well with trees in pots, can never figure out how wet/dry they should be going into the winter, not sure of the light exposure, etc. All my JMs are in the ground.

I also have a beautiful Inabe Shidare on the banks of my water garden, it's slow growing, but I love the weeping form, and a Ukigumo, or Floating Clouds JM, a very pretty variegated form that is growing by leaps and bounds, is over 6' tall in just a few years. I think it is one of the hardiest of them all.

In addition I have Shaina--not much of a grower, lots of die back, reverts to the typical Bloodgood form frequently so needs pruning the reversions out--if I hadn't paid so much for her, she'd probably have gone to the compost pile several years ago.

I have several plants I've grown from seed I traded for on Gardenweb, the seedlings from Viridis in particular have proven especially hardy, and I love their lace leaves. I planted another 75 seedlings in my nursery bed this year and am anticipating (hoping!) a good number will come through their first winter.

I also have the Ukigumo, but I just put it in the ground this spring its only about 1'tall. I cant wait to see what it puts on next year! I was able to slip a cone over it this year. I had the Inabe Shidare but the rabbits took it down in one bite! Just left it laying their, dident even eat it!! I was sooo mad! The Full Moon Maple was so nice this year,Ive had that one in the ground now for two winters with no die-back.I have so many more in the ground...like the Baldsmith and the Pixy the Orange Dream ,Purple Ghost, Garnet. I cant even think of them all right now! Yes, Ive got a bad (good) problem!

Lori,

Wow, another JM addict-I am impressed. I have long admired Orange Dream and Purple Ghost, would love to have the full moon maple but not quite enough to shell out the money for it. I had a Garnet for many years (named after my birthstone) but a very cold year and inadequate drainage ended it...

Besides coning the young trees, do you do anything else to protect them through the winter?

Well... I put that cage wire stuff around them and fill them up with oak leaves. Its funny but this year I bought a 3' Peaches & Cream around the first part of Oct. I put fence around it packed it with leaves then... I put big pieces of styrofoam around that! My husband just shook his head... he understands. I think I over did that one,I just dont want to loose it!