'Skylands' was my first guess as well.

Gotta watch those rascally tags. I lost one from my 'Bush's Lace' last year and found it this winter sticking out of a birds nest in my Rose of Sharon hedge.

Firs have a suction cup like base to the needles, leave an abrasion like green spot when pulled off the shoot

I just know that I am happy with this variety..unlike the colorado blue spruce that contracted a disease and took mine and the surrounding neighbors down...its my opinion that this one is more disease tolerant .....

There was never any doubt that it's a spruce. It's simply a question of which one. I tried to download and zoom in on the pic, but the resolution just isn't there to help.

In the closeup, the yellow appears more dusty-yellow which would suggest that it's Picea mariana 'Aureovariegata.' I'm just not certain I see enough gray-blue on the abaxial needle surfaces to confirm.

In Picea orientalis 'Skylands' the color is a rich true gold and the needles are somewhat thicker and shorter. Abaxial surfaces on this one are more of a brooding dark green.

skylands is sounding very familiar...one of the two is usually a bit more gold in color because the other one gets more sun...thanks for your help

Good picture! The scorched-off needles on 2014's season's growth was the tell-tale sign. Confirmed as Picea orientalis 'Skylands.'

Thank you!