I thoroughly dislike eucalyptus globulus (blue gum) and acacia mearnsii (black wattle), but that's because they were invasive where I grew up and the pollen from the black wattles was horrible. I've seen people try to grow eucalyptus in Raleigh and it's a dismal sight. Even I feel it borders on abusive to take a tree that should be evergreen and magestically tall and have this poor, half dead, stumpy thing dripping bark in your garden. I'm not crazy about the native pines in the southeast US, because they all have prickly pine cones. I can't walk in my back garden in bare feet because of all the cones from the loblollies and long leafs (long leaves? LOL).

If you've searched the net for "instruction on creating artistic topiary from pine trees and juniper" and have come up with nothing, I bet a trip to your local library might help you find books on topiary. Or, a book store where they may assist you in finding an instruction book that they can order for you. Another good source is a used book store, altho older gardening books get snatched up quickly. I have limited experience with juniper - an Irish Juniper that I keep in a columnar shape and an older Juniper hedge that I'm currently trying to create a big block shape, with a smaller block on top, then a ball on top of that, at the very end of the hedge; so have no real tips to share. Other than - ouch. Those dead and dying needles are killers if you don't clean up the trimmings before they become dry and brittle!ha. Did you notice the video on that Plants Beautiful Nursery site, the one where the bonsai expert is trimming the pine tree? It's a very short video but interesting. I know that when I've trimmed the tips of the branches of white pines trees at my house, the rest of the branch tends to die.

Thanks Jay. I look at it this way, whatever going to make it through this winter will probably not going to die anytime soon and this kind of freak weather probably won't occur for another 10 years so there's no where to go but up from here. I'm not too bum about it. I noticed your imbe, their looking good. I also have one too. It is quite cool tolerant. Read somewhere that it is graft compatible with a mangosteen but haven't been able to confirm it yet. Also what is the name of the pineapple your growing there? Red, have you tasted the capulin cherry before? I had some before and wasn't really pleased by it.

I am trying to remember here and can't so hope someone can remember the reindeer made out of something???? The antlers were the kids handprints then had googly eyes and red pom pom for a nose. I am thinking it was construction paper. OH! My GB's loved the idea of Magic Reindeer food! Google it and you can find the recipe, its oatmeal and a little white sugar and a little colored sugar. Mix and bag up in little snack size zip lock bags. All you do is have the kids sprinkle the Magic Reindeer food outside the night you want Santa to come and the reindeer find the food and stop at their house! Here is a link that might be useful: Enchanted learning