Interesting, davidrt28. If you don't mind saying so, whereabouts are you located? My marschlinsii are planted in sandy loam which, as far as I've been able to discern, drains quite well, even though the field in question does slope down to a wetland area, and at least some of these larch are near that portion of the site. I'm inclined to think that for conifers generally, the land I happen to have purchased is exceedingly well-suited. Your comments regarding the current status of crosses leading to the Dunkeld-type trees pretty much mirrors one I've had with the guy up in Minnesota who, so far as I'm aware, is the only source for L. marschklinsii. In fact, he was going to cancel it off his list when seed availability became an issue, going so far as to inquire as to the sexual maturity of my trees. BTW, some cones are happening already. In any case, I'd asked him pretty much the very question as to whether the plants he was offering were really true Dunkeld larch, being several generations away from the initial cross. He took it pretty much in stride that these plants, even though now distant from that F1 generation, were still the genuine article. I like them but I'm not sure I agree with that assessment. Leastways for now, they continue to put on magnificent growth increments each year. My one caveat with these trees-they seem to have some trunk strength issues when very young. A freakish wind set up out of the north a couple years ago which managed to permanently bend some of these guys, including two or three which are now supine groundcover larch! But in the main, truly exceptional trees by my reckoning. A little aside: I wouldn't be terribly upset if at some point, my marschlinsii's were to cross with the nearby tamaracks in my woods. I don't know enough about synchronicity of flowering between the two, to know if this is even possible, but I find such thoughts intriguing, if a little opposed to the all-natives bible. +oM

A few plants from the garden that could use some identification: 1. This dwarf spruce appears to be a Picea abies. However, it can be very difficult to distinguish between the many different cultivars derived from witches brooms. Any guesses? 2. These pine trees were here when the garden was first started. They appear to be either Pinus contorta or Pinus banksiana in my opinion: 3. This juniper has new growth that emerges a goldish color in the early spring. Juniperus chinensis 'Plumosa Aurea'? 4. This yew came up volunteer. Seems to be growing VERY slowly. Any guesses on the species? 5. This Cryptomeria does not have a cultivar label. 6. This Japanese Umbrella Pine is growing in a very narrow shape, quite uncommon for the species. There is a suspicion that it was left in its container too long. Is this what is happening or is it some unknown cultivar? 7. This Mountain Hemlock was purchased under the name Tsuga mertensiana 'Sherwood Dust'. Is this supposed to be 'Sherwood Compact'? It seems to be developing a definite leader... 8. These two dwarf Abies cultivars were purchased under different names, but they both look like Abies nordmanniana to me. One was purchased as Abies nordmanniana 'Broom' (probably should be 'Hunnewell Broom) and the other was purchased as Abies balsamea 'Verkade's Prostrate'. Are they even different plants? "Abies balsamea 'Verkade's Prostrate'"? "Abies nordmanniana 'Broom'"? Thanks so much for all the help! -Sam

I love the larches. Here are a few of my favorites. Larix kaempferi 'Haverbeck' Larix kaempferi 'Herynek' I also have a weeping Larix that is weeping over a metal arbor. I was hoping it would get really full but is is one branch/leader going over the arbor with a stingy strands of branches weeping from the main leader. How long does it take to get full and beautiful as I've seen them in other peoples yards? Mine is about 9 years old now. I can't find a photo of it. I will have to get one this spring as it has lost it's needles already and looks awful naked. All your Larix photos look wonderful. Thanks for sharing.

Larix also grows like CRAZY here. I imagine out of all plants, this is one plant genus I will have to move/remove first. They seem to grow about twice as long as suggested here - or more. Larix kaempferi 'Diana'. Grew about 2' it's first year, then had some die-back, and grew another couple feet this year. This cultivar is known for it's irregular, twisted growth. Larix decidua 'Pendula'. Probably kaempferi as the weeping European larch is quite rare. Pseudolarix amabilis. Was tiny in Spring, grew ridiculously fast in a few months with part-sun....! Larix kaempferi 'Newport Beauty'. One of the slowest growing larch I have seen. A couple inches a year so far though it is NOT established yet. Larix kaempferi 'Lanark'. Not happy in this dry spot but I'm pretty determined to get it going. Larix Kaempferi 'Jakobsen's Pyramid'. An extremely narrow, fast growing larch. Maybe this clematis can keep up! -Will