I'm not a landscape designer, but I'm very familiar with Washington state. From your picture, your zone, and your statement that you live in central Washington, I gather you live somewhere at the base of the east Cascades in the area where the conifer forests of the mountains mingle with the sagebrush steppe of the Columbia Basin. The forests typical grow on well-drained gravelly soil, probably acidic, but not always (depending on underlying rock). The Basin has more alkaline soils, sometimes sandy, sometimes clayey. Before you start selecting plants, you need to determine the pH of your soil and whether it is sandy, gravelly, clayey or loamy. And, before you settle on a landscape plan, you need to think about that bugaboo of eastern Washington forests: fire. It looks like you live outside of town. If so, you need a fire break around your house. I think 30 feet minimum is a common recommendation, but you can probably find someone in you county for advice. No wood piles near the house. If you don't have a wood deck, don't build one. Etc. Keep the plants near the house green and watered. Back to plant selection. "Xeriscaping" in eastern Washington isn't quite the same as xeriscaping in, say, New Mexico. Eastern Washington, like western Washington, has a long wet season, from about late September to early July. July, August, and September have hardly any rain. The same is true in western Washington, but in eastern Washington, there's no humidity either. Both soil and air become very dry. It's this pattern, not the dryness per se, that your plants need to be able to tolerate. There are an awful lot of plants that thrive in a broad range of the eastern and central US that can't take the dry period or the long wet season of eastern Washington. The good news is that there are a few plants that those people with humid, hot summers lust in vain for that will thrive where you live. Don't be afraid to experiment with Rocky Mountain specialists (penstomons, etc.) I can't tell you specifically what to try. I live in Pullman with alkaline clay soil, which you likely don't have. If you really want to know what sort of ornamental trees and shrubs can take the climate, drive around and look at abandoned home sites to see what is still alive. Kelly Cassidy

Not sure it anyone still looks back at this section of the forum, but I found it extremely interesting. The question I have is more of a top-down question. I currently grow blue spruce, in multiple numbers (hundreds/maybe a thousand potted up now, and maybe another thousand almost ready to pot ). Mine are 2-3 years old, so early stage. Grown from seed. Some from "majestica" blue spruce seed which seem to grow quite eratically to be honest. In any case, I read of blue spruce cultivars like Hoopsi, and Fat Albert. I believe they are grafted onto Norway Spruce understock. What I don't understand is how the colour (very vibrant blue) is common to all grafted stock. I assume that "they" (whoever "they" are) select specific/specimin adult trees and take scions exclusively from that tree? Who would maintain the Hoopsi "trademark" i.e. select consistent adult trees? I assume certain of the "progeny" may then be a source of scions, thus improving the variety? Also, I know I can buy grafted Hoopsi grafted stock (a year or two old) but if I wanted to graft my own Hoopsi, how would one proceed (and is this type of activity monitored? i.e. purchase a Hoopsi adult tree and presumably take my "scions" from that tree??) Alternatively, if one of my current trees grew with a vibrant blue colour (I seem to have a few out of a thousand) could I then use that tree for scions, a number of years from now? (provided I obtained or grew Norway Spruce or some other suitable understock). Sorry, you can tell I'm very new to this. But any information will be helpful.

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 think I'm going to go with Pinus heldreichii 'Emerald Arrow' to go along with the Pinus koraiensis 'Anna' that I ordered last week. It looks as though it will fit the criteria very nicely. A local nursery has agreed to let me piggy-back an order for this cultivar along with their Fall 2010 order from Iseli. This way, I'll be able to get a larger specimen. I think Pandora's Box has been opened, though - what other specimens do I want from Iseli?! This could get ugly! Dax, you're two for two with me now on your recent recommedations. The pressure is on! Thanks! PlantMarker