Jaro: I just got three of the 'Pruhoniceanas' from Iseli through my local nursery--I think they said they were about 3 feet tall or a bit more, and not cheap. I was told they were the last they had. I think Gee has a few about the same size, and Gee and Arrowhead have small grafts available. I may also try the 'Aarburg' and the 'Rothenhausii'. You are right when you suggest that the 'Pruhoniceana' is somewhat like one end of the range of the variation one sees in the species, but to me it is somewhat beyond the end of that range. In any case, I think many of the regular species NS are outstanding in themselves. Another cultivar of this general type I would like to find is 'Pendula Bohenica." Krussmann has a photo that makes it look something like the 'Pruhoniceana,' but the description makes it sound a bit more irregular. I have been growing for a few years three of the 'Pendula Major.' They look promising but it is too early to tell what they realy are. They are, I think, more like the regular species than the 'Prunoniceana,' but worth a try. Iseli has a photo, but I have my doubts, all due respect to Iseli, that their picture is of a true 'Pendula Major'. If it is, then it is really just like some of the more weeping individuals of the regular species, and worth trying only if you want a specimen NS that has good weeping branchlets. But I suspect it is just a bit more interesting than that. Another P. abies cultivar I am curious about is the 'Pendula Monstrosa.' Krussmann says "similar to 'Pendula Major', but the main branches more pendulous, twigs less luxuriant, needles radially arranged." And one other one that has caught my interest is 'Plumosa'. Krussmann describes it as similar to 'Viminalis', but the long pendulous branches denser. Well, if any of you out there know anything about any of these, and/or know any sources, let me know. --Spruce

Thanks for adding to the gallery guys. Seems a bit strange for me to keep posting to myself! :) Thanks for the compliments too, hearing it from conifer legends always makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside. More more and more! This is madness!... Picea abies 'Suncrest'. New to me, a nice tight, bluish color miniature, bought at Coenosium Gardens. 'Gold Dust'. An unusually 'leggy' small dwarf with highly unusual colors as the new foliage eventually becomes more golden and mixes well with the older blue/green. 'Perry's Gold'. Pretty bright! New growth eventually reverts to a more dark green. This specimen is in almost full shade. Awesome! 'Vermont Gold' A sport from 'Repens' I believe, grows laterally into a wide shrub, new growth is delicately gold and burns in full sun here. 'Clanbrassiliana Stricta'. A bit more of a cone shaped dwarf. 'Nidiformis'. Common, available at many box stores and in my opinion, still a pretty nice plant. 'Hasin'. Doing some wierd things, I'd better take a look and prune back that barberry! Usually a super-tight miniature similar to 'Dumpy'. 'Malena'. A great looking small dwarf with unusual needle shape, mine received too much sun last year, suffered some damage and this Winter found a new home. 'Aarburg'. A twisting, weeping, chaotic 'Dr. Suess' tree. Saw it for the first time at Coenosium Gardens and had to have one. Eventually gets pretty wide(not too tall), but I think it will be happy enough here in 5-6 hours of sun. Picea abies seems to handle part shade very well. Many of mine are in filtered sun with 3-4 hours of direct sun. 'Gold Drift'. Only one of the best, a strongly weeping, fast growing tree essential to any conifer collection. More when I have time, please feel free to add some of yours. -Will

A beauty! Interesting story (to me, anyway): Couple of years ago I picked up a couple of plants at a ShopKo clearance (I know, I know...) labelled Picea abies 'Bird's Nest'. I was confused but overlooked my confusion because I had just gotten what I convinced myself were two Bird's nest spruce for about 3 bucks apiece. When I planted them the nursery tag said Picea mariana 'Ericoides.' At that time I decided I should try to find out what they REALLY were, to no avail. Left them behind at our former home that is now a rental. Both still alive but with zero new growth and one looking pretty much like death warmed over. Note to self: you usually get what you pay for.

hey will ... fletch is still on the move.. eh??? glad to see you back contributing ... i had a suncrest plant for quite a few years.. wondering when it was going to turn yellow.. to fulfill its name.. before someone told me.. its a nursery name.. rather than some pun on gold coloration ... lol .. anyway ... glad to have you back ... nice plant .... ken