It is very evident that gardening is your forte - absolutely gorgeous! I have always been inspired by your photos; please keep them coming.

Your garden makes me and others work hard because we can see exactly what hard work and planning for the future can reward. My gardens make me smile and laugh on an almost too-common basis. I laugh at how many plants are going to be full of color and how much SHADE I'll have eventually which will be nice as Summers seem to get hotter and hotter.

Life, I think for most gardeners, certainly is good indeed.

-Will

Raising a graden is fullfilling in much the same way as raising your children.......

While there may be some hassles along the way, and caring for it never ends, eventually you know you've made something that's all you and beautiful.

( and it's not quite as much hassle )

mark

If we're comparing it to raising children, then I think one month of a conifer garden is equal to one year of raising a child. After about 18, they don't need too much guidance and help at all. From about 18-30 they might just need an occasional bit of money(water) and then they become free and ready to take on whatever the world can throw at them.

I don't want to take over your post Dave, just share a similar shot from my garden this morning.

Happiness, in one photo.

-Will

piddle..

life sucks.. then you die ..

your garden.. on the other hand is blissful

ken

Congratulations to your wife!

Your gardens are beautiful!!

Kathy

Hey Ken...life sucks only if you think it does.

Go buy another rare conifer and get over it. Just kidding...

If I could take a gander out your back window I am sure what I saw would not lull me to sleep. A well thought out design that is a thing of beauty.

You do have a back window? If not get one and post a few photo's.

Dave

I know that feeling Dave. We need to hold on to it though.
Gary

Dave, I think that view would put a smile on just about anybody's face. You deserve every bit of the feeling of accomplishment you receive and the happiness your stunning garden brings you. You've created a work of art. Thanks for sharing it with us.

Will, your photo is beautiful as well but speaking as a father of four, I may have to disagree with the following statement ;) :)

"If we're comparing it to raising children, then I think one month of a conifer garden is equal to one year of raising a child"

Stunning Dave. I so enjoy seeing your gardens. The hard work is evident and the love obvious.
Cher

dam kids got me totally conifer broke...

and my garden is out east.. and no freakin window pointing that way ...

pshaw i say ....

ken

ps: you know.. its all about me.. and not your wonderful post/pix/garden .. lol ...

Very cleverly written Ken... blaming half of your conifer troubles on your children. Wonderful & Brilliant I say!

No kudos for me beyond this point, so I leave with a "crooked", smile. ha ha ha

Dax

WOW!!!! Completely Inspirational!....hmmm...gives me a few more ideas for my own backyard...thankyou!!!

Good morning all. I am new to this forum Thanks to Will for letting me know about you all. I love the photos and wish I could only be as focused as you all. I would love a nice clean and simple garden but things start growing and I get busy and another year goes by and flowers everywhere. I do enjoy my conifer section at the nursery and it is kind of my conifer garden but in pots. I love the variety and texture they provide. Since I garden the most in the winter conifers have really become my favorites. Keep the pictures coming Heidi

Beautiful, Dave! Thanks for posting. Looks like you've managed to entice some healthy conifers to grow in what looks like the shady far side of your garden, too. Great layout, and it's great to see the end result of a lot of planning.

James

wow. how many years of gardening is that? You have inspired me. Little by little, bit by bit, I hope to have something comparable in about 15 years

The tall golden Cham.Ob. in the middle of your yard...Is it Confusious, Goldilocks, Wells golden, Slender golden Hinoki, or (what?).
Very beautiful...

adaminny said: "wow. how many years of gardening is that? You have inspired me. Little by little, bit by bit, I hope to have something comparable in about 15 years".

Yep...about 12+ years. Little by little, bit by bit.

texasspruce... Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Aurea' Durable and won't retain heavy snow loads. Been around a long time in the nursery trade. Zone 5 lower then that...for get it.

Introduction: Hort. J > 1860 (Source: Erhardt)

Thanks Dave. I have several Cham. Obs, that have been in the ground 4-5 years now including Crippsii that are stunning. Would love a specimen that is as slender as yours. Since the heavy snow loads aren't ususally a problem (except this past winter we got 12" in one of the four snowfalls we received). When you say lower than zone 5 do you mean 4-2 or do you mean south? I have only burned up a couple of C. Ob. cultivars so far and found that when given afternoon shade they do well. I have two great micro climates working for me so I am lucky there.
D

Dave,

What is the weeping, somewhat wispy looking blue conifer in the second pic back against the tree line? Pretty neat looking, and must get a fair amount of shade (which I have in abundance).

Thanks for the pics! Garden always looks fabulous and neat as a pin...

Dave,
I thought to order a large Ch.o.'Aurea' from my nursery this September, saw how nice yours looks. But you caution about not colder than zone 5 and no large snow loads. Do you mean my zone 5a is too cold, and would the occasional 1 ft of wet snow be too much for that tree?

My neighbor has large arborvitae, which lose branches occasionally due to snow load. But none of my Ch.obtusa have lost any branches due to snow, and are hardy in my area.
Bernd

kaitain4,

Juniperus scopulorum 'Tolleson's Weeping Blue'.

2-3 hours of sun then filtered shade the rest of the day. Should do very well for the setting you have chosen for it.

texasspruce... I mean 4-2.

Dave

Bernd..It does not succumb to heavy snow loads due to open growing habit. 5a (-20 F.) could be a stretch. Micro climate would be a factor. Give it some protection to be on safe side and go for it.

Dave

Beautiful pics of the gardens. And tell your wife congrats on retiring and you both garden happily, ever after, LOL.

Dave, you certainly have a wonderful garden with a well thoughtout landscape. I am striving to get a little of that look into my yard.
Thanks for your help!
I think I will order and plant the Ch.o.'Aurea' at the northeast corner of my attached garage, there will be an empty 7 ft dia area for it, and morning and late afternoon sun. That area has some protection. Plus generally the USDA zones have been changed by half a zone, so I actually should use zone 5, not 5a.
I also have Ch.o. 'Tetragona Aurea' which is rated for zone 5 and is doing well.
Bernd

Dave/Wiser-Steg,

Very beautiful. You certainly have a lot to be proud of. What a gorgeous yard. Thanks for sharing. I always enjoy your pictures!

Matt