Thanks for the info - the reason I'm asking here is not only getting first-hand information on whether they'll live, I'm getting conflicting info here: http://www.clevelandseniors.com/home/treedas.htm http://www.clevelandseniors.com/home/tom-das6.htm versus here: http://www.waterloogardens.com/resources/articles/12/alberta/ From what I know about this location in the summer, I shouldn't put anything on it that can't take scalding heat. I'd move these to areas that we have some ferns in that get only early morning light. However, in the winter, I am concerned about the plants roots freezing up while in the planter, even situated within 3 feet of the north side of the house.

bboy, Like most conifers Thanks, that's exactly what I needed clarified. noki, It is just a small slow growing dwarf tree, maybe they were they trying to hide a utility feature? I think that was part of the original intention when it was planted. But it's also one of a "matched set" on either side of this 2 story wall (it's companion is in a better exposure and is 1' taller) and I'm not a fan of "matched sets" in plantings in general. Plus, they do nothing to break up the vast 2 story expanse of taupe siding. pineresin, Or infect it with spider mites . . . Already has them which is another reason for it to go. It's healthy "mate" is going too. ;-) ken_adrian, props to you for finding the location of utilities.. I would hear my dad screaming from the grave if I didn't. ;-) But you'll appreciate this - the dwarf albertas are planted on either end of a 22' long by 2' deep bed. To the inside of these were 2 globe arbs - one was pruned to a somewhat square shape and one was pruned to an amorphous orb shape. :-/ Pulled those out yesterday. Moved some bulbs from the other end of the bed back over to the area near the problem spruce, and I'm working about hand digging (literally) since it was 3' from the entrance point of where the markouts indicated the lines entered and this area was previously covered by the globe arb. Hello. Within 6" of the foundation, and a full 3' from where the markouts tell me the cables are supposed to be is my power main coming up from its deep trench and bending back towards my meter. How this is code is beyond me, but not a huge surprise given some of the weirdness in this complex in general. Good tale to take back to your friends on the perennial forum. Trust *nothing* within a 6' radius, especially if there's a "builder's special" bed involved and a sidewalk in close proximity. You can't count on the wiring making the "logical" run you may think it does.

AL! You found me!!! I'm so happy. Thanks very much for responding. Yes, I can absolutely be patient and 3 or 4 years will be more than fine with me if I have an end result even half as cool as your blue spruce. To the rest of you, I absolutely appreciate your input also. Being a beginner at all this,I am fully aware that I might not be able to achieve the results I want, just because another who happens to have a world of experience, did. But I'm willing to take the chance for several reasons. 1) the tree, while admired maybe by many, is expendable to me. If it doesn't work out, I can just remove it. 2) I have all the time in the world. We plan to raise the kids in this house. 3) most importantly-- Al's globe blue spruce is actually what led me to gardenweb in the first place! I joined last year bc of some plumbing issues but never even checked out any of the garden areas. Then a few weeks ago I was googling all kinds of conifer stuff and came across what I thought was the coolest little mini-tree ever, in one of the coolest gardens ever, and I tried emailing the dude who posted it all... and he actually emailed me back. Pretty exciting if you're me, which I am. Hehe. So if Al says I could give it a shot, then by golly I am going to give it a shot. I've got nothing to lose really except some time. But at worst I'm sure I'll learn a thing or two along the way-- like the best ways to not get needles in my arms, Ken : ) so even that couldn't be wasted. Ok so now Al, can you recommend a method to start this process? I'm more than happy to get a book if you have one you can recommend-- I don't want to burden you any more than I have to. I know in your email you mentioned taking the top off your spruce-- is that something I should do too or is it too late for that? I know I said she's expendable but I'd obvioulsy like to do whatever in my power to avoid that. Also on another note, isn't there a way that I can click on a members name and see all their posts? I can't seem to find a way to even see *my own* without going back into each forum and finding my post somewhere in the list. As I spend more time on here, that is going to get very difficult. And I'd really like to see more of what you've all written/posted, both for inspiration and to gather more info and even to just have fun looking at all the beautiful stuff. I'd love to see some of your hosta Ken, for example- I see it's your favorite forum. I love hostas but again, just a newbie. Thank you everyone and Al especially, for making my day : )

where are you ..... i am near tecumseh [the real SE MI ... not metro detroit.. lol ..] ... and hidden lakes is just down the road in tipton mi ... two labeled collections of maybe 1000 plants ... and gee tree farm is 10 miles north of jackson ... with a 10 acre labeled collection ... time for a road trip .... try the http://www.girardnurseries.com/ ... for a mail order source .. and a good website to peruse ... and try the link below for a good intro to conifers.... you will be wanting minis or dwarfs... its all about the annual growth rate .... and keep in mind.. if momma is 386 feet tall.. in theory .. a dwarf of here.. with its slower annual growth rate.. could end up a mere 285 feet.. in ITS lifetime .... ken Here is a link that might be useful: link