You guys are too kind. Thank you. Karin, I have had a terrible time trying to find the right plants for around that pond. I ended up with some tried and true southland plants. The background plants are nandinas. I have three big green phormiums, one to each side of the waterfall and one up against Mikey's office. There is a Giant Bird of Paradise and blue agaves that are far too large and out of scale for the size of the pond. Five phoenix roebellinis, one in a barrel with wire plant. Sword ferns are all around the waterfall, which has a gold duranta, some papyrus, and a Ming Asparagus fern behind it. There is one Wheeler's Dwarf pittosporum, a Sprenger asparagus fern in a pot and three on sticks, and some lilies, irises, and Louisiana irises planted here and there. There is variegated ivy on one side, and acorus here and there. I just planted three carexes, and there is some zoysia grass out there too. Whew. It's a dog's breakfast of plants! The zoysia is very slow growing, but it's pretty. I think that's the grass you like. No female dogs on the zoysia! Renee

Hi Rc - hope your boy is learing to graft. Mike - yep. Denny was on the tour and is Vice President of Dubuque Iowa's Arboretum . . . Edwin - 'Secretariat' Metasequoia so far is producing branches that ascend damn near straight up. It's about 5' wide at the base and 17' tall. I originally noticed what appeared as bulging veins - like a muscle man's - then as my eyes continued to look at the bark - I noticed curling black bark with resemblence to a Paperbark maple. I bought seeds winter 2006-2007 and during June of 2007 I planted the fresh seedling and that year I had a tree over 6' tall, within a few months (it was planted in June). . . 2008-2009 it grew just as much. 17' is where it is today. I have a few photos but don't know where my photo is from the first year. Metasequoia ('Secretariat') named for the best race horse ever: Jan 15 2010 Metasequoia Secretariat Jan 15 2010 Metasequoia Secretariat Jan 15 2010 Metasequoia Secretariat Summer 2009 Metasequoia Secretariat Summer 2009 Metasequoia Secretariat Summer 2009 Metasequoia Secretariata Summer 2009 Metasequoia Secretariata Near the base of the trunk Summer 2009 Dax

Sure thing Mike. Yesterday in the late evening after a lot of maintenance, work and watering, I realized I wasn't spending enough time enjoying my plants. This morning I took a leisurely stroll and a handful of pics. I've included 5 'indespensible conifers', 5 that I think all collectors should really own and then another ten that currently sit high on my own list. It will undoubtably change over time and as my plants acquire more character. First, five conifers to plant instead of the dreaded 'Lowe's' conifers(arborvitae, picea pungens 'glauca', etc.): Picea omorika 'Pendula Bruns'. Hands down the most interesting, graceful, stately conifers for sale. Not readily available in larger sizes, hopefully this changes as few conifers create such a statement. Only gets better with age. This. particular specimen is growing quite irregularly at an early age. Picea abies 'Gold Drift' and 'The Blues'. This is sort of cheating, two conifers in one. Both are strong weepers and grow about the same rate. The combination of colors simply demanded this sort of marriage. Pinus contorta 'Chief Joseph'. Wonderfully compact and of course, the brightest, best looking gold from about November to April. Picea mariana 'Aureovarigata'. A simply beautiful, large conifer. Three colored effect. Picea engelmannii 'Bush's Lace'. A phenominally beautiful, slightly weeping conifer simply makes most upright blue spruces obsolete. And Ten that really caught my eye or already had my eye. Abies procera 'Blaue Hexe'. A stunningly blue small dwarf. I love it. Pice orientalis 'Iseli Seedling'. Super form and color, even in a lot of sun. Picea sitchensis 'Thomas'. A tiny mound of great colors, especially with new growth. Picea pungens 'Wisconsin Cream'. Great color contrast between old and new growth. Normal habit is of the medium dwarf upright type - a compact wide cone. Picea orientalis 'Nutans'. Great character, this one should be fun to watch. Abies vejari. A rare fir from Mexico, it has stunning new *and* old growth. The new growth borders on teal or aqua-marine. It's the most interesting color in a conifer I have seen. Apparently has great cones as well. Cedrus libani 'Hedgehog'. A cool little hedgehog, small dwarf with huge needles and a very interesting mounding habit. Cedrus libani 'Green Knight'. Very nice color and usually grows irregularly. Great small dwarf. Picea omorika 'Peve Tijn' or 'Tijn'. Great golden/blue/green hues, handles full sun and forms a perfect upright form in great time. Hope you enjoyed! -Will

Thanks for remembering Brian. They were recovering from the cold nicely and then last week slow down with no weather change. It turns out I made two blunders with them. 1) I planted out too early, March 23, and 2) I didn't give them enough water. Next year, most likely I will plant out around April 7. I only gave them half a gallon of a water a week where before I used to give them 2/3 gallon every 4 days. My water meter told me it was moist. I finally just used my gut feeling and stuck my finger in the dirt which turned out to be dry. So I am now mulching and putting them on 2/3 gallon every 4 day regimen again. Hopefully, I didn't do any permanent damage. Frustrated with myself and seeing your nice 5 gallon buckets, I decided to create my own. I don't have a reciprocating saw so my wife was laughing her butt off at me trying to cut a big hole using small drill and then "connecting the dots" :-(. I found a 3 inch Atrium Grate which turns out to fit the bucket nicely and also stayed put all by itself. It's sturdy and has a place for the top bucket to "rest". Here's a picture and also one of the retaining wall which my wife took. I was too ashamed to take the picture. lol. Tammsf: Nice cages ;-). I am in the same boat as you are. I am inland so nights are colder than Raybo or bdobs.