Close up of 'Filip's Gold Dust'

...and Filip brought some friends!

The story: In winter of 2010 and while I was in the army, I hiked my free time in the central-northern mountains of Greece. I found some trees that could be of intrest in propagation.

My most interesting find is a variagated Abies cephalonica! The variegation is quite beautiful!

{{gwi:635726}}

image of the actual tree, December 2010

The bottom 1 meter of the tree is normal green and then all the branches are variegated, although in the last meter (tree was 4 meters tall) the variegation seemed a bit less profound.

I sent many branches to Edwin and he succesfully propagated in good numbers. Now after two seasons the color seems stable and great! Edwin estimates that it will be availiable for sale from his nursery in 2014. We still thinking about the name, however I convinced him after loooong dialogs :) to include it in his "Filip" collection!

The tree was growing in a northern slope (zone 7) and I guess it didn't have much sun during summer. So I don't know how it behaves in full sun yet. We'll check that.

Abies cephalonica (SK2)

This was a dwarf tree with interesting yellow color in December. Growth seemed stable for the last 15 years (at least) and it was 7,5cm (3in) on the leader and 5cm (2in) on primary and secondary branches.

Images of the tree in December 2010 just 1.60 meters tall more than 20 years old.

Until now it showed no yellow winter color but the dwarf growth is there. Planted in almost full sun so we'll see.

Abies borisii-regis (SK1). I found this in the nothern part of the mountain, half an hour drive from the previous. I beleive this to be Abies borisii-regis and not cephalonica as it is different in the needles. This one was in a low branch and seemed like a young WB. I couldn't do anything else but cut it all and sent it to Edwin for propagation. Untill now it grows as it should be. Compact and round.

Please Resin confirm that this seems like borisii-regis.

Abies cephalonica (X-tree). This was a quite yellow branch on an otherwise pretty dark green and beautiful Abies cephalonica. The only problem was that it was growing inside an army hospital facility (in the garden of the headquarters) so no images and unfortunately no more scions since I can't go back in there (hence the X). However no yellow color yet, so not so unusual.

Thank you for your patience!

Fotis

P.S. Notice the fat buds on every abies??? they must be having a blast at Edwin's nursery! :)