bristlecone witch's broom, 120 year old pseudolarix, etc. photos

12 years ago

Here is a photo of a witch's broom on a Great Basin Bristlecone Pine in front of the BLM office in Elko, Nevada. I myself am not very much into these but I figure some of you on here might appreciate it and might even see fit to make a brief stop to take a clipping. The blm office is located right off I-80 in beautiful Elko, Nevada (insert sarcasm here)...just a thought.

From October 29, 2011

Below is a photo of Pinus maximartinezii in the glass house at Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

From October 29, 2011

And here is a photo of a large Dawn Redwood planted in lower Manhattan near Houston St and 2nd ave. It is planted in a community garden and is obviously thriving. It was planted in the early 1980s, back when New York City had an average of 2100 murders a year.

From October 29, 2011

And here is a photo of an enormous Golden False-Larch, Pseudolarix amabilis, one of the largest I have seen in this country. It was planted in Weeping Beech Park in Queens, NY 120 years ago by Samuel Parsons, a famous nurseryman and horticulturalist.

From October 29, 2011

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Comments (24)

sluice
12 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Nice! And good find on that broom.
Toronado3800 Zone 6 St Louis
12 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
hey hey, that's neat. A post with credit to a SLOOOOW growing bristlecone and the fast growing dawn redwood.
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Comments (49)
Oh Man, too sad... What a luck, that a few has been successfully propagated! Sometimes it is that close to save a rare finding... Just as my yellow- white variegated Norway Spruce... First found in 2010 as a over 120 yrs old forestry plant at an old iron mine, and no opportunity to graft, so i tried the found twigs as cuttings- no success. Moved 2011 to the place where i found the motherplant, no fallen twigs that winter. Then in 2012 a new try and two out of three graftings proceed. In 2013 some cat or marten stumbled trough my bed of propagatings- one of the two broken of... Again no fitting twigs fallen of the tree in winter 2013/14, and then, in the late fall of 2014, they cut the whole part of forest down, including the variegated motherplant. Rescue grafts in october doesn't succeed either... So this very single little grafting from a second class side twig (the, on an old tree, weeping ones) is the only chance of this mega- rare mutation. 120 Years of existence, and less than four tiny years decides it all... Just as in your 'Elko Run', whose motherplant surely was 40- 60 Years in age either, wasn't it? I hope Edwin's specimen thrived and you can get one back some day :)! Regards, Andreas
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Comments (16)
A few plants from the garden that could use some identification: 1. This dwarf spruce appears to be a Picea abies. However, it can be very difficult to distinguish between the many different cultivars derived from witches brooms. Any guesses? 2. These pine trees were here when the garden was first started. They appear to be either Pinus contorta or Pinus banksiana in my opinion: 3. This juniper has new growth that emerges a goldish color in the early spring. Juniperus chinensis 'Plumosa Aurea'? 4. This yew came up volunteer. Seems to be growing VERY slowly. Any guesses on the species? 5. This Cryptomeria does not have a cultivar label. 6. This Japanese Umbrella Pine is growing in a very narrow shape, quite uncommon for the species. There is a suspicion that it was left in its container too long. Is this what is happening or is it some unknown cultivar? 7. This Mountain Hemlock was purchased under the name Tsuga mertensiana 'Sherwood Dust'. Is this supposed to be 'Sherwood Compact'? It seems to be developing a definite leader... 8. These two dwarf Abies cultivars were purchased under different names, but they both look like Abies nordmanniana to me. One was purchased as Abies nordmanniana 'Broom' (probably should be 'Hunnewell Broom) and the other was purchased as Abies balsamea 'Verkade's Prostrate'. Are they even different plants? "Abies balsamea 'Verkade's Prostrate'"? "Abies nordmanniana 'Broom'"? Thanks so much for all the help! -Sam
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Hi! And welcome(at least from me, even if you've been here a while. Glad to see more enthusiastic conifer gardeners. I was sucked up four years ago and don't regret a moment or a plant along the way. We're blessed to have a strong, VERY knowledgable crew of folks here to help and to inspire and there are many photos to be oogled over and talked about. Surely your list is great for someone new to the hobby but I understand and would say only that often it is better to buy plants in person OR see photos of them from a trusted source. As others have noted, there is much to choose from and we all have limitations. Pick the ones you like most and you'll be a much happier gardener! -Will
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Comments (83)
Nothing much to do today. I am waiting for the coldest temperatures of the winter and a approaching snow storm that is due this weekend. Arbs are wrapped with twine, rabbit protection in place and zone 6 cultivars are protected. Deer are not a problem. With that in hand why not make a long post even longer. The quote: "I don't know why but I don't like dwarf conifers" I am not here to rail against that...just expressing my thoughts from the other side of the coin. We all have our likes and dislikes. A diversified group we are. I know why I like them and I am glad to have a garden full of them. So much more interesting avenues are available in color, size and texture. With the right plan and presentation nothing surpasses the look. Much more interesting then miles of green sticks pointing upwards to the heavens. No disrespect here for species lovers. For me this look just doesn't trip my trigger and not applicable to a garden setting in the first place. This places a huge void between species and cultivars and mixing the two is impossible unless you have a large land mass to accommodate the two. In my opinion even with both being conifers there should be two forums...one for each. Just my opinion but I think a valid one. Don't let this one rub the wrong way but the void between the two is significant in terms of likes /dislikes and has been expressed on this forum many times. My quote: "I do like them, (species) but I don't know why". I suppose with out them our availability to witch's brooms would be gone. Nurseries would be void of these beautiful little guys selling only deciduous trees shrubs and flowers. I would hate the thought of gardening with out conifer cultivars. They are my anchor plants and my sea of color during those bleak winter months. With out them there would be no garden. I would just be cutting grass and raking leaves. Gardening with trees, shrubs, hostas and flowers doesn't cut it with me. No disrespect to those who do...just not my cup of tea. Waiting patiently for spring and the arrival of a few interesting new cultivars. Dave
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bluespruce53
12 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Great looking little broom indeed! wish I was living a little closer right now ;o)
gardener365
12 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Thanks for sharing Shasty!

Dax
jaro_in_montreal
12 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Thanks !
....like the Martinez pine too !
Wonder how many places in the US are growing these ? ...probably could be counted with the fingers on one hand ?
Even fewer here in Canada, I'm sure.
noki
12 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
So you credit the Dawn Redwood with a reduction in murders in NYC? Or do you mean that somebody risked their life just to quickly plant the tree and run?
sluice
12 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Heh heh, Noki.

Looking again at the broom, it might be P. aristata, some foliage there seems to show the characteristic resin flecks.

Denver to Elko is about 750 mi, give or take. I wonder who on the forum is closest to Elko?
pineresin
12 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Agree that's a Pinus aristata, not P. longaeva, at Elko. Not sure how BLM would appreciate anyone taking bits off their treasure, though?? But then again they are an organisation that looks to be dedicated to public exploitation of resources?

Resin

PS I thought Elko was a proprietary brand of food for large deer? ;-)
fideltop
12 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Dax

you have to get it and send me some. It is wonderful. Thank you in advance.

Frantisek
shastensis
Original Author
12 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Glad you guys liked it. My comment about NYC was just meant to point out the fact that while NYC was awash in murders and crack cocaine and in some of it's ugliest years, someone who cared thought to plant a tiny Metasequoia sapling.
fideltop
12 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I wonder if anyone pick up the witch's broom bristlecone. If so, I would be interested in some aminent graft. I offer my replacement bolts from my garden. I'll list on request. Pick up someone. It's just wonderful, and save it for gardening world.
Fideltop
botann
12 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Sluice, no one here is close to Elko.
I've been there. It's a long way from anywhere.
Mike
PRO
David Olszyk, President, American Conifer Society
12 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Elko is around 230 miles from Salt Lake City. I'm awful tempted to fly out for a weekend trip; it's such a pretty little broom and it's getting close to grafting season.

Am I crazy?

~Dave
bluespruce53
12 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
It would be a shame not to get it propagated this winter, it's as good a bristlecone broom as I've ever seen
mirek_l
12 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Elko is around ONLY 230 miles from Salt Lake City. I'm awful tempted to fly out for a weekend trip; it's such a pretty little broom and it's getting close to grafting season.
Am I crazy?

No,no, no.... :)
kbguess
12 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I'd be happy to call the BLM office in Elko and make arrangements to have scion cut & shipped to several people if the office manager was willing... Or do you think calling BLM attention to it would be a bad idea?

Keith
PRO
David Olszyk, President, American Conifer Society
12 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
The next thing to consider is how high up into the tree that broom may be. If it's more than head-high up into the branches, I really don't see an office manager cutting scions for us. Plus, would a non-expert really know what they're cutting?

This looks like a job for a conehead, and I'm still contemplating doing the job.

@Shastensis, how high off the ground is that broom?

~Dave
shastensis
Original Author
12 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Broom is about five feet off the ground.
PRO
David Olszyk, President, American Conifer Society
12 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
That's awesome Shasty! Means I wouldn't have to travel with a pole pruner or a shotgun.
fideltop
12 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
So did someone not take off and that broom? Fideltop
PRO
David Olszyk, President, American Conifer Society
12 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
here's an update, guys. . . .

I talked with one of the foresters from BLM Elko today and he said there was no problem at all with me harvesting some wood. Next step is getting some understock (easily done), and getting a plane ticket. Looks like it's going to happen.

~Dave
kbguess
12 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Dave, if you can spare a couple scion id appreciate it
Thanks
Keith
gardener365
12 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I praise your efforts! Good luck man!!

Dax
fideltop
12 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I am happy that everything is starting to look hopeful. Dave did a great guy. I hope it gets some grafts even to me? It would be like this dwarf arista thrown into my the collection. I have a tiny garden and two ars so I specialize only in the mini and micro Conifers. Frantisek Topinka

bristlecone witch's broom, 120 year old pseudolarix, etc. photos

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sluice

Toronado3800 Zone 6 St Louis

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