John, I can only tell you my experience with this one: I live in Austin TX. We have had 55+ days over 100 degrees and have had 24 days in a row including the least week at 105-107 everyday. Our lows at night are hanging around 80. We've had no rain in ~45 days and no relief in sight for at least 10 more days. I have that species growing in a large pot. The soil is an equal mix of tree/shrub soil mix (Miracle Grow), decomposed granite, and sand. I keep the pot under heavy shade of much larger decidous trees. I only water 2 times a week at these temps. At this time I still have not seen any damage whatsoever. This way it gets winter sun and only a little bit of summer sun. As far as sticking them in-ground; down here I have not been willing to attempt it. If I did it would be in shade, same soil mix, but in a large mound. FYI, I also have 3 species of Fir (firma, concolor 'candicans', and nebrodensis) being maintained this exact same way and they look really good too....but I suspect the nebrodensis may be need a bit more water than the others. I seeem to be having more luck with the Firs than the spruces. I think it may be that the spruces are much more sensitive to heat. I also think that they are more sensitive to a combination of heat and moisture. Once I cut back my watering last they seemed to do much better. I do know that my relative humidity here in Austin may be lower than yours in AR. As I write this we are 100 with a dewpoint of 66 (RH = 33%)....you guys are at 95 with a dewpoint of 69 (RH = 43%). If it were me I'd give it a try....but that's just me....depends on what you are willing to stomach as far a risk goes. - Matt

Thanks so much for the eye candy. Glad you caught the conifer bug. These forums are what got me started 7 years ago. I'm jealous of your 'Thorson's Weeping'. I like the 'Skylands' next to the 'Firefly'. Mother plant with child. Will be neat to see them develop next to each other. =) Your beautiful Picea orientalis 'Grove' Is 'Spring Grove' a narrow orientalis from Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati OH. Hmm.. I can't remember if I took a photo of the original tree when I visited. Your Picea gluaca 'Pendula' Iooks to actually be a Picea omorika 'Pendula Bruns', hence the two tone silver and green needles. Wow wow wow! That is quite the specimen. Thanks again.

Thanks folks... @ Beng12 we get frost as lat as May 30 (but that would be a late one...early June is not out of the question either, though) Typically, our last frost is around May 20th or so, give or take.. not sure of that is a "late frost"? @maackia, the site is full sun... winter burn I can see being a problem.. There are 5 concolor (orignal species) planted at my workplace. This year 2 got burned... but they are exposed to NW winds...open space and we got hit hard for 4 weeks this years with -25 temps and cold NW winds... Doesn't adequate moisture before freeze up help mitigate? plus burlap in its early life... hopefully... @Smivies, I would try to make sure it is adequately watered during long dry spells... true droughts are rare in Ontario, wouldn't you say? We certainly haven't had a drought in years... thanks to all!

Just to thow my own experience in here, I have a juvenile that has been in the ground for approximately 1 year, and I am seeing 1-2" of growth total since I put it in. I understand that people put the qualifier of "once established" and I probably fall in that range of getting my guy established. It may take a couple years of only a couple inches per year to get to that point. Cheers-Matt