Jan, congrats with your very nice additions to your garden. Beside Milan I've also some misspellings to tell: Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Silver Thread' Must be written as Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Silver Treads' Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Elwood Pygmy' Must be written as Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Ellwood's Pygmy' Both these cultivars ('Silver Treads' and 'Ellwood's Pygmy') were found as a mutation on a Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Ellwoodii'. Abies concolor 'Pigelmee ' Must be written as Abies concolor 'Piggelmee' This one is found as a witches' broom by the Draijer Nursery in The Netherlands. Pinus parviflora Kinpo Must be written as Pinus parviflora 'Kin-po' This one is also found as a witches' broom. Picea glauca 'Blue Planet' Must be written as Picea mariana 'Blue Planet' This species mistake we see still to often... I hope I helped you with this info.

Tell me more about the white spiderworts. Are they less agressive than the species? The species seeds about here and is a thug. One clump will get the size of a washtub in two years. I divided a huge clump and spread it the entire length of one of my island beds for this reason: It stays green all winter. It blooms ahead of almost everything. It's a beautiful blue. When you open this thumbnail, spiderwort is behind the yellow lilies and in the background. The Downside: those clumps will have to be divided every now and then. It opens in shade; blooms close when the sun gets hot. After a couple months, those buds that have been opening one at a time (dayflower is a common name) have all finished. I cut it to the ground. It puts out again and starts over. Nell

Some nice specimens you're showing us here, Buddy .I'm particularly impressed with that espaliered (hum?)blue Atlas Cedar. I read several times that it can be done, but I never saw it for real. The Abies pinsapo ('Glauca' ?) is very nice too. Thanks for posting. T.

I was lucky to have Friday off. Most of the snow had gone from my gardens. It was nice to see the different heathers' winter foliage color (usually buried under mountains of snow!). I wish I had taken a picture... Some perennial geraniums foliage I planted from Bluestone last fall were a happy green color. As well as some Snapdragons and pansies near the house. We had similar experience with the weather but only got around 2" of snow.