FWIW the old one at Longwood Gardens has died. According to their database, they are trying other younger ones accessioned starting in 2012. Unfortunately they are prone to severely damaging foliar diseases in hot, humid climates...not just root rots! I have a normally finicky Rhododendron 'Nancy Evans' that is growing like a champ in these clammy parts - growing just fine because it's grafted onto a super rot resistant hyperythrum hybrid. The foliage always looks flawless. Although it's fascinating that there's a recent report of grafting Sequoia onto Metasequoia, I can't think that grafting Sequoiadendron onto Metasequoia would make a damn bit of difference in the eastern US. Summers are either going to be pleasant enough (e.g., lower dewpoints) that they don't suffer from Cercospora, or they aren't!

I think the Boehmervald source would be worth trying. Actually when you asked about Romanian sources I had thought that Austria is at about the same latitude. Of course altitude and temperature are other factors. A while ago Resin and I had a brief discussion about the influence of latitude on the appropriateness of seed sources and general species adaptability. I think in the end we agreed to disagree. He cited a number of species that grow at very different latitudes than their origin, if they were at altitude and grew at similar temperature and moisture levels. But I was not convinced because the examples he cited, although they did grow sucessfully, seemed to me not to grow nearly as well as in their native habitats. If latitude is important, it may be more so for some species and less so for others. The question arose because of my observations--very incomplete, I admit--that NS did not seem to me to do very well in the US in more southerly places like Asheville, NC even though the climate was very similar to more northerly places where NS does well. Of course NS does grow fairly well in Asheville and the surrounding areas, but the overall vigor seems to me to be somewhat deficient. Of course there could be some area-wide soil nutrient issues or some other factors, but I am dubious about that. Anyway, I tried some Boehmervald source NS seedlings at my tree farm a number of years ago and they did fine--maybe no better than some other strains, but my place up there is a cold Z5 with generally lots of moisture and nighttime temperatures colder than much of Z5. But your environment is quite different and these may do better for you than the usual strains I use here. Carino has some Boehmervald source trees, but as I noted before, they can't really send you any that they can positively identify as such--they don't track their seed sources after the seed is planted. On the other hand, I asked the question in a fairly casual way--if you called and explained why it was important, perhaps someone there could remember which field was planted with Boehmervald seeds and mamage to send you some seedlings. --Spruce

i read yesterday that fishing in the river has been banned right now due to a lack of a water. We have some drought conditions going on right now but I didnt realize that it was that bad. It must be affecting the park in a way that I am noy aware of. Looking West , I can see the outline of the mountains from my area. You can always know where you are when you see the valley from the air while flying over.

ok then .. not a lot of experience lol. It really seems to be an enchanting place but I am not sure we will make the available dates work. These are just some scattered screen grabs (ironically, none for the cottage I was looking at). It is a working farm and they stock each cottage kitchen with fresh breakfast items .. and also offer bikes and golf carts. The garden and Harvest Dinners look spectacular .. all with what is being harvested on the farm or nearby farms (and of course waters) I believe we will be going to another property that is right on the water -- but I am earmarking this for next spring. I would still love to hear if you have visited or stayed in one of their cottages.