Looks like you had fun. Is that a kind of ligularia you got? I got into trouble myself but this time I'm in to vegetable gardening. I think I have close to 100 tomato plants growing under lights - not to mention the other vegetables I have started too. Some neighbors will be happy recipients of vegetable plants this spring.

Great guy to deal with... don't order through Ebay though. If you order through ebay you'll have to pay around $15 per plant and at the time of shipping he will refund you the amount you overpaid. His website will calculate the shipping ahead of time. Also, I'm not sure how the plants are grown... but they are shipped in a plastic bag, not a container. I've received some large ones from him especially Picea pungens 'The Blue' and they weren't the slightest rootbound which is nice. I have purchased from him twice last year and I have a large order coming from him in the spring... a few of the ones I ordered through him last year... Picea pungens 'The Blues' Picea abies 'Perry's Gold' Picea pungens 'Spring Blast' - A must have for anyone! I know on the nametag we are not supposed to capitalize the Pungens or Abies... this was my first order and I labeled the plants before I knew that =)

Prices typically reflect a combination of at least three basic factors, rarity, number of years growing and ease of propogation. I paid $94 once for a three year old cedar, 'Uwe', yet I can run to Lowe's and get an Picea abies 'Little Gem' with about 5-6 years of growth for eight bucks. Generally as a collector I have found you usually get what you pay for. $80 for a Picea abies 'Wichtel' through the ACS might seem like a lot, but they are beautiful plants and very rare to boot. Four Japanese maples came with the order, Acer palmatum 'Mayno no sato', 'Amagi Shigure' and Acer shirasawanum '6910' and 'Green Snowflake'. The maple variety selection is also impressive. 'Amagi Shigure' in particular shows considerable promise and the variegation on 'Mayno no sato' is highly unique, a purplish/yellow combination. I saw one last year in a display garden and had been looking for one ever since. -Will

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to reply to my questions! (Even you, Ken, though I won't see you email for another 2 1/2 weeks. :o) Yes, I do work at a university and I have been in contact with the staff and faculty of the gardens. They have been a great help and actually directed me to this forum for "expert help." The head of the gardens suggested I steer clear of specific types of spruces, due to the hot summers here. However, they were not able to provide me with a good retail source for this indecent obsession. I live near the local botanical garden. It has one small area (tucked away in the back) that is devoted to conifers. It appears to be poorly maintained and when I inquired about conifers, the one staff members I could find said (and I quote) "Our cone flowers aren't in bloom in December." I took that to mean: they were not the local expert I needed. :o) I do have an excellent local nurseryman, who specializes in trees and shrubbery for the area's landscaping trade. He is a potential source for the well known conifers, but doesn't have the depth of knowledge to assist in the selection process. Thank you, Dax, for the helpful instructions for planting; especially about berming. To quote a coworker:"I forgot that I remembered that." I'm also using your list as a jumping off point to investigate the different varieties. I think my biggest frustration with searching for conifers online is the relatively poor and inconsistent information on specific varieties. One site will say the variety requires no staking and another will have a picture of the variety staked up (but make no reference to this practice.) Then almost none of the sites consistently provide the width of their mature plants. ARRGH! BUT while I do have some frustration, I am enjoying myself immensely on this journey. Once again thank you everyone and Happy Holidays!