It's going to be a feeding frenzy there today - I think that there are 20-30 ACS members and their guests descending on Larry. I have a 'personal shopper' there representing my interests!

I placed my order via email this morning just after 8am CST. It's killing me to know what I'll actually get. I couldn't believe the rare plants available. 'Haley Bop', 'Spring Fire', etc. I'm sure everything was picked over already, crossing my fingers that I get some of the stuff on my order list.

Is Stanley closing it's doors for good? Very unfortunate if so.

No just cleaning out inventory.

Good to hear! I guess I was thrown off by the "all plant material for sale" :-)

It was a crazy-fun day! The ACS even bought lunch for those in attendance. (Had to keep everybody's strength up). There's still a few cool items available. Condolences go out to those who chose not to attend.

The ACS (the coolest plant society on Earth) puts on some amazing events.

I need a couple of “blue buns” For a full sun location. 2 different varieties. Would prefer them to get no bigger than a foot and a half or so. Also need a gold columnar variety...full sun. Any suggestions? I am overwhelmed by the list. LOL

I keep thinking that we've had our last week of temperatures in the 90s, but alas. I finally couldn't wait any longer and placed an online order last weekend. The inventory looks a bit different now!

Glad you fellow ACS members got to visit, and good luck to you who had to order. There are few things in life as cool as opening up a box from Stanley & Sons; well maybe the ACS National Meeting tops it, but it's close. Happy Fall planting!

I put in an order at 10am (7am west coast time) yesterday after combing over the list for two hours. I thought I had a good shot at getting most of what I wanted since I got my order in pretty early. I was excited cause it basically wiped out my wish list. A few hours later I was informed that there was a mistake and the list on the home page was the wrong list and the correct list is the new availability list on the website, not the PDF one on the home page. You may want to look and make sure you’ve ordered off of the correct list. Sadly a lot of the plants I was excited about weren't on the second list. I can’t complain though the correct list still has some great plants and if it wasn’t for Stanley’s I wouldn’t have a chance at getting most of these plants.

Unfortunately, not available on their list!

"There are few things in life as cool as opening up a box from Stanley & Sons"

So true!

I received my invoice. While it is significantly smaller than my original list, I still am getting many awesome cultivars. Including one that I determined to be unattainable. I'll believe it when it shows up at my house! I suppose one doesn't want to be able to get everything on one's dream list, where would the fun be in that? Keeps the hunt alive.

Those that attended the event, feel free to share photos of your treasures. I'll try to remember to post some shots of my stuff.

Happy conifering all,

Ryan

Hey coniferbros

Can I ask what the “unattainable” plant is?

A collector's dream, Thuja plicata 'Haley Bop'. Super excited, I hope it actually shows up :)

Each and every 'Haley Bop' is delicate, precious, and priceless. If you're in Illinois, never plant it in the ground and have a plan in place to keep it alive through winter.

Thank you David. I will have it in a container in gritty mix. It will be stored over winter in the storage area under my porch (mostly underground like a basement). I monitored the temps last winter and it never got below the mid 30's, even in sub-zero temps.

If you have any other suggestions, please let me know! I realize how unique this plant is. I want to take great care of it.

I intend to place the container in a part sun location. Is it picky to any particular sun exposure?

Somewhat unrelated, but I've yet to find an answer on this. For conifers that are stored for winter, do they need any light? I had them in complete darkness last winter with no apparent side effects.

-Ryan

You just had to go and post something like this!

Where am I going to find the money to pay for this crack?

Ryan, I would be nervous and anxious about keeping this plant in the dark for Illinois' 3-4 months of bitter cold. They seem rot out very easily. Given the extremely high relative humidity in the mid-west, I suggest some sort of dehumidifying chamber and a way of cooling it off during summer evenings.

Thuja plicata is native to the western states where summer evening lows always get into at least the 50sF and humidity is almost always below 50% when it's not raining.

Thank you Mr. Olszyk, I greatly appreciate you taking the time to share your expertise and knowledge. Sounds like I might have an uphill battle. I will provide some light for winter. There is a door in my storage room that I am replacing, I will put a window in it (north facing, so it won't be intense). I will also try to site it in an open airy location. Heck, I might have to bring it into conditioned space when the humidity is at it's worst in the summer.

I do have a 'Whipcord' that I've been growing for 4+ yrs and doing well, probably not picky like the 'Haley Bop'.

Thanks again,
Ryan

Ryan , start seperate 'Whipcord' post

ron

“...I suggest some sort of dehumidifying chamber and a way of cooling it off during summer evenings.”

A humidor for conifers?

I'd put "Richard D North of Tacoma WA" plus when and where it was found, if at all possible now. As I remember it Dick talked about finding it at an Oregon wholesale nursery - if this one is the same occurrence I heard about.

http://conifersociety.org/conifers/conifer/thuja/plicata/haley-bop/

coniferbros all your talk of 'Haley Bop' has got me wanting one. And the ACS meeting in Washington DC next month (which I am attending) has one in the auction, donated by Iseli. I fear for my bank account!

yeah, but ACS auctions directly support a great cause. Bid high, bid often. Hedonistic auction behavior is encouraged.

Lol Sara, probably best that I stay away from these auctions due to the fear you mention! Don't worry Dave, I'm sure I'll make some contributions when the national meeting comes to my neck of the woods in 2020. I had better start contributing to my plant piggy bank now.

2018 NER Meeting

coniferbros- Have you gotten your Stanley order? Was Haley Bop with it?

Who and WHAT DID HE COMMENT??? ;-)

That’s awesome. I’m glad you got it. My order should be here tomorrow. I’m really looking forward to it.

Got my order and I’m really loving the plants.

I went heavy on pines and cedars. I’m getting interested in bonzai so I went with the pines for that and I just love cedars.

This is Cedrus Brevifolia ”Kenwith”. It still has the rootstocks growth. I’m guessing that was left for a reason. When should I cut it off? Will it grow faster if I leave it on? I really like this plant.

Also, what do the rest of you do when you get some of the smaller grafts from Stanley’s. Do you keep them potted or go ahead and get them in the ground?

Nice plants Jacob.

I'll give you my thoughts on your questions and the experts can correct me if I'm wrong :)

When new plants arrive with rootstock growth, I usually leave them for a year. I figure if they didn't come clipped off, the grower decided to leave it for a reason. The only negative on leaving some rootstock is aesthetic reasons.

The fresh grafts in 4" pots I feel are better off being grown in a container for a while. I usually up-pot and let the plant become more established before planting out. I have planted them in the ground as well with relative success.

My 4" obtusas grew nicely thru year but burned badly over winter

even 2 omorica burned some

the Pusch & Picea glauca came out fine

I would not plant 4" s anymore

ron

So what is the rational? Small plants burn more easily so keep them potted so they can be put in a shed/garage for the winter?

Thanks for the advice everyone. I up potted with the 5-1-1 mix. This time of you should I be adding a little Osmocote? Or is too late in the season for that?

No fert now. Wait until spring.

Coniferbros-

I was wondering if you could give us an update on your ‘Haley Bop’? How’s it handling life in your area and are you doing anything special for it?

Hey Jacob,

Unfortunately, the 'Haley Bop' did not make it.

It made it through winter and spring fine, but started to decline when July hit.

I couldn't say for sure what caused it's demise, but I fear it was in too much sunlight when summer arrived. It was moved into more shade, but I guess too late.

We had successfully rooted a piece of it, but it later died as well.

I'd be interested to know where these have successfully been grown. The Midwest may be a no-go for this one.

That’s a bummer. Sorry to hear it.

Like many others I’m interested in the plant, but I wont be pursuing it. I think it’s almost certain to die in Va.

Thanks for the update.

Sorry to hear that yours didn't make it. It's a tough plant to keep and it's kind of stress inducing because of it. I got one from the sale, picked it up in person. It's been doing well so far here in Seattle. It could be that this climate is better for it.

I keep it in dappled partial sun during the warmer months when the sun is more intense and in mostly sunny spots in the winter. I've kept it mostly shielded from heavy winds but it does get subjected to breezes. If it gets really cold at night in the winter, or there is substantial snow, I bring them in the basement for the night. I'm not sure if that has any impact on its health, but it's what I've been doing.

How did you do the rooted cutting? I'm hoping the propagate it at some point but I'm also way too nervous to try anything yet.

pskruger, stressful indeed! It's kind of a relief not to have to worry about it anymore! I'm sure yours will have a much better chance of survival in your climate.

For the cutting, I treated it the same as all of the conifer cuttings I do. Scar and treat with dip n gro rooting hormone. Stick in plastic bin with peat/perlite mix. Then wait. There should be some threads around with more specifics.

A pic of the tiny cutting that also no longer exists: