What a lovely thread to ring in the season! I've got only a couple "old" hyacinths up- they keep hanging on in the dreadful spot they're in (I thought I pulled them all up this past fall); the rest are still little green pokey pine-cone-heads sticking up outta the ground. Got zone envy over here; we won't see the show most of you have for a few weeks yet. I figure we're nearly a month behind Z7. But the weather is improving, today it's over 70!!! (I hope my Winter-sown sprouties don't melt in the heat today since I forgot to open them- shoot!)

Will, one day you showed us all your conifers in these galleries, very nice! Some comments to the names you mentioned: It's not Abies cilicia but Abies cilicica. The cultivars 'Greg's Broom' and Hunnewell W.B.' are 2 names for the same plant. Greg Williams found this broom at the Hunnewell Estate. It's not clear yet if these are Abies cephalonica brooms... Abies balsemea 'Hudsoniana' or 'Hudsonii' must be written as Abies balsamea 'Hudsonia'. I hope I helped you with this info. Abies balsamea 'Argentea'

Wow, never seen 'Pruhoniceana' before. Looks like a narrow-ish form. Lovely green. I'll add a few to this gallery: Picea abies 'Acracona'. Surely not as many cones are normal, I only counted a few. I'm hoping it sags right up to this rockwall. I'm sure someone can post a nicer one. 'Frohberg' A very fast growing, slightly weeping cultivar. Doesn't weep near as hard as 'Pendula', but still attractive nonetheless. Hoping it likewise, cascades down that bank. 'Rotenhausii'. A very narrow upright, or so reputed. I've heard of 20' specimens at 3' wide. 'Medusa'. A new offering from Coenosium Gardens, this little plant is supposed to be similar to 'Acracona Pusch' only with curling ends and cones at the end - thus the name. 'Pendula'. One of my 'oldest' conifers as far as established. It's going on it's third Spring and really beginning to push growth. Kinda sad my 'most established' conifer is just now hitting it's third year. 'Aurea'. a VERY rapid growing, bright yellow-gold conifer. Prone to slight burn in the late Summer months, mine seems to be a nice color year round. 'Elegantissima'. Also burns a little as the new growth 'frosts over' in a white/creme hue. Very rapidly growing, I'll have to make decisions about this plant in a few years! 'Argenteospica' - Hope I got the name right Edwin! Creamy white new flush. Intermediate growth rate I'd say - perhaps due to the lack of chlorophyl. I *think* that's all the Picea abies I can show. Sorry! -Will

Mine the day it showed up in the mail this spring. Smaller than either of yours lol. I notice you both have killer dark backgrounds which make your skylands pop even more. Actually it looks a good amount bigger now. Perhaps tomorrow I will get another picture. With the shade in full sun requirements why do you think skylands is so popular? I agree it did seem a must have. Even if I saw 100 yellow growth conifers in Ohio this spring there is something about this one I cant describe.