So i have researched the chinese pistache tree and it is incredibly beautiful with its fall/ winter colors...So now my next question is where do you buy one?!?!?! I have been all over town to different nurseries and they all tell me that they either don't know about the tree, where to find it, or even what it is. I looked at moon valley nursery, and even though they are a little pricey, they dont have it and they said that the best they could offer is the Sweetgum tree...So (1) Does ANYONE who has a Chinese Pistache know where to buy one and (2)Does anyone know about the sweetgum tree? Thanks for all of your help! -AZnursingstudent.

A few plants from the garden that could use some identification: 1. This dwarf spruce appears to be a Picea abies. However, it can be very difficult to distinguish between the many different cultivars derived from witches brooms. Any guesses? 2. These pine trees were here when the garden was first started. They appear to be either Pinus contorta or Pinus banksiana in my opinion: 3. This juniper has new growth that emerges a goldish color in the early spring. Juniperus chinensis 'Plumosa Aurea'? 4. This yew came up volunteer. Seems to be growing VERY slowly. Any guesses on the species? 5. This Cryptomeria does not have a cultivar label. 6. This Japanese Umbrella Pine is growing in a very narrow shape, quite uncommon for the species. There is a suspicion that it was left in its container too long. Is this what is happening or is it some unknown cultivar? 7. This Mountain Hemlock was purchased under the name Tsuga mertensiana 'Sherwood Dust'. Is this supposed to be 'Sherwood Compact'? It seems to be developing a definite leader... 8. These two dwarf Abies cultivars were purchased under different names, but they both look like Abies nordmanniana to me. One was purchased as Abies nordmanniana 'Broom' (probably should be 'Hunnewell Broom) and the other was purchased as Abies balsamea 'Verkade's Prostrate'. Are they even different plants? "Abies balsamea 'Verkade's Prostrate'"? "Abies nordmanniana 'Broom'"? Thanks so much for all the help! -Sam

Hi all I'm a little late posting what I sent for the trade. You all put me to shame with using such specific latin names and for sending so MUCH!! This is my first tim edoign this- I hope my seeds WORK and arent dead! I THINK they are ok! Here is what I sent: 6 envelopes of pink coneflower 2 envelopes of a very wild native black eyed susan ( this one is very cool- nothing eats it and it spreads well.. good for any rockgardens or deer/groundhog problem areas! they eat my other susans but not this one) 6 envevlopes of another blackeyed susan. This one is more typical at the garden centers. 1 envelope with jsut a FEW seeds from my tall purple phlox. I think it is called Nikki ( about 3 feet high) 1 enevelope with a FEW red crocosmia seeds ( i think Lucifer) 7 envelopes of Cardinal flower ( Queen somthing was the name- dont recall entirely) it has red foliage/stems and flowers. very nice plants and the envelopes are heavy on the seed! the seed was surprising tiny!!) 11 envelopes of my Columbine- you all saw pics of it in spring. I think it is likely Mckanna Giant- I ant promise what color or hybrid of colors you will get from the seeds! Mine change slighty each year! 1 envelope of garlic chives 9 envelopes of a VERY pretty pure white bearded iris. It's a great medium size. Not HUGE and not those tiny ones.it has some yellow bread fuzz but thr rest is pure white. It may be my favorite! it is so elegant. if anyone gets my seeds and wants pics- please let me know. I wanst organized enough to send pics with them. Everything I sent is perrenial in my zone 6 ( and probably 5-9!) I'm so excited :) You all have great lists - I may have to redo my wish list for Tracy. Ooops

Hello Duane(?), Lucky you to be able to visit High Country Gardens. We've been buying their mail order plants for about fifteen years and love them even if we haven't had success with everything. Over the years we've tried a lot of High Country's agastaches. Every time they come out with a new one, which is every year, we give it a shot. Mostly they have been dissapointing. Because they are at a higher elevation winter hardiness has never been a problem for us but the summers here are more brutal than in New Mexico and I've always found the agastaches to look more faded and wispy here than their pics and if not killing them it has kept a lot of them from performing well. That said rupestrus does good here and Desert Sunrise has survived last summer and winter and is growing like crazy now. My new try for the year is Orange Flare since both it's parents do well here. We've never tried Black adder but it's good to know it does well, Maybe that will be something for next year. Most of their agastaches are hybrids and have to be grown from cuttings but rupestrus is easily grown from seed which is how I got what I have now. At our old house I bought them from high country for I believe about eight dollars a plant although they've come down a little. I tried Salvia May Night at our old house but it didn't seem to like the heat so I gave up on it. There are so many salvias that love it here why waste time on one that doesn't but maybe you are having more success. We are trying thier zauschneria etteri this year with Agastache cana "rosita" and a russian sage to try to duplicate a look they had. At our other house we had a A. cana that was ok so I'm hopeful. It's always good to here what does good and not so good in someone elses yard to have some ideas about what might be good to try. Maria