lets link your two posts together.. see link ... i am enjoying your thirst for knowledge ... that is why most of us are here in GW ... to share such you said: Like: Don't the vast majority of trees have but one stem? yes... it might be part of the definition of such ... stepping way back ... your are confusing trees with shrubs.. that is one reason there are two different forums.. because the words mean different things ... it only took me about 20 years to understand such ... that trees and shrubs are different.. not that words mean things... lol .. BTW.. you can do a lot better than wikipedia as a link ... its a good place to start to find new terms to search out and learn ... so just some thoughts to lead you on your quest for knowledge: not all WOODY plants are trees ... [there are even woody perennials] ... i like to put FLOWERING in front of the word shrub .... because in my mind ... for what that is worth.. most of the shrubs we notice, flower or berry [which requires a flower to make such] ... so when i think of shrubs i think of the common lilac ... forsythia .. olive... current .. etc ... they are grow in the same form ... and almost all sucker... to me ... its part of the definition of such ... and all will EVENTUALLY .. develop canes or trunks big enough for your project ... though it might take 5 to 10 years for such.. partly because they are wasting a lot of time and energy.. suckering their brains out .... soooo.. if you reduce suckering.. [good luck with that ... lol] ... the energy they produce can be forced into growing the product you wish ... hence all the suggestions about such ... now.. trees on the other hand.. do not sucker.. or multiply from their roots [leaving aside a discussion on some weed trees that might do such] ... you can repeatedly mow down a small tree... and make it LOOK like a shrub .... but it is budding above ground .. so it is not technically suckering ... again.. PROBABLY part of the definition of a tree... rather than a shrub ... and then.. on top of it all... conifers are trees... but not all trees are conifers .... which is then complicated by people calling such or both.. evergreen ... again we are back to common usage of non-technical words .... there are evergreen trees... evergreen shrubs.. evergreen perennials .. etc ... so when you call something an evergreen.... you cant get very far with a discussion ... see.. when it all boils down.. its all wrapped up in the words used ... COMMON descriptions... rather than technical or scientific ..... so when you really want to learn.. in depth.. you have to start.. by finding precise definitions .. in this case botany ... rather than wiki ... it is not uncommon for botanists to roll thru and start arguing about my way of trying to teach a newb ... so be it ... it helps us all learn ... but there comes some limit to how much botany.. my brain can hold... lol ... good luck with your cane project ... ken ps: when planting time comes.. ask for help first ... not after you plant it ... its pretty simple ... and dont waste money on soil amendments or fertilizers .... Here is a link that might be useful: link

Some simple facts that maybe of interest to those who donÂt have the time to research what they are commenting on. Basic Facts: - As the Wollemi Pine is a naturally occurring species there is no way to protect the IP (intellectual property) with a PBR etc (Plant Breeder's Rights are exclusive commercial rights to a registered variety). - It does not produce a lot of seed and is difficult to collect - Said to be reasonably easy to propagate from cuttings - Understand in-vitro propagation also being trialed for international exports What does this mean and why the big marketing spin ?  Basically, once the plants are sold anyone with the right experience can propagate the Wollemi Pine and sell it.  This is why there is a strong marketing effort by the Wollemi Pine Foundation.  By having an established brand they hope to be able to continue selling plants under their name and thus raise funds for conservation Why would you want a Wollemi Pine:  Besides contributing to the conservation of this and other rare species, you would have a great subject for conversations with friends!  They grow in a wide range of conditions, including extreme temperature ranges (see below)  Grow in very low light and in pots  so a great indoor plant  Etc, etc .. You will be able to buy one at reasonable dollars sometime after April 2006 Additional Information: Tim Entwisle (Executive Director Botanic Gardens Trust) talks to Sarah McDonald on 702 ABC Sydney  18 October 2005 http://www.rbgsyd.gov.au/information_about_plants/Talking_Plants  Eleven years ago the Wollemi Pine (Wollemia nobilis) was discovered by National Parks Officer David Noble in a remote canyon in the Wollemi National Park near Sydney. It was a plant thought to be extinct, with fossils going back to the age of dinosaurs.  This weekend the first ever cultivated Wollemi Pines (Wollemia nobilis) will be auctioned by SothebyÂs from the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney. The auction will be worldwide, and bids will be taken by telephone and absentee forms.  Every Wollemi Pine sold will return a royalty to fund the conservation of the Wollemi Pines in the wild and other threatened and endangered species.  These first 292 trees to be sold are the first generation of Wollemi Pines, grown from the first cuttings taken from the wild population. Each tree comes with a pedigree tracing it back to its parent tree in the wild. The auction will include 148 lots, ranging from single trees to an avenue of 20 trees from the same parent. The trees are mostly 5 years old and 2-3 metres tall.  Proceeds from some lots will go entirely to conservation through organisations like the Botanic Gardens Trust here in Sydney and Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, England.  ÂWollemi AustraliaÂ, a joint venture between the Qld Government Department of Primary Industries and Birkdale Nursery, won a tender six years ago to propagate this tree under licence from the...

Carolyn, I read a couple some years ago. I must check and see if my library has reprints. I am reading my books slowly at present, there seems to be so many other things to do, like dropping off to sleep! My D gave me a small CD player for Xmas with handy top buttons. Just right for listening to recorded favourite books. I have been accumulating some in case of being confined to bed or having the eye operation for cataracts. I am doing a Scarlett O'Hara on that!

Diane not only is that a stunning example of a Black Lace Elderberry, but also I'm amazed that it let you prune it that way. Mine is a total diva about pruning. Cut mine anywhere back of the blooms even slightly - like maybe tip pruning or cutting off a few crispy leaves - and the entire branch rather dramatically dies down to the ground. Every time. No exceptions. I even have some thick branches that are totally dead that I'm leaving for fear of disturbing the rest. I've gotten so I don't do anything but finger prune off the blooms and I do even that gingerly so that I don't disturb anything else about Her Highness's eccentric hair-do. Mine is robustly winter hardy but after shedding 50% of her branches if I dare to brush against them too roughly, mine is still rather sparse at about 6-7' of limp "I vant to be alone" lounging against the 5' wire green fence I use to keep her together and out of harm's way. Yep, she's my Greta Garbo of shrubs. Suited for Sweden and lovely when she's happy but a spoiled headache when she's not. Cynthia