Well, there are all sorts of claims out there about long-lived trees. And all sorts of criteria for deciding what form there trees might grow in. There are reports of creosote bushes in the American West living for more than 10,000 years with the bush slowly growing outward from an original bush and forming a ring. One plant? One root system? Well, I will leave all this alone, except to say that for me an old tree should grow from one continuously growing trunk, preferably one trunk that puts on a complete growth ring each year around the entire trunk. If you get my drift, you know which trees this would disqualify. Anyway, all that aside, I am fascinated that Norway spruce is a contender now. As some of you know I have been shamelessly promoting Norway spruce in these forums ever since I joined a couple of years ago. And one of the several misconceptions about NS that have been promulgated in some popular but ridiculously wrong-headed publications is that the tree is inconveniently short-lived. In fact, NS is at least moderately long-lived, with a "norm" under very good conditions of 400 years or so. But now? Wow! Very interesting! --Spruce

Thanks for posting Violet. I took my kids to visit and let them pour a cup.

That's beautiful - thank you. How lucky for you to have your daughter as a partner in crime, so to speak. You can share your favorites with each other ;) I just sent an email to Northern Grown Perennials to see if they have any in stock, along with Fragrant Dream, Sweet Innocence and Sunny Disposition. The latter will be in memory of my little cat Sunny, that I lost last year.

I also purchased mine last year. I am not seeing any cupping yet. The plant looks a little awkward. I am thinking next year it will take off.