Im trying to identify this type of tree. They are located in a park/rest area in zone 7b. I would like to have one of my own. Are they Junipers? Also, what do you think about the estimated age of these specimens? Sorry for poor picture quality. The pictures where taken with my phones camera.
Yes, juniper; the pics aren't clear enough to identify the species or cultivar, but perhaps J. × pfitzeriana. I'd guess maybe about 20-25 years old. They have been heavily pruned to remove all the low branches.
My guess is 30 years, similar to Michael's estimate. When I started college, I used to intitiate a lot of pruning like that to Junipers, but avoid it as much as possible these days. It was a short-lived amusement.
Such pruning can have a very distinct role to play in gardens, where one might want to have the plant but also light, space, view corridors, or, heaven forbid, other plants.
Color and habit suggest one similar to this. http://www.monrovia.com/learn/plant_catalog/detail.php?id=1882 Looks like the ingrained desire to replicate the African savannah and its parasol acacias has been realized.
