Looking very nice K4, leaf envy beginning to kick in. With the record cold snowy March things are only just beginning here. Kotohime: Sango kaku: P.S. What does "JB-D" stand for?
Maf, As long as it does 'kick in'. That's the trick, right?! 'JB-D' is a seedling number. This was a cultivar from Talon Buchholz that was never named, but some people liked it. A number of the 'JB' series have made it into collections. I have: A. p. 'JB-31' A. p. 'JB-33' A. p. 'JB-50' A. p. 'JB-A' A. p. 'JB-B' A. p. 'JB-C' A. p. 'JB-D' A. p. 'JB-G' A. p. 'JB-JRB#1' A. p. 'JB-K' (Green River) The last one has now been named as indicated. I have no idea how many of these there are. I just took a chance on them.
I have most of those--not the JB-D!--and you are definitely ahead of us. Things are progressing, but we're not likely to be eating on the terrace with the show this year the way things are going. Spring with Japanese maples is absolutely wonderful.
Here are a few pictures from this week. 'Goshiki kotohime' b&b at a local nursery (only 169.00, wish I had room for it, very cool). Back home, 'Shishigashira' and 'Sango Kaku' are starting to leaf out, along with a close up shot of 'Bihou'.
Wow, your Wakoh nishiki is awsome! Mine is only barely alive I'm afraid :( and not leafed out yet anyway. I'm on my second 'Sunshine', but not scheduled to go in the ground until next year.
You're a maniac! :) I can't believe you don't even have it in the shade! Mine burns if you shine a flashlight on it. ;) But perhaps this lets it generate some nutrients for the roots from what little chlorophyl it has. Wakoh nishiki is one of the most difficult of all maples to grow, by most accounts.
I love this time of year - now if only old man winter would hang up his hat for good instead of inviting himself back in every week for the past month...
A few additional pics. Today was overcast and cold, but I could not resist snapping a few. There are certain beds where I have combinations of things that I really like. Certain plants seem to accent maples well, so I've included some pics of a few 'companion plants'. The first pic is of a small bed I have by the studio (the second pic is a close-up). Plants from left to right are: Acer palmatum 'Kamagata', Azalea, Cedrus atlantica 'Feelin' Blue', Acer shirasawanum 'Jordan', Acer palmatum 'Ebony', Spanish Bluebells, Picea mariana 'Nana' - plus a few annuals. I just love the color combinations of these plants. Enjoy the other pics. File names are labels. :)
I agree, some of my favorite pictures are of the flowers. This year everything is loaded with flowers, because last growing season was so harsh. I think this is the first time my Orange dream has flowers. By the way Kaitain, I love your Cedrus atlantica 'Feelin' Blue'. This season we added a Cedrus atlantica 'horstmann'. We always wanted an upright, but never had the room, so the horstmann was a perfect fit. I have been considering sapphire nymph, but after seeing your Feelin' Blue I think I may reconsider.
Yes, love the Atlantica's. I have a Hortsmann as well (doing splendid). I will say that down here with our somewhat milder winter, the Cedrus literally never stop growing. In the winter they simply don't grow as much, but there is always a little new growth pushing out. That 'Feelin Blue' was just a small 1 gallon plant 4 years ago!
Kaitain, in your picture, what is the more rounded/bushy conifer (kind of lighter green/chartreuse) between the two bluer ones? It's very nice! I'm guessing it's a type of pine? And I think the weeping, narrow blue conifer to the left/front of it is a spruce of some sort?
Maplesandpaws The bushy tree is Pinus densiflora 'Golden Ghost'. The needles actually have yellow bands on them, which give it that color. The weeper in front of it is Picea pungens 'The Blues' JT1 - love that bonsai!
Thanks!! It really is quite pretty, and I'm assuming stands up quite well to heat; what about humidity and/or drought? Looking for a few unique conifers to plant in the backyard and I might have to add this one to the list... As JT said, it's amazing what a difference a few days makes - especially when you hit 90 (even though we might make 47 tomorrow, and there's a chance of snow - SNOW! - tomorrow night, grrrrr).
Maplesandpaws Trees are lookin' good! Hope you don't get a freeze :( Golden Ghost is planted in full Tennessee sun and humidity. Worth a shot. I get more comments on that tree and my Cupressus glabra 'Raywood's Weeping' than any other plants on my property. P.S. I do candle-prune Golden Ghost to keep it in a bushy shape. Here's a pic of one that has been allowed to grow taller. Plus a pic of the banded needles.
i have Pinus densiflora Oculus draconis, Pinus Wallichiana Zebrina and Sequoia Adpressa,after 5 years in open soil the variegations is lost ,not every, but much more ,i not know if is uncorrect my prune method
Thanks Kaitain! That bonsai is starting to become one of my favorites! I love variegated pines. I have a couple of the Japanese white pine varieties, but the variegation is not as strong as the black pines. I am looking to add a nice variegated black pine this season or next. Here are some shots from this week. The bonsai are the first to leaf out. The evergreens look fresh this time of year too, here are a few starting their second season growing as bonsai. Should have some great shots of everything else planted in the landscape this week. Check out the miniature perennial in (red) bloom (3rd picture of mikawa yatsubusa seedling landscape, right side of pot).
