I attended the Nashville Lawn and Garden Show on the last day. Wouldn't you know, my phone/camera was needing a charge. So, here is one floral arrangement that caught my eye.
As far as the plants were concerned, I found the miniature evergreens of interest and added three new ones to my collection. They grow very slowly and take many years to reach their mature diminutive size making them perfect for trough gardens. These were purchased in 4" pots.
The source of miniatures are witches brooms. Normal size trees due to disease, insect damage, etc. sometimes form growths/witches brooms that are more compact. The branches can be grafted to normal rootstock or they can be started from seed of the broom and reproduce the miniaturized form.
I collected Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Golden Sprite' a few years ago and it can be seen here. I found my previously purchased mini's to not be as hardy as expected in a tiny pot, but in the ground much more hardy.
Learn more about witches' brooms.
Mother Nature - this is a very interesting post. I also read the link on witches' brooms. I never knew this occurred in conifers. As I grow mostly roses, witches' brooms in a rose is a very bad thing - usually the cause of a very tiny mite which will fly on the wind to other roses and eventually kill them all. Interesting to see that people actually propagate evergreen witches' brooms.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting. I didn't know something good can actually come out of this disease.... Thank you for such an informative post.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you made it to the show-the last day was probably best because the vendors are usually ready to unload their stock. I saw those miniatures and love them. I had one in my hypertufa trough but it died. Not sure why. They are sweet. That basket was too cool too. The creativity is really something.
ReplyDeleteGood to connect!
ReplyDeleteI've scrolled down to explore the mosses & lichens, which I find particularly fascinating. Although I have moss growing in winter during our heavy rains, once the dry season takes over, the mosses vanish....
Alice
aka Alice's Garden Travel Buzz
I love your description of witches brooms which i have always found fascinating. The mini trees are so cute. Carolyn
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my blog. I have a weakness for birdcages and so of course I have to comment on how much I love the little arrangement that you opened the post with. I have never heard of witches brooms and so I was interested to learn a little something about them.
ReplyDelete