Fagus sylvatica ‘Pendula’ Weeping Beech

Fagus sylvatica ‘Pendula’ Weeping Beech

Pseudotsuga menziesii (Douglas Fir) ‘Graceful Grace’

Pseudotsuga menziesii on the left and at front right is Taxodium distichum (Bald Cypress) ‘Cascade Falls’

Taxodium distichum ‘Cascade Falls’ with Seed House roof

Another view

‘Graceful Grace’ again

Pinus parviflora ‘Glauca Nana’, a rare cultivar of Japanese White Pine

Pinus parviflora ‘Glauca Nana’, closer view

Picea orientalis ‘Skylands’, unusual cultivar of Caucasian or Oriental Spruce

Especially handsome is Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Confucius’, a rare cultivar of the Hinoki False Cypress

Opposite view of Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Confucius’

Close-up of Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Confucius’

Picea orientalis Skylands

Close-up of Picea orientalis Skylands

Cedrus deodara (Himalayan Cedar)

Opposite view of Cedrus deodara

Cedrus deodara with ‘Weeds’ by Steve Tobin

Dramatic angle of Cedrus deodara

Here is Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Crippsii’, another cultivar of Hinoki Cypress. Isn’t she lovely?

Picea orientalis ‘Aurea Spicata’, a rare cultivar of Oriental Spruce. The name means “golden spiked or tipped”, referring to its unusual color.

Closer view of Picea orientalis ‘Aurea Spicata’

Picea orientalis ‘Aurea Spicata’ closer still

Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Split Rock’ another Hinoki Cypress. What a beauty!

Close up of Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Split Rock’

Cryptomeria japonica ‘Black Dragon’, a rare, visually piquant cultivar of Japanese Cedar. Form, color, shape, unique features—‘Black Dragon’ has it all. Very memorable.

Cryptomeria japonica ‘Black Dragon’ close up. I think of this as “the anchovy of rare conifers”.

Here is Picea engelmannii ‘Hoodie’, an odd little bird. Behind are from left to right Pinus densiflora ‘Soft Green’ and Abies nordmanniana.

Picea engelmannii ‘Hoodie’ again, but at a 90% angle from the previous photo, with Abies nordmaniana. Folks make flat-top guitar tops out of the wood of this species, but certainly not this rare and charming cultivar.

Same in a moody light.

Pinus pumila ‘Yes Alpina’ Siberian Dwarf Pine with Pinus (back left), Cedrus atlantica ‘Fastigiata’ Atlas Cedar next to it and Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Pygmaea Aurescens’ Hinoki False Cypress in the middle.

I love this photo. The tree is the fairly common Silver Willow in a somewhat rare semi-dwarf cultivar form. It has been with us for almost 12 years, since it was small. It is Salix alba‘Sericea’, erupting from the center of the Happiness Garden, our full sun perennial plant and shrub display area.

At the southeast corner of the Fordhook parking lot grow these three rare conifers: Juniper chinensis ‘Mac’s Golden’ Chinese Juniper, Picea abies ‘Pendula’ Weeping Norway Spruce and the very large Cedrus deodara.

Closer up and with parking lot cropped out.

Focus on Juniper chinensis ‘Mac’s Golden’.

Pinus thunbergii ‘Thunderhead’ a remarkable habit that is very rare in a spruce.

Close up Pinus bungeana—strong character. Also called Lacebark Pine. That is Tobin’s ‘Sprouts’, and Tobin’s first bronze root sculpture in the faint background.

Closer still.

It is a bit strange that a few folks think the sculpture is weird. This, too, was Picea pungens ‘Pendula’ selected and tenderly cared for—crafted in a sense—to perfection by its breeder. How odd is this? Very!

But no more odd than this, which reminds me of an alien in a cheap sci-fi movie. In other words, I really love it. Behind Picea pungens ‘Pendula’.

Taxodium distichum ‘Cascade Falls’ close up. Exotically beautiful.

A close-up of Taxodium distichum ‘Cascade Falls’. Beyond words!

Ditto

Taxodium distichum ‘Cascade Falls’ in close-up.