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botanical blessings: conifers for the coldest days

January 15, 2011 By 8 Comments

THEY ARE GARDEN STALWARTS, FEARING NOTHING–not even low single digits and multiple feet of snow. In this old-fashioned Northeastern winter of 2010-11, I’m counting my blessings, and tops on that list: the conifers who live here with me (including the weeping Alaska cedar, Chamaecyparis nootkatensis ‘Pendula,’ above). What better time of year to review them, in a slideshow that links off to all their individual profiles?

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  1. Mary Ellen Gambutti says:
    January 15, 2011 at 4:13 pm

    The color and weightiness and scent of conifers are so enlivening in snow…

  2. Margaret says:
    January 16, 2011 at 8:27 am

    Hi, Mary Ellen. Well-said! I am so thankful to have them here right now, where most everything is buried deep in multiple feet of snow. See you soon again, I hope.

  3. Patrick says:
    January 16, 2011 at 12:39 pm

    I love the way a good layer of snow makes even a trashy yard look beautiful when conifers are on the lot.

  4. Kathy Aral says:
    January 16, 2011 at 4:25 pm

    Not sure I’ve ever seen that type of cedar, but it’s beautiful. I grew up in the mountains surrounded by deep conifer forest (mostly fir), which was wonderful anytime of year, but after a heavy snow it was like having a whole other world to explore. We usually got enough snow that the trees were completely laden and you couldn’t even see any green. We had a yew in the yard, too, but it was much smaller than the one in your slideshow. I think ours was a different variety, but as far as I know, they all grow quite slowly.

  5. Margaret says:
    January 16, 2011 at 6:18 pm

    Welcome, Kathy. It’s a Chamaecyparis, meaning the common name is “false cypress” (because it’s in the Cypress family, Cupressaceae) or more often “Alaska cedar” (even though it’s not a cedar, either, which would be in the genus Cedrus). Which is one good example of why common names are useless, and only the Latin ones insure that you will get the plant you want. :) See you soon again, I hope.

  6. Fred Gonsowski says:
    January 17, 2011 at 9:38 pm

    I think winter turns evergreens from gardening background, to “Sculptural Stars” in the garden. So it must be… Every evergreen has “his or her” day. And their days to shine are WINTER DAYS.

    Fred from Loudonville, NY / Fred Gonsowski

  7. Tess Boug says:
    March 27, 2011 at 11:28 pm

    I just purchased an Alaska Cedar, and need information about how best to plant it and take care of it. I live in upstate New York. Does anyone have any advice for me?

  8. Margaret says:
    March 28, 2011 at 6:42 am

    Welcome, Tess. Here’s my article on the weeping Alaska cedar. Hope that helps!

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