The garden, located in the Greenhouse Education and Research Complex, includes exquisite dwarf conifer cultivars. Adding to the special nature of this collection, the garden is surrounded by full-sized examples of some of the dwarf conifers found within,giving a unique opportunity for visitors and students alike to compare options for uses in various landscape situations.

For over 50 years, Colibraro Landscaping & Nursery, Inc., a family-owned and operated design/build firm located in Horsham,has served Bucks County and Montgomery County.The Colibraro family have been dedicated supporters of the Ambler Arboretum of Temple University for decades.

Update, October 2021, from Kathy Salisbury, Director, Ambler Arboretum of Temple University:

Originally, this report was supposed to be one updating the American Conifer Society on the progress and activities of the Arboretum as it relates to our recently awarded reference garden status.

Quickly, overnight, this changed. On Sept 1, 2021 a confirmed EF2 tornado, spawned by the remnants of Hurricane Ida, tore through the Temple University Ambler Campus, Ambler Field Station and the Ambler Arboretum.

First – the Colibraro Conifer Garden looks nearly untouched. We have the most perfect Eastern Red cedar which was tipped up in the storm and we lost our limber pine (Pinus flexilis) but other than that our reference garden still looks great!

We cannot say the same for other conifers around the campus and the canopy and collection in general. This storm was a devastating loss to the Arboretum. Hundreds of trees are lots. In some places we lost the entire canopy. Our old growth forest, consisting of trees hundreds of years old were reduced to pick up sticks littering the floor. A shadow of their former selves, those trees standing are not only leafless but branchless.

Our conifers suffered. The Arboretum featured dozens of very mature white pines dotted all over the campus, now just a few remain. Towering Norway Spruces and Oriental Spruces shaded walkways and screened views of our high traffic work yards.

Our only two Himalayan Pines, giants in the landscape were snapped in half. Our Pinetum lost some of the Japanese Black Pines as well as White Pines. The Scots Pine still stands tall.

The smaller conifers around the Arboretum fared better, though we did lose a number of various Chamaecyparis specimens.

Our immense Blue Atlas Cedar and graceful weeping Norway Spruce still greet visitors and are there to teach students when the time is right.

Tis was a sad blow to the Arboretum. Each tree is connected in ways we may never know to the humans that use this campus. The Arboretum is changed forever and though we grieve what was, and the long lives those old trees still had ahead of them, we are optimistic and excited about what can become of these new spaces so full of opportunity.

We are currently still working on clean up and recovery. There was a lot of damage in addition to the plants we lost. But we are seeing the nearing of the end of the response and looking at the beginning of planning what’s next. We certainly know landscaping about climate change and resilience will be at the top of the list.

In the early 1990s the rural village of Silverton, Oregon, had big problem. It's sewage system was failing to meet regulations and the government was putting up a big stink by threatening to levy huge fines until the village fixed the problem.

Meanwhile, for years the Oregon Association of Nurseries had been looking at a number of sites for a public display of their commercial production in an idealized setting that would be a showcase for their customers (growers, nurserymen, landscape architects) but also the general public who might be inspired to improve their gardens. But gardens in the West require water and an inexpensive and unrestricted supply is optimal. Yet, here in Silverton was a potential source of water - treated, of course - that could make their project grow.

Committees met, plans were drawn, acreage was acquired, bonds issued, checks written and before long the dream was realized. Today Silverton has new wastewater treatment facilities that send up to a million gallons of treated effluent to an array of more than twenty terraced and connected ponds that were excavated from a gently sloping 250 acre hillside. That network eventually delivers a limitless supply of treated irrigation to an 80 acre group of variously themed plantings that today make up the Oregon Garden.

In addition to more than 400 conifers (some of which were mature specimens donated by the major growers in the area) the designers included an impressive list of companion plants such as Japanese Maples, European Beech, assorted Dogwoods, Magnolias, Rhododendrons, plus smaller woodies along with grasses and flowering bulbs.

When The Oregon Garden opened in 1999 it had 250,000 visitors that year but in subsequent years attendance fell off, as did the economy. Also adding to the situation was that, apart of the OG, Silverton, an hour south of Portland, was not a destination. Fortunately, in 2006 Moonstone Hotel Properties, a developer and operator of small boutique hotels with a garden theme for guests, came to the rescue. Moonstone purchased 11 acres abutting the OG to build its resort and took over the operations of the OG although the Oregon Garden Foundation retains ownership.Less than two years after the opening of The Oregon Garden Resort, the ACS National Meeting was held there to almost universal acclaim. It was a perfect spot for this group: top-quality food and lodging located a short walk from one of the largest collections of dwarf and miniature conifers in the United States! The OG is truly one of the most stunning new gardens in the West.

The ACS Conifer Reference Garden at the OG

In the late 1990s volunteers, including many ACS members and nurseries in the region, started planting a 7/8th of an acre garden dedicated to dwarf and unusual conifer cultivars. In 2008, with the help of an ACS grant, an expansion plan was drawn up for the conifer garden that will triple its size. Many of the plants that have been going in are donations from Oregon and Washington nurseries that have been solicited, installed and cared for by ACS member volunteers.

Below, scenes from The Oregon Garden, photographed by ACS' Janice LeCocq and Joe Carli. More from Jan's visit in September of 2012 are on the blog she and ACS's Sara Malone produce, Form and Foliage.

Addendum 2020: TOG has had some recent challenges, which you can read about in this article from the Salem, OR, Statesman Journal

The conifer collection begin in 2006 to fulfill the need to demonstrate which conifers can successfully be grown in West Tennessee's hot humid climate. The majority of the collection is growing along the north side of the parking lot in an area exposed to full sun, and subjected to wind and heat radiated off the parking lot. Our collection demonstrates that there are many species of Thuja, Chamaecyparis, Cryptomeria, and Juniperus that thrive in the South's challenging climate. There are also several outstanding cultivars of Cupressus, Taxodium, and Metasequoia (among other genera) that flourish. The collection currently holds close to one hundred cultivars with more added each year. Visitors are fascinated by the colors and striking forms of the many cultivars, and inevitably ask where they might purchase them. The designs of the conifer plantings inspire gardeners to use conifers in exciting ways, such as features in shrub borders, perennial beds and containers.

Each year between 80 to 90 cultivars of pumpkins, gourds, and winter squash are evaluated for characteristics such pest resistance, size, yield, and storage longevity. The end product of these trials is used to create an original and magnificent display containing over 5,000 pumpkins, gourds, and winter squash. This remarkable display has made national headlines and attracts hundreds of visitors.

Such information is important not only to the commercial sponsors of the research, but essential to the success of commercial growers, landscapers, retailers and to gardeners. This research aids the economic growth of the green industry and helps gardening to remain a healthy, satisfying, and popular pastime.

Each year since 1988, on the second Thursday in July, the Summer Celebration Lawn and Garden show attracts over 3000 visitors from Tennessee and surrounding states. Gardening enthusiasts have the opportunity to hear over twenty indoor and outdoor presentations on an amazing variety of horticultural subjects including annuals, perennials, floral arrangements, trees, shrubs, vegetable production, turfgrass, and backyard wildlife. The large exhibitor's tent showcases vendors selling merchandise and services from local green-industry merchants and crafters. The UT Gardens help round out the showcase, containing enough beauty to stun even the most jaded of gardeners. There is definitely something for everyone at Summer Celebration and at the UT Gardens Jackson.

The gardens are located around the office building area. Visitors are welcome to stop by and stroll throughout the year. Their website will keep you updated and provide directions.

To learn more about the arboretum, its history and ongoing programs please visit their website.The park is always open and charges no admission to visit.

It was decided that as each new Master Gardener class graduated from their classroom requirements, they should enjoy the practical aspect of what they’d learned by planting some type of garden on one of these plots. The first garden went in as simply an example of what shrubs and trees grow well on the Cumberland Mountain Plateau. That was in 2005. The next year’s class voted to show what perennial plants grow well here. And we were off and running with a bulb garden, a home landscape demonstration plot, lawn seed plot, etc.

Because the Research Center is a part of the University of Tennessee, a request came along for us to add several trial gardens to the area. We were quite happy to comply with the request as it helped to fill in open space and also, we’d get to keep the trees and shrubs as the trials were completed. Since then, the gardens have been home to an annual horticultural festival, kindergarten field trips, many informational classes, and spring plant sales.

Conifers have long been recognized as a perfect structure and garden staple, satisfying a permanent “bones” need in any landscape. And indeed, that’s how we’ve used their great versatility and permanence in our many themed gardens. They bring different thoughts and possibilities together in a relaxing and cohesive tableau. Therefore, you’ll find our friends, the Evergreens, gracing many of the different gardens within our overall acreage.

Seen in an overhead view, visitors walk among a hillside stand of conifer trees at Longnecker Gardens at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum during an autumn sunset on Oct. 5, 2011. The aerial photograph was made from a helicopter. (Photo by Jeff Miller/UW-Madison)

The UT Gardens are a "living laboratory," a vital resource for the teaching, research and public service missions of the University of Tennessee. The Gardens are an educational facility that supports and integrates teaching, research and service relative to the needs of the Department of Plant Sciences, the University, green industry professionals and the general public.

The UT Gardens joined the American Conifer Society in the fall of 2005 due to the inspiration of regional ACS members. The Gardens helped host the 2006 ACS Annual Conference in Tennessee and received grant money from the ACS to support their conifer collection. Since joining the ACS, the UT Gardens have invested several thousand dollars in developing their conifer collection and adding permanent interpretive botanical labels. Since 2005, the conifer collection has grown from 70 specimens to over 365 specimens, representing 19 genera. The conifer collection has become a significant addition to the Garden and helps to fulfill the Garden's mission.

The Gardens support evaluation studies which provide information on the best plant materials for the mid-south and USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 6 and 7. They do this by evaluating performance and demonstrating the landscape use of every type of plant, from trees and shrubs to annuals, perennials, ornamental grasses and aquatic plants. The test gardens are important proving grounds for leading commercial seed and plant companies located around the world, who ultimately determine what plants reach the commercial market. Established in 1983 by the Department of Plant Sciences, the UT Gardens are recognized as one of 38 official All-America Selections test sites in the United States. The perennial collection contains more than 500 varieties while the herb garden features more than 350 varieties.

The first Reference Garden, the Dancer's Garden, is the crown jewel of the University’s conifer collections. The garden’s location had long been the only green space between two buildings on the main campus. One, Halsey Hall, was for years an athletic center for female students. (It later achieved a small amount of fame for being shown on the sitcom Coach as the building that housed his office.) Today, it is used by the Dance department and as a gymnasium. The other building, Calvin Hall, houses Financial Aid and Admissions offices among others, so almost every student enters this building at some time. In addition, many new student orientations and campus tours visit these two buildings. For years the green space between these two buildings was known as PI Hill (poison ivy) and was viewed as an embarrassment by the University. Starting in the fall of 2011, the landscape services team received permission to install a conifer garden in this area. They began by removing all the groundcover and seven trees. They graded the slope slightly and then four semi-loads of limestone were installed by the in-house installation crew. This stone accentuates the topography of the site and gives the illusion that these “bluffs” have always been here. Tucked in amongst the plantings is a waterfall, which, during the summer, draws both avian and human visitors!

The tiered installations make every view of the garden a feast for the eyes. The garden includes 16 genera (four of which are deciduous), comprising 31 species, and 46 cultivars. Notable specimens include a Picea mariana ‘Wellspire’ that was salvaged from the original conifer garden that was flooded in 2008 and a Pinus strobus witch’s broom found on campus. All plants are labeled, to educate those wondering “What kind of plant is that?” This is a hidden gem that people enjoy because of its private nature. 

The Eckstein Garden

The second Reference Garden is the Eckstein Medical Research Building (EMRB) garden. The first phase was installed in the fall of 2010 and the second phase completed in 2013. This garden is another pocket of green space in a sea of concrete. This area surrounds a popular patio outside a café. People enjoy sitting outdoors eating lunch or chatting; however, the surrounding area was very unattractive and overgrown. The landscape services team removed the overgrown plantings, built raised beds and installed a variety of conifers to make a secret garden “room” which now draws people in to explore. This garden features 17 genera (four of which are deciduous), 36 species and 40 cultivars. Notable plants include a large Ginkgo ‘Spring Grove’ and a Picea polita originally planted at another site in 2002. All plants are labeled for the benefit of the viewer.

Both of these gardens generate many positive comments as well as photo opportunities. These two projects have had a very positive impact on the campus landscape and always seem to be included on campus tours. The University of Iowa has hosted the Iowa Garden Rendezvous as well as the Big Ten Grounds Managers tour at these gardens, and the University is now starting to incorporate more and more species of conifers throughout the campus landscape, now approaching 80 different species planted throughout.

Halsey Hall, University of Iowa

Eckstein Medical Research Building EMRB Café

Hoyt Arboretum was established in 1928, the master plan for collections and development was created by John Duncan in 1930, and the first trees were planted in 1931. Particular care was given to a range of conifers, and today, Hoyt’s collections of redwood, spruce, pine, fir, and cedar have grown to impressive heights. The “Duncan Plan” was fulfilled by 1954, and those plantings are cared for and protected alongside new plantings from the revised “Family Plan” in 2002. This collections policy remains in effect today, and places priority on ex-situ conservation of rare and endangered species.

The current collection represents over 1445 species plus 770 cultivars of woody plants from six continents. The conifer section alone contains 240 species which includes many endangered and rare species such as Torreya taxifolia, Cupressus dupressiana, and Picea brewerianaare. Also of note is Hoyt Arboretum’s signature Metasequoia glyptostroboides,which was the first of the trees received from the 1947 seed collection trip to set cones, making it the first to do so in North America in 35 million years!

Hoyt Arboretum is home to other notable collections including maples and magnolias which are nationally accredited by the Plant Collections Network of the American Public Gardens Association. Hoyt Arboretum’s collections are widely recognized for their quality and breadth, the garden’s long-term commitment, a favorable local environment, and institutional expertise.

Since 1986, Hoyt Arboretum has been managed in partnership between Portland Parks & Recreation and Hoyt Arboretum Friends. Through significant fundraising and a robust volunteer

program, Hoyt Arboretum Friends staff and volunteers enhance visitors’ on-site experiences. They provide a range of educational opportunities for all ages around the Arboretum’s tree collections, engage in important advocacy in support of the park, and raise critical funds for capital improvements like the Stevens Pavilion, Redwood Deck, and Visitor Center.

Hoyt Arboretum does not charge an admission fee and is open and accessible 365 days a year. From the budburst of spring through summer fruit, fall’s fiery kaleidoscope and winter’s pops of color, there’s always something to see. Maps, books, and knowledgeable staff and volunteers can be found at the Visitor Center which is open daily from 10am-4pm. There are also 2 miles of accessible, paved trails so everyone may experience this unique Arboretum.

Learn more at hoytarboretum.org

Pictures:

Redwood Deck

Redwood Trail

Dawn Redwood

Hikers on Wildwood Trail

Fall Color

Winter garden

Overlook Viewpoint

Stevens Pavilion

Visitor Center

Magnolia Trail

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The Gardens’ first notable collection was rhododendron, reflecting both the unique growing conditions and a resident population of horticulturalists engaged in hybridizing many of the most popular early introductions. Today the MCBG is still known for these beautiful shrubs and it is one of the few places in the world where every kind of rhododendron can be grown, including many tender species from the cloud forests of Southeast Asia and the Himalayas. Every May the MCBG and the Noyo Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society host the largest Rhododendron show in California, when the majority of these shrubs are in glorious bloom.

Conifers were also part of the MCBG from its beginnings, as the native stands of Pinus contorta(shore pine) provide a crucial windbreak to the Gardens from the prevailing westerlies off the ocean. The first efforts involved replenishing and adding to those trees along the shoreline.

Today, the Gardens total 47 acres and the conifer collection includes natives, rare and unusual species from the world’s temperate regions, and also interesting dwarf and miniature cultivars that are planted both in conifer-centric beds and interplanted with perennials and other woody plants. about 50% of the Gardens are maintained in their natural state, which affords visitors the opportunity to experience both carefully cultivated plantings and the scenic woodland with towering native trees and lush undergrowth. These ‘wild’ areas are managed to protect both native flora and fauna.

There are plans for expanding and enhancing the Gardens’ conifer collection. Director Molly Barker is a fan, ‘Conifers provide winter interest in our perennial beds and year-round curb appeal in our problem entry area, which is open to deer, exposed to the reflected heat of the parking lot and is extremely windy. The conifers take the abuse and still look great!’ She notes that the entry beds are currently being renovated, ‘Our goal is to make the entry garden reflect the Gardens’ overall collection, as this is the first bed that our visitors see when they arrive, and it’s a great introduction to these wonderful plants.’ There are also plans to add pathways and conifer cultivars to the Woodland Garden. The Nursery at the MCBG sells a large diverse selection of dwarf and miniature cultivars, many of which can be seen planted in the various gardens.

In addition to the rhododendron and conifers, the Gardens have significant collections of heaths and heathers, camellias and magnolias and native upland and riparian plants of the North coast. The heaths and heathers collection is recognized by the American Public Gardens Association. There is also an astoundingly colorful dahlia display in autumn.

The Gardens were part of the September 2015 ACS annual meeting post-conference tour. Read more about the MCBG on the Gardens’ website.

Memphis Botanic Garden strives to enhance lives by connecting people with nature, and by increasing awareness and appreciation of our environment. The 96-acre property includes 28 specialty gardens, which provide an in-depth look into various families of plants, flowers, and trees. The garden is known for its magnolia, holly, specimen conifer and Japanese maple collections.

In 1957, the Lumberman’s Club of America, together with landscape architect George Madlinger, established an arboretum in honor of W.C. Paul, a long-time member of the Memphis Men's Garden Club. Mr. Paul had dreamed of an arboretum for Memphis, and Audubon Park was the perfect location. W.C. Paul Arboretum was one of the projects that served as a catalyst for a section of the newly-established Gardens at Audubon Park to be developed as a botanical garden. In 1967, this area was renamed Memphis Botanic Garden.

Today, the entire 96-acre Memphis Botanic Garden is a certified arboretum. In 2006, the Tennessee Urban Forestry Council awarded the Garden its highest classification as a Level IV Arboretum, thanks to the efforts of a group of dedicated volunteers and hard-working staff. In 2012, the Garden was designation as Tennessee’s first Urban Forestry Center of Excellence.

The Garden has an impressive conifer collection, which was established in 1981 and updated in 2002 to include many dwarf varieties that are now available for the home landscape. Conifers are typically associated with colder climates, and the species traditionally grown in the south have been few in number. However, the list continues to grow as plants are trialed in the Southeast. Memphis Botanic Garden’s Conifer Collection provides a valuable testing ground for a variety of conifers. The collection is currently estimated at 300 individual plants, with more than 100 species represented, and more added continually.

The Garden is located at 750 Cherry Road, Memphis, TN and is open to the public from 9:00-4:30, every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas, with extended hours during daylight savings time. Cost of admission is $8 for the general public, with discounts for seniors, children, groups, and military families.

View the dwarf conifer collection

Mary (Polly) Wakefield created the gardens and the arboretum of the Wakefield Estate over a 40 year period. When Polly passed away in 2004, she left her 22-acre property in a private trust to be used for education and community enjoyment. A trained landscape designer and horticulturalist, Polly created formal gardens, plant nurseries, woodland trails, and planted wetlands, growing much of the plant material from seed or cuttings. She worked closely with the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University to develop her collection. The gardens most important feature is more than 300 Cornus kousa dogwoods, all originating from the same seed source at the Arnold Arboretum. Polly also planted many varieties of maples, magnolias, and conifers.

In 2017, the Mary May Binney Wakefield Arboretum became an Arbnet Class II certified arboretum and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The gardens have been lovingly restored with careful pruning, the addition of new plant material, and unique hardscape features.

The dwarf conifer garden was added to the collection in the summer of 2018. This garden currently boasts more than 30 dwarf conifer varieties surrounded by many gardens with a broad range of full-size conifers planted with other species. The dwarf conifers were selected for hardiness and year-round display. Polly Wakefield worked with Arnold Arboretum plant propagator Al Fordham, a pioneer in work with dwarf conifers and began experimenting with dwarf species herself in the late 1970's and later creating her “witches garden with dragon gate”. Several of her dwarf conifers remain in the gardens today.

Open hours: The Wakefield Estate welcomes visitors to tour the property during regular business hours (9-4 Mon-Fri). In addition, the estate is open on weekends for special events or by appointment (see our website: wakefieldtrust.org for event listings). To arrange "by appointment", visits please call 617-333-0924 x22.

Rose Hill and the Arboretum can be reserved for weddings, receptions, parties and other special occasions, and photographers often use Lockerly for photo sessions. In 2015, Rose Hill was placed on the Georgia Register of Historic Houses.

Lockerly’s mission is to provide outstanding ecological, horticultural, and historical education, in order to promote preservation and stewardship of the environment by fostering an understanding of and an appreciation for the natural world. Lockerly Arboretum Foundation serves all audiences in the community by providing horticultural displays, educational programs, and recreational opportunities. The arboretum is open six days a week at no charge for self-guided tours of the grounds. Lockerly Arboretum is a popular destination for school field trips and home school groups. Lockerly’s educational programs provide lectures and workshops on a wide range of horticultural topics for children, college students, and adults, many at little or no cost. The number of registered guests and students visiting Lockerly in 2015 exceeded 5,500.

The Arboretum grounds include a diverse collection of plants from around the world as well as a large collection of plants native to Georgia and the Southeastern US. Lockerly’s largest plant collection is the conifer garden, which was started in the early 1980’s. The majority of the conifers were planted between 1988 and 1992. In February of 2009, the Arboretum received a gift-in-kind of over 100 conifers from Head-Lee Nursery in Seneca, South Carolina to support its efforts in the redevelopment of the conifer collection. In 2011 Lockerly Arboretum was awarded a grant from the ACS Southeast Region that provided an additional 90 conifers to enhance the collection. A second ACS grant for $3000 was awarded in 2013. In late December 2013 and January 2014, over 115 new plants were added to the Conifer Reference Garden as a result of this grant. The expansion added plants from 11 different genera and 44 different species or cultivars. Currently, the reference garden has over 547 specimens representing 23 genera, 45 species, and 151 different cultivars.

In addition to the conifer collection, Lockerly is home to a large Camellia collection and a native plant Collection. Another feature at Lockerly is a one half mile woodland nature trail that follows a stream traveling across the property. The nature trail is home to many mature hardwoods, ferns and wildflowers, including a tall Stewartia (Stewartia monadelpha) that is a Georgia State Champion tree. The Education Director frequently uses this trail for school field trips and summer camps because of the significant plant diversity found in this woodland habitat. In addition to the Tall Stewartia, Lockerly has two other State Champion trees on site, a cedar elm and a small-leaf Viburnum.

Visitors have the option of walking on trails or driving through the Arboretum to explore the gardens. The Arboretum has a one acre pond, a smaller koi pond, and a reflecting pool with a fountain. The two glass greenhouses were recently remodeled to accommodate plant propagation needs and a tropical plant and orchid collection. In 2015, a new plant collection data management project was started to improve documentation and labeling of plants in the gardens, with plans to include interactive features on our website. The Woods Museum, built in the early 1900’s as a tenant house, has been recently remodeled and reopened as a Visitor Center and Museum. The museum displays a huge 333 year old section of a bald cypress, botanical displays, and historical information about Rose Hill and the founder of Lockerly Arboretum, E.J. Grassmann. Mr. Grassmann was a visionary who valued plant diversity and educational opportunities to learn about horticulture. Photos, newsletters and other information about Lockerly Arboretum may be found at at the garden's website, www.lockerly.org.

Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden offers year-round beauty on a historic property with more than 50 acres of spectacular gardens. More than a dozen themed gardens include a Healing Garden, Sunken Garden, Asian Valley, Rose Garden, a wetland garden, a Victorian garden and a Children's Garden. A classical domed Conservatory is the only one of its kind in the mid-Atlantic with ever changing displays, orchids and tropical plants.

Visitors can encounter an attractive blend of diverse and fascinating dwarf conifers, complemented by ornamental grasses and spring-blooming minor bulbs in the Streb Conifer Garden. Through myriad forms, sizes and hues these conifers demonstrate practical uses for providing structure, color and texture in the garden as well as year-round interest. A gazebo, architecturally inspired by the Bloemendaal House, imparts an open invitation to stop and peruse the views.

In 1996, Ben and Jacquie White provided the funding for this conifer garden and gazebo in honor of Mrs. White's mother, Margaret Johanna Streb. The Whites were inspired by the Gotelli Collection of dwarf conifers at the U.S. National Arboretum in Washington D.C.

For more information, please visit the website.

In 1980, the Arboretum was officially dedicated and the Friends of the NCSU Arboretum was formed. 1985 saw the development of a major collection of Juniperus horizontalis in conjunction with a student's M.S. project. In 1992, the NCSU Arboretum was awarded the prestigious AABG Award for Program Excellence.

The guiding force behind the Arboretum, Dr. J.C. Raulston, died in a car accident in 1996 and one year later the Arboretum officially changed its name to the JC Raulston Arboretum. Since that time, a Visitor Center and Education Center have been constructed, the original 8 acre campus was enlarged to 10.5 acres and a Master Plan has been developed.

Conifers play a significant role in the landscape beds throughout the Arboretum including the Perennial Border, the Mixed Border, the Japanese Garden, Scree Garden, Sunken Garden and Asian Valley. In addition, the conifer collection has expanded to include 870 conifers, comprised of 499 different taxa which includes 38 different genera from 7 different families. It continues to be the anchor garden for the northeast corner of the Arboretum.

The Iowa Arboretum began in 1968 as a centennial project of the Iowa Horticultural Society with the purchase of 40 acres of farmland in a rural area with close proximity to the Des Moines River. A roughly circular roadway was laid out adjacent to which various woody plant collections were established so that each could be accessed from the paths. The large conifers, mostly species, were placed south of the perennial gardens, fairly close to the first building, now the Cafferty Building. These early plantings, now around 50 years old, are quite mature. The dwarf conifers, many of which are truly intermediate in size, were planted west of that area on the highest point of the 40 acres. Currently, the dwarf conifer collection includes approximately 300 plants. A gazebo now anchors that space and provides a great destination for the "conifer explorer". The Dwarf Conifer Collection was renamed the Jacobsen Conifer Collection in memory of ACS member and Arboretum board member Craig Jacobsen. An alpine garden of bermed beds has recently been established as the entry point to this collection and has enabled the addition of miniature conifers. In keeping with the mission of the Iowa Arboretum, there has been an attempt to grow specimens of all the conifer genera able to thrive in Iowa rather than to specialize in a particular genus.

With his bequest Fee wished that the Gardens be for the benefit and education of the public - a mandate that has continued through the years under the direction of MSU s Horticulture Department, the Division of Campus Parks and Planning and presently Land Management. Hidden Lake Gardens has continued to develop with land acquisitions, construction of buildings, and the establishment of educational programs. The original 200 acres have grown to 755 acres which includes a 120 acre arboretum that consists of plant groups such as crabapples, lilacs, maples, evergreens, and shrubs. The Visitor Center building was built in 1965 and the conservatory was added in 1968.

The Visitor Center which also houses a library, exhibits, auditorium, meeting rooms and a gift shop. The Conservatory includes tropical plants, arid plants, and a variety of flowering houseplants. A picnic area with shelter is available without reservations.

In 1981, Justin C. Harper gave the Gardens a major gift of over 350 dwarf and rare conifers which, 31 years later, became the main attraction during the American Conifer Society's annual National Meeting. In 2010 an ACS Reference Garden Grant was used to purchase plants for The Harper Collection of Dwarf and Rare Conifers, provide funding to move plants within the Collection and to support regular maintenance of this outstanding collection.

Plants added to the Collection included Thuja koraiensis Glauca Prostrata', Cupressus nootkatensis 'Glauca Pendula', and Pinus densiflora 'Jane Kluis'.

Plants from the Collection were also propagated by the staff of the Gardens. These include Picea abies 'Merrell Broom', Cupressus nootkatensis 'Green Arrow' and many others which were grafted or rooted in our propagation facility. In turn, many of these plants have been sold to individuals in order to support the Collection and to insure that there are examples of these plants in other collections for the security of the plants for future generations.

The garden's beginnings were much more humble than the 10 acres of woodland, ponds, streams and carefully maintained plant specimens in today's Hatcher Garden. It's hard to believe that the space with its water features, towering trees, native plants, specimen conifer garden and structures that invite people to linger and enjoy was once eroded ravines and depleted cotton fields

It began in 1969 as a private backyard garden created by Harold and Josephine Hatcher who had come to Spartanburg after retiring to be close to their daughter, Alice, and her husband Don, both college professors. The Hatchers' dream began small, but they came to believe that they could create a public greenspace out of land adjacent to their home just off Reidville Road, one of the busiest streets in the city. Over the years they worked to cultivate and expand their garden, welcoming the public into their ample backyard.

Alice Hatcher Henderson, the daughter who taught at the University of South Carolina Upstate, and still lives in Spartanburg, remembers the joy her parents reaped from the hard work that it took to create their garden on a limited retirement income, and she knows they would be proud of what their garden has become.

They would not be able to believe their eyes, says Henderson, who serves as an honorary trustee on Hatcher's board. They had seen former projects of theirs in Illinois, New York and Indiana go downhill after they moved, so they had no expectation that Spartanburg would be completely opposite and achieve such inspiring improvement after their deaths.

It is a testament to the community that the Hatchers did not have to build their garden alone. From the beginning, they enlisted the help of friends and local garden enthusiasts to help them realize their dream. As the garden continued to grow through the 1970s, members of the Spartanburg Men's Garden Club, the Spartanburg Garden Club Council, Spartanburg Community College and the Unitarian Universalist Church became intrigued with the Hatchers' vision for their garden and began to volunteer their time and resources to support the garden's development.

The Hatchers' work continued into the 1980s, and in 1987, when he was almost 80 years old, Harold Hatcher decided to give the garden more permanent protection by donating the property to the Spartanburg County Foundation. Ownership was transferred, a board established, and 501(c)(3) non-profit status acquired, thus assuring the garden's continuity. At that time, the garden was officially given the name Hatcher Garden & Woodland Preserve with the Hatchers' blessings.

For the past 25 years, Hatcher Garden & Woodland Preserve has operated as a non-profit, free public garden, open every day during daylight hours. The staff and board of Hatcher Garden have as their goal to preserve, protect and sustain the garden for the benefit of the entire community and region.

The woodland garden includes numerous separate garden rooms and a half-mile of paved paths. The Bartram Trail contains a selection of plants that William Bartram, America's first native-born naturalist, first noted on his travels through the Southeast during the 18th century. A hosta garden, butterfly garden, wildflower garden and Water Wise Garden complement the large trees and established camellia and azalea plants that Harold Hatcher planted and loved. The garden is truly a gift from the community to the community a garden that welcomes everyone into the nurturing and healing space.

Hatcher's Conifer Collection

Since 2001, four conifer themes have been developed:

Dwarf Conifer Garden- This is a showcase of the Arboretum that houses over 80 different species and cultivars. One representative of each cultivar is signed. The Dwarf Conifer Garden has received targeted grant support from two local garden clubs and from the Harris Foundation for Washington County. Some unique specimens were donated by the US National Arboretum.

Conifers for Evergreen Screens- In 2003, a bed was established as a trial and demonstration of the variety of conifers that could be used regionally for screens. That planting has matured so that it serves as a screen from a busy road and as a windbreak for deciduous species in an adjoining bed. Together, the conifer and deciduous beds comprise the "Trees for Tomorrow" theme, a planting designed to introduce the public to novel plants for southern Appalachian landscapes.

East Asian-Eastern North American Relatives- An educational theme of the Arboretum is to demonstrate the strong floristic relationship between East Asia and Eastern North America. Closely related tree species from various genera are planted in proximity to highlight their affinity.

Hinoki Cypress Cultivars- This recent collection was initiated to demonstrate the variation among forms within a species. It complements a collection of Japanese Maple cultivars with a similar purpose.

In addition research projects are underway to understand patterns of spread of the hemlock woolly adelgid in populations of Carolina hemlock, and to examine the impacts of balsam woolly adelgid on Frasier Fir and high elevation forests at Mt. Mitchell, NC.

The Arboretum's conifer collection currently includes approximately 130 species and cultivars in 25 genera. For more information about the ETSU Arboretum, please email to arboretum@etsu.edu.

Curator and President, Thomas Draves and his family began the diverse collection 25 years ago. Through subsequent years, the collection has grown to include over 800 species of woody plants, and currently includes almost 100 conifer species consisting of 274 plants. Species can be observed at all stages of maturity, with detailed attention given to accessible labelling for identification and educational purposes.

Draves Arboretum acquired its Level II accreditation from ArbNet in 2018, and in 2019 received advanced accreditation as a Level III Arboretum, becoming one of only twenty-eight with this distinction worldwide.

As the collection gained regional notoriety, the arboretum became Provisionally Chartered by the Regents of the University of the State of New York, evolving into a center for public education. Draves Arboretum offers courses for professionals within the green industry, programs for local colleges, private tours, and classes for garden clubs and other organized groups.

Visitors and groups are welcome daily by appointment: 585-547-3341

Find online at www.DravesArboretum.org as well as on Facebook and Instagram.

Watch a presentation by Thomas Draves, president and curator of Draves Arboretum.

In early 2016, Denver Botanic Gardens was designated as the seventh Western Region ACS Reference Garden. Although conifers are found throughout almost all of the gardens at DBG, either integrated into the design or acting as a backdrop, there are several collections of particular interest. The Dwarf Conifer Collection, the Japanese Garden, and the Rock Alpine Garden all contain unique conifers or unique forms, whereas the Western Panoramas, Gates Montane Garden, and the Mt. Goliath site display conifers native to the various ecosystems of Colorado in more naturalistic settings.

Only a handful of conifers were available from nurseries in the Denver area until the 1980’s, and so gardens contained only a few species, mostly seed grown, and planted again and again. It took the dedication of a very few local plantspeople and the creation of the Rock Alpine Garden at Denver Botanic Gardens (DBG) in 1980 to popularize a wider diversity of conifers among local gardeners. The collection of dwarf conifers at DBG has now expanded to be the largest such collection between the Sierra Cascade crest and the Midwest.

Overall, DBG currently has six families, 20 genera and 122 species, 402 taxa, 790 accessions, and 1820 living plant locations of conifers within its various gardens. This represents an astronomic expansion compared to the impoverished number of conifer flora that was once grown in regional gardens!

Dwarf Conifer Collection

The Dwarf Conifer Collection features most of the dwarf conifers at Denver Botanic Gardens. The internationally renowned conifer enthusiast, Jerry Morris, donated most of the specimens in this collection, and consequently, this is the largest collection of Morris’s conifers in the world. Morris harvested scion and seed from brooms throughout the Rocky Mountains for almost 50 years and introduced many dwarf varieties of native Colorado species with highly unusual and desirable mutations. Exclusive selections of Picea pungens, Pinus ponderosa,and Pinus aristatadominate the collection. DBG leverages the unique and variable traits of dwarf conifers through interpretation and education, holding valuable discussions about plant diversity and genetics around these visually stunning plants.

Japanese Garden and Bill Hosokawa Bonsai Pavilion

The Japanese Garden introduces visitors to traditional Japanese philosophy and culture through a Japanese garden designed for the Rocky Mountain Region. The name of the garden, ShoFu-En represents “garden of pines and wind.” The main feature of this garden is the abundant use of beautifully aged native character pines (Pinus ponderosa), trained in the Japanese style. Shofu-En was designed by Koichi Kawana, Professor at the University of California and President of Environmental Design Associates in Los Angeles, California, and opened in 1979. The basic style of this garden is called Chisen-kaiyushiki, which means ‘strolling garden around a lake’. In this garden, Koichi Kawana decided to feature Colorado plants in the classic Japanese style, and with the help of volunteers from the local bonsai club, collected over 100 ponderosa pines (Pinus ponderosa) that were stunted by harsh, windy conditions in Roosevelt National Forest, west of Boulder, Colorado. They transplanted them and trimmed them to look like clouds floating above the surface of the garden. Some of these small trees are more than 400 years old. To keep them small, the candles are snapped off in spring and branches trimmed and tied to preserve their shape.

Rock Alpine Garden

More notable and unique plants are found in the Rock Alpine Garden than perhaps in any other spot at DBG, and they range from champion trees to specimens likely not grown in any other public garden in the U.S. The collection spans species normally not found in steppe climates to those that only thrive in steppe climates. Conifers play an important role in the garden and the Cupressus bakeri, Picea likiangensis, Cupressus nootkatensis‘Pendula’, and Pinus parviflora‘Aizu’ are all state champions. The rock garden holds one of the largest collections of both species and cultivars of conifers at DBG, including many dwarf cultivars. Many of these individuals are over 30 years old and are reaching mature sizes. Currently there is a focus on procuring all of the high elevation five-needled pines from the American West, along with several rare Mexican Picea, not normally on display in public gardens.

Naturalistic Gardens with Native Conifers

Denver is unusual in its close proximity to many different habitats, including the High Plains/Riparian habitat, the Foothills/Montane/Ponderosa Pine habitat, and the Subalpine/Bristlecone Pine habitat. DBG has created a series of naturalistic gardens that highlight the native flora from each of these regions. This collection of gardens sets DBG apart regionally from other major botanic gardens in North America. The Western Panoramas Garden includes different borders that highlight distinct ecosystems of Colorado and the West. Of interest to conifer lovers are the Ponderosa Border which features many specimens of ponderosa pines that are native to the Foothills/Montane ecosystem, and the Bristlecone Border, which includes many fine examples of this high-altitude pine.

Mount Goliath Natural Area

This is a satellite site managed by Denver Botanic Gardens and the U.S. Forest Service, is located along the Mt. Evans Scenic Byway at 11,540 feet, climbing from the sub-alpine zone into the tundra at 12,152 feet. Denver Botanic Gardens maintains several naturalized rock gardens at this site, which represent the various plant communities in this alpine and sub-alpine location, including talus, scree, rock crevice, bristlecone pine forest, fellfield, wet meadow, and alpine turf. This site provides the opportunity to experience ancient bristlecone pine forests, with 1600+ year-old bristlecone pines (Pinus aristata) in what is believed to be the second largest bristlecone forest in Colorado.

We are pleased to join the American Conifer Society’s Reference Garden program and look forward to welcoming ACS members at our Garden! For more information please call or access our website below.

1007 York Street

Denver, Colorado 80206

720-865-3501

http://www.botanicgardens.org

(Editor’s note: This article was written by Ann Frazier of the Denver Botanic Gardens and appears in a longer and more detailed form in the Fall 2016 ConiferQuarterly)

Conifer History

There are records of conifer cultivation dating back to the plantation era of Brookgreen, including a very large Calocedrus decurrens which would have been extremely exotic for the time period!

The first organized conifer collection at Brookgreen Gardens was started in the 1960’s by then Director and Horticulturist Gurdon L. Tarbox. This collection was located in the current Arboretum, and featured plantings of Cedrus, Chamaecyparis, Cunninghamia, Juniperus, and Pinus. There are several specimens from this original collection that still exist, including a beautiful specimen of Pinus strobus that could have been planted as early as 1960, and a gorgeous 80’ plus specimen of Cunninghamia lanceolata believed to be planted in 1968.

Brookgreen is also home to gorgeous plantings of our native Taxodium distichum, Taxodium distichum var. imbricarium, and beautiful stands of Pinus palustris.

Awards and Honors

Named one of the Top 10 Public Gardens in the US by Coastal Living Magazine

Named one of the Top Five Favorite Gardens by readers of Southern Living Magazine

Charlotte Observer named Brookgreen "One of the seven wonders of the Carolinas"

Rated five circles from TripAdvisor reviewers and recipient of their Certificate of Excellence

Rated a Gem Attraction – recommended by AAA

Named one of the 10 Best (attractions in South Carolina) by USA Today

Named “one of the best things to do in Myrtle Beach” by AOL Travel

South Carolina Governor’s Cup Tourism Award

South Carolina Non Profit of the Year from the SC Association of Nonprofits

South Carolina Heritage Tourism Award from the Palmetto Trust for Historic Preservation

South Carolina Art Commission – Elizabeth O’Neill Verner Award

National Sculpture Society – Herbert Adams Medal for outstanding contribution to American Sculpture

Coastal Carolina University David Drayton Award – Preserving Gullah Culture

Historic Ricefields Association Carolina Gold Award

Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce – Business Image Award, Excellence in Customer Service Award, and Going Green Award

Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce – Excellence in Customer Service Award, Non-Profit of the Year

Visit Brookgreen's website

Stoneleigh is a stunning reflection of more than a century of loving care by three different families. Extraordinary trees, sweeping vistas, and intimate garden spaces offer a variety of opportunities to explore, learn, relax, and be inspired.

While Stoneleigh features many native and non-native conifer specimens, the garden is committed to the cultivation of native conifers and offers a unique environment, accessible free of charge, for guests to study a wide range of native conifer species and cultivars that are suitable for the mid-Atlantic climate

SBG was the first garden in the American Conifer Society's Southeast Region to be awarded Reference Garden status in 2008. Since then, over 250 conifers have been added to the collection representing 160 species and cultivars. The ACS Reference Garden is housed adjacent to the Callaway Building but the conifer collection extends from tropical species in the Visitor Center, throughout all the themed gardens and to at-risk native populations in the natural areas.

In applying for the grant, the goals - consistent with the mission of the Garden - was to educate the public (including non-traditional Garden visitors) about conifers and encourage their use in southeastern landscapes. To do this effectively, the Garden needed to diversify and enhance its collection, broaden conservation efforts and improve educational signage.

Part of the ACS funding was used to expand the Cedrus collection in the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern Section of the International Garden. Cedars are magnificent conifers native to the Middle East with decay resistant wood. Because of its economic value, cedar was extensively harvested resulting today in small remnants of original forests. Cedar of Lebanon was used to build Phoenician ships. Its sawdust was found in the tombs of the pharaohs where it was part of the mummification process. These kind of facts are woven into a narrative that facilitates the Garden's educational outreach to visitors of all ages. After all, what child isn't fascinated with mummies?!

The grant also funded the replacement of sapsucker-damaged Cedrus atlantica with a serpentine form-as topiary is an option-and added the cultivars 'Fastigiata' and 'Silberspitz'. Cedrus brevifolia was planted, along with four cultivars of C. libani. Twelve deodar selections, from 'Limeglow' to 'Electra Blue', 'Raywood's Contorted' to 'Twisted Growth' filled out the list.

Another part of this project included enhancing endangered, relict, and safeguarded conifer collections beginning with the genus Araucaria. When a UGA student from Brazil brought back seed of Araucaria angustifolia from a home visit, the Garden began propagating it. Seven of the progeny of the critically endangered Paraña pine were planted in the International Garden. During an ACS regional meeting two more members of this genus, Araucaria montana and A. bidwillii, were acquired.

The grant has also contributed to ongoing conservation efforts such as safeguarding Torreya taxifolia through the work of the Georgia Plant Conservation Alliance. In Florida torreya was once so abundant, settlers used it for fence posts and shingles, riverboat fuel, even Christmas trees. Today, only twelve individuals remain in the wild on the Georgia side of the Apalachicola River. Georgia has the only full set of all surviving wild clones in cultivation and two safeguarded populations are at SBG.

Also housed at SBG is a protected collection of Eastern Hemlocks. Tsuga canadensishas been under siege by the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) here as well and, according to the Georgia Forestry Commission, the annual spread of HWA is faster in Georgia than any other state in the southeast. Several species of Asian predator beetles are being released to combat this invasive pest with some promising results. Once HWA is controlled, SBG trees can be used as a seed source for re-establishing this species in the wild.SBG is also leading protection efforts of Tsuga caroliniana,the Carolina Hemlock, that is being attacked by HWA as well. As part of the Georgia Plant Conservation Alliance, Garden staff, with the help of members of the UGA climbing club, are collecting cones from the only seven trees in Georgia. Germinated seedlings were planted back in the wild under the care of volunteer stewards and SBG is establishing a safeguarded collection of Carolina Hemlock at SBG.

Collections expansion, interpretive signs, seed collection- so many important projects have been facilitated by the ACS Southeast Region Reference Garden Grant Program. Thank you all for what you do! And special thanks to John and Becky Quackenbush, who contributed additional funding to allow us to meet our goals. Come for a visit soon!

Jeannette Coplin
Director of Horticulture and Grounds
State Botanical Garden of Georgia

This small college has an arboretum and a dwarf conifer collection that is on a par with those at large universities and is a testament to the strength of the horticultural program and the dedication of Arboretum Coordinator Van Bobbitt and his students over the years. Tucked into the north end of the campus, the arboretum has been called ‘West Seattle’s Hidden Treasure.’ With its status as an ACS Reference Garden, perhaps it will be less hidden going forward!

The SSC Arboretum, on six acres at the north end of campus, functions as a living laboratory for the Landscape Horticulture program, which first proposed the development of an arboretum in 1972. A student petition spurred the Seattle College board of trustees to approve the concept six years later.

The site includes impressive views of downtown Seattle and is adjacent to the West Duwamish Greenbelt, the largest contiguous forest within the city of Seattle. But the site also posed a major challenge—terrible soil. A gravel pit once covered much of what became the SSC campus, and to make matters worse, the college’s heavy-equipment-operation classes used the area as a training site. Their machines further compacted what was already described as “unusable clay.”

With the help of Seattle Metro, SSC improved the soil before the garden was planted. Metro provided labor and machinery and the land was graded and covered with18 inches of sewage sludge and seeded ryegrass, which was later tilled in. Despite this amendment and the addition of topsoil as each new garden was developed, much of the arboretum continues to suffer from heavy, poorly drained soil. It is impressive that the college has been able to produce a garden of this quality with such poor soil. This should give hope and inspiration to those of us that struggle with difficult sites in our own gardens!

In spite of a shoestring budget and those challenging soil conditions, the arboretum has grown, especially due to the efforts of former horticulture instructor Steve Nord. Through the years, though, the arboretum has benefited from the strong financial and in-kind support of many individuals, businesses and service organizations, particularly in the West Seattle community.

Since the SSC Arboretum’s primary mission was to serve as an outdoor classroom and laboratory for horticulture students, all of the gardens in the arboretum have been installed by students in SSC landscape construction classes. Much of the irrigation system was developed by students under the guidance of their instructors. Pruning and landscape-management classes help maintain the arboretum. The garden renovation classes have updated many gardens in recent years. And there’s not a day in the academic year when you won’t find students using the arboretum for study or hands-on learning. The

SSC Arboretum contains two conifer gardens and a sequoia grove:

Sequoia Grove. Specimens of giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum), coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) and dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) reside here.

Milton Sutton Conifer Gardens. This garden has two distinct parts that straddle a gravel road. One side is built adjacent to a dry streambed and combines many larger conifers with complementary shrubs and ground covers to create a woodland feel. Across the road is a collection of dwarf conifers interplanted with heaths and heathers. It is one of the most colorful sections of the arboretum in the winter. The Milton Sutton Conifer Garden also includes an impressive collection of Tsuga canadensis cultivars that was written up in Conifer Quarterly (Winter 2007) by former student Peter Maurer.

Coenosium Rock Garden. Dedicated in June 2005, this is arguably the best public collection of dwarf conifers in the region. It also contains a scree garden, many non-coniferous alpine species, and a naturalistic water feature. Dianne and Bob Fincham first conceived this garden with Steve Nord. The Finchams wanted to develop a garden that would help both students and the gardening public appreciate of the value of dwarf conifers. After Nord retired, the Finchams, landscape construction instructor Steve Hilderbrand, Yuki Kato—a landscape design student from Japan—and horticulture instructor Van Bobbitt developed a plan for the future. It took six years to complete with landscape construction classes tackling a new phase each year. The Finchams generously donated all of the conifers in the Coenosium Rock Garden from their nursery. Their friend, Rick Lupp, owner of Mount Tahoma Gardens—an alpine specialty nursery—donated a large number of alpine plants. Hilderbrand and his students worked overtime in spring 2005 to have the garden completed by its dedication in June. The dwarf conifers offer year-round appeal, due to their various forms, textures and colors—blues, greens and golds. Many offer seasonal color changes, such as Thuja orientalis 'Morgan': yellow-gold most of the year, it turns an intense orange-bronze with the arrival of colder temperatures in November, and returns to yellow-gold with March’s warming temperatures.

What does the future hold for the SSC Arboretum? The Coenosium Rock Garden filled the last undeveloped land in the arboretum. Major renovations of older gardens are being considered. About half of the original arboretum site will be occupied by the Seattle Chinese Garden, being built by the Seattle Chinese Garden Society, which will be one the largest Chinese gardens in North America. Combined with the Landscape Horticulture Program’s greenhouse, nursery and garden center, South Seattle College should be a major destination for gardeners. The future looks exciting, and the ACS Reference Garden status should prove beneficial to both partners going forward.

The garden is open to the public seven days a week from dawn to dusk.

Ed. Note: This material was adapted from an article by Van Bobbitt, SSC Horticulture Instructor and Arboretum Coordinator in the Fall 2005 issue of the Washington Park Arboretum Bulletin. In September 2013, Bob Fincham conducted a tour of the garden for ACS members Jan LeCocq and Sara Malone who wrote about it in their blog Form and Foliage.

The Gardens feature an extensive collection of exotic and unusual plants intermingled with native species. Hints of Asian design principles can be found throughout the property. The design does not strive to dominate nature but to enhance it. The woodland stroll garden features new views and hidden delights in every season. The Cedar Meadow is the central focus of the garden and also the home to 100 roses. The Master Gardener Plant-A-Row for the Hungry Vegetable Garden provides a bountiful harvest for community food banks.

In the past it was assumed that except for natives, conifers were not suited for the South. Smith-Gilbert Gardens serves as a trial garden for a wide variety of conifers to evaluate growth rate and survivability in Georgia's summer heat and humidity. There are over 230 conifers throughout the Gardens representing 26 genera. Plants were selected based on recommendations from specialty growers, other arboreta and our own research. Additionally, Smith-Gilbert expects to provide educational resources for the community and the region regarding conifer selection and maintenance in the South. The goal is to continue research by expanding conifer acquisition and evaluation. The garden provides an opportunity to observe and appreciate conifers in a naturalistic setting.

Smith-Gilbert Gardens is an outdoor classroom for the local schools, university, and technical college and is enjoyed by area garden clubs, plant societies and the community.

SFBG has a mild, maritime climate that allows a wide range of species to flourish. The native Pinus, Sequoia and Cupressus grow side by side with a large and diverse collection of Podocarpaceae and Araucariaceae; there is a lush and extensive redwood grove, a dwarf conifer collection and a grouping of Metasequoia glyptostroboides that was planted from seed in 1950, making them some of the earliest plantings of this species in the U.S. All told, the collection includes over 250 conifer species.

The Garden started as an arboretum, and the conifer collection began in the mid-1800’s with the planting of over 450,000 canopy trees to provide shade and protection from the wind. Two of the three species (the third was Eucalyptus globulus) were conifers: Cupressus macrocarpa (Monterey cypress) and Pinus radiata (Monterey pine). While the size and stature of many of the remaining specimens is impressive, due to their age they frequently fall prey to high winds and winter storms. Large limbs and indeed even entire trees are lost with increasing frequency. In 2009, the Garden created a canopy succession plan to coordinate the replacement of the three main species. Several hundred new taxa have been identified as appropriate. Some of the conifers in the plan include Abies bracteata, Agathis australis and Pinus torreyana ssp. insularis.

SFBG recognizes four key conifer collections in addition to the canopy: the Nobel Dwarf Conifer Garden, the Dawn Redwood Grove, the Conifer Lawn and the Redwood Grove. Many of the trees in the collection have grown to significant size. Among some of the oldest specimens (in addition to the canopy) are the Sequoia sempervirensin the Redwood Grove, which were planted around the turn of the 20th Century and the enormous Monterey cypress in the middle of the conifer lawn, which stands over 100 feet tall. The Redwood Grove is the only place to view a redwood forest in San Francisco and it includes a rare albino form of the species. The Conifer Lawn includes over 30 species of conifers, including Abiesand Piceaspecies as well as a stately Sequoiadendron giganteum (giant sequoia). The oldest Sequoiadendronspecimen has developed a spreading windswept appearance as it grew in strong ocean winds for the first 50 years of its life. Later planted specimens, more protected by the more mature canopy, are very upright.

SFBG also has one of the oldest collections of dwarf conifers in a large US botanical garden. The James Nobel Dwarf Conifer Collection was created in 1960 with the gift of 372 dwarf conifer species by Effie V. Nobel. Mrs Nobel’s late husband, James, had amassed this collection over many years and at the time this was one of the most important collections of dwarf conifers in the country. Currently there are over 100 species remaining and ACS members accustomed to the very latest and most unusual cultivars will find many here that no longer are considered rare. However, it represents a good opportunity to observe much older specimens that most of us have in our gardens!

Although not recognized as a separate conifer collection by the Garden, one of the most interesting places to view key specimens is in the SFBG’s Ancient Plant Garden. This Garden is laid out so that visitors move chronologically through five periods: Early Devonian, Pennsylvanian, Jurassic, Cretaceous, and Eocene. The Jurassic epoch is of the most interest to conifer lovers, as this was when seed plants began to dominate and before Angiosperms evolved and ‘stole the show’. Here we can see Podocarpus, Araucaria and Agathis. There are wonderful specimens of Araucaria heterophylla,numerous Ginkgo biloba, a Retrophyllum rospigliosiiand lovely Wollemia nobilis, the Australian conifer that was thought to be extinct until a small grove was found in a remote area in 1994. When wandering in this area, without too much imagination, it is possible to travel back to a time before flowering plants existed!San Francisco Botanical Garden

Golden Gate Park
1199 9th Avenue
San Francisco CA

Open all year from 7:30 am – 4/5 pm depending on season

See website for admission fees, directions, maps, etc.

Powell Gardens, Kansas City’s Botanical Garden is a young garden (it celebrated 25 years in 2013) that was well-planned from inception. Nationally renowned landscape architects from Environmental Planning and Design and its spinoffs planned the 970 acre garden. Major gardens include Perennial, Rock & Waterfall, Meadow, Island, Fountain and Heartland Harvest Garden (America’s largest edible landscape). Powell Gardens’ architecture is classic prairie style by E. Fay Jones and Maurice Jennings Architects – in fact, Powell Gardens contains the largest collection of their works at a public facility, and Mr. Jones was voted the 4th most influential architect of the 20th Century bythe American Institute of Architects. However that may be, sometimes the seedof a garden is not sown by a master plan or designer. A garden’s staff, board or major donor can influence plans, but Powell Gardens has been careful not to letthis create a hodge-podge collection out of touch with the mission: quality design and premier horticulture standards.

The Conifer Garden at Powell Gardens was never on a master plan, but a garden whose creation was beautifully inspired by the involvement and generosity of a master in his avocation, past president of the American Conifer Society, Marvin Snyder. It’s hard to describe the evolution of the Powell Conifer Garden. It oddly began with a seasonal display in the conservatory which included a garden railroad, which in turn required plantings in scale with the trains. What is better than dwarf conifers? Through acquisitions for that display and donations from Marvin, Powell all of a sudden had quite a collection of conifers with no home once the railroad display’s time was up. The theme of the landscape around the new E. Fay Jones-designed Visitor Center was “evergreen” as a place to see beauty in the winter landscape without having to venture out too far into that season’s inclement weather. Many of the first conifers were thus planted on the east side of the Visitor Center, including a trial, the magnificent 'Hazel Smith' giant sequoia.

In 2006, a major fountain garden was constructed to the north side of the Visitor Center and it unearthed the site’s sandstone subsoil, beautifully drained with a slightly acidic pH -- so different from the wet, poorly drained clays of the gardens' topsoil. The new Fountain Garden required an extensive change of grade with new walks from the north end of the building. An existing bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) at the northwest corner of the building’s terrace walls and a trio of wonderful lacebark pines (Pinus bungeana) at the northeast corner of the building’s terraces were retained and these plants anchored the new garden’s plantings. The landscape fill required for the new beds would be from the fountain construction sandstone rubble subsoil which would allow the perfect soil for most conifers and plants requiring well-drained soil. So, the new north end bed of the visitor center, raised and constructed with well-drained soil was planted to a beautiful border of conifers with emphasis on varieties which would take the site’s windswept location (there was at that time an open field to the north). Initial plantings were Juniperus formosana, Juniperus rigida ‘Temple’, Juniperus communis 'Oblonga Pendula', Pinus strobus 'Pendula, Taxodium disticum 'Peve Minaret' and Peve Yellow, and a beautiful blue-needled Abies concolor 'Candicans'.

The north border of the Visitor Center became the Powell Gardens’ Conifer Garden when Marvin made another contribution: a collection of conifers from a garden that he had designed that had to be moved. Horticulturist Richard Heter, in charge of this area of the Gardens, handdug the specimen conifers and delivered and planted them in their new home. These beautiful specimens provided instant impact: Picea abies ‘Acrocona’, ‘Elegans’ and ‘Mucronata’; Picea omorika ‘Elizabeth’; a pair of Pseudotsuga menziesii ‘Fletcheri’

Picea orientalis ‘Shadow’s Broom’ and ‘Connecticut Turnpike’; and Pinus sylvestris ‘Nana’. The new conifer borderattracted so many positive comments from visitors that it became its own garden, separate from the Visitor Center’s beds and soon needed more space. Of course, the Conifer Garden displays more than just conifers and has a beautiful tapestry of several groundcover-type sedums, some smaller perennials which require well-drained soil conditions, and other dwarf companion shrubs from boxwood to Weigela. The garden was mulched with pea gravel for a finished look and to hold in moisture. The garden was again increased in size in 2008, to include Thuja occidentalis ‘Rosenkranz’ Pinus densiflora ‘Umbraculifera’, Thuja plicata ‘Virescens’, Picea orientalis ‘Skylands’ and even a trial Cunninghamia konishii ‘Samurai’ China-fir.

2012 brought another extension of the Conifer Garden by creating a bed alongside the east side of the garden. Paths which lead north from the Visitor Center to the Fountain Garden and the new Heartland Harvest Garden pass along this east side of the Conifer Garden. A new bed, constructed with remaining sandstone rubble besidethe path, provided the last “east wall” of the outdoor room which is the ConiferGarden. This (final?) conifer bed includedmany specimens donated by Marvin and Iseli Nursery including Pinus bungeana ‘Rowe Arboretum’ Cupressus nootkatensis‘Sparkling Arrow’, Juniperus virginiana ‘Pendula’, Picea omorika ‘DeRuyter’, Taxus baccata ‘SilverSpire’, and others.

The Powell Gardens’ Conifer Garden is maintained by horticulturist Richard Heter and gardener Peggy Batman. Its 110 cultivars of conifers and gymnosperms are curated by Marie Fry, who manages the plant records. It was designed by Alan Branhagan. It wouldn’t be what it is without the inspiration and generosity of Marvin Snyder, and plant donations from Rich Eyre and Iseli Nursery. The garden survived the 2012 season which was the driest growing season ever recorded for the Kansas City region and as well as being the hottest year (as of the end of September).

The Conifer Garden did lose a very few choice plants and have some needle burn on a few others, but the garden is overall a resounding success with many positive comments by visitors. Gardens are never static, but constantly evolve as plants grow larger and extremes of our heartland climate test the adaptability of all the unique conifers we grow. As some specimens become too large for their space, they may be transplanted to other locations at Powell Gardens. New conifers will continue to be added to fill spaces and create new color, texture and shape compositions. The hope is that visitors to Powell Gardens are inspired by the garden, and will think differently about conifers beyond standard foundation plantings to the incredible wealth and beauty of unique cultivars available at nurseries.

Powell Gardens was designated an ACS Reference Garden in 2012. There are approximately 800 conifers to be found throughout the extensive gardens. Nut pines can be found in the Heartland Harvest Garden including the rare Pinus gerardiana. The Mediterranean inspired vineyard landscape in that garden utilizes ‘Taylor’ junipers (Juniperus virginiana) in place of columnar Italian cypress, which are not hardy here. Bald cypress, dawn redwoods, pines and spruces are widely planted as part of a total of 22 genera and 81 species of conifers found at Powell Gardens. More obscure species include Florida torreya (Torreya taxifolia), Floridayew (Taxus floridana), northern hiba arborvitae (Thujopsis doltsopa var. hondai) and Cathay pine (Cathaya argyrophylla). All conifers are clearly identified by plant labels.

Bayard Cutting Arboretum Facebook page

Bayard Cutting Arboretum (BCA) is a 691-acre tract in Great River, NY, along the Connetquot River on the south shore of Long Island. The property, constructed in 1886, was originally owned by Mr. William Bayard Cutting and his family. Mr. Cutting saw potential in the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape, and, utilizing plans developed by the noted landscape architecture firm of Frederick Law Olmsted, began the arboretum in 1887.

BCA is home to many unique specimens, extensive collections of oaks, hollies and rhododendrons, and expansive native woodlands. However, the most notable collections are those including conifers. Mr. Cutting began to plant his conifer collection in the late 1800s, with the support of Dr. Charles Sprague Sargent, then Director of Harvard’s Arnold Arboretum in Massachusetts. Mr. Cutting had an affinity for firs and spruces because of their kempt and conical habits, in contrast to what he saw as the unruly appearance of pines. He appreciated rare specimens that could grow both in his backyard and across the world. Some of his original plantings can be seen today in the heart of the Bayard Cutting Arboretum, the Old Pinetum...See full article.

The PCC Rock Creek campus, established in 1976, sits on over 260 acres of wetlands, farmland, and remnant native woodlands, with 117 of those acres serving as an outdoor classroom for the Landscape Technology program, which offers 2-year associates degrees in landscape design, landscape technology, and environmental landscape management. The campus supports five plant identification classes, in which students learn more than 100 plant species per class. The evergreens ID class emphasizes conifers, including both PNW native and ornamental conifers appropriate for residential and small commercial landscapes. Students on the design tract study the proper selection, placement, and use of conifers, with the extensive and ongoing campus plantings allowing students to evaluate conifer species and cultivated varieties of differing ages, sizes, and characteristics.

Beginning in 2017, the WCMGA began transforming a 17,000 sq. ft. gravel parking lot on the PCC Rock Creek campus into the Education Garden. PCC Rock Creek also provides the WCMGA with use of a classroom, greenhouse, and hoophouse, greatly expanding the resources for education and outreach. The Education Garden focuses on dwarf conifers and other plantings suitable for the smaller residential garden, with the size of the planting beds designed to be of a similar scale as beds in a home garden.

While conifers are found throughout the Education Garden, conifers predominate in the three beds that form the central community circle. Other themed garden areas include waterwise gardening, insect and pollinator gardening, Pacific Northwest natives, and fragrance gardening. Pollinator and mason bee information and habitats are also featured in the garden. Educational displays and classes held at the Education Garden support the Master Gardener mission of advancing research-based knowledge of sustainable gardening practices for the general public, including the PCC Rock Creek community. Conifer-focused educational sessions will be an ongoing part of the WCMGA curriculum and educational displays on conifers will continue to be added, including plant cards and self-guided tours.

As an Arbor Day Foundation Certified Tree Campus, the addition of the American Conifer Society Reference Garden adds to PCC Rock Creek’s accomplishments. 

Together, PCC Rock Creek and the WCMGA Education Garden host nearly 300 conifer specimens across 25 genera. Maps with the names and locations of all 300 conifers can be found at the kiosk in front of the Education Garden.

Read more about WCMGA at Rock Creek on the gardens' website.

The Atlanta Botanical Garden also has a large number of tropical conifers in their conservatory including conifers Ron Determann has obtained from New Caledonia where all of the 43 conifer species are endemic and many are threatened at this time.

ABG is also leading the way in the conservation of one of the Southeastern native conifers - Torreya taxifolia, the stinking cedar, which has been decimated by habitat loss and a fungal disease. ABG's staff is working with several conservation groups to reestablish populations outside of their normal range where it is hoped they will not be susceptible to the fungus.

ABG's conifer collection currently exceeds over 700 specimens.

Established in 2001, the Armstrong State University Arboretum encompasses Armstrong’s 268-acre campus and displays a wide variety of shrubs and other woody plants. Natural areas of campus contain plants typical in Georgia’s coastal broadleaf evergreen forests such as live oak, southern magnolia, red ray, horse sugar, and sparkleberry. Developed areas of campus contain native and non-native species of trees and shrubs, the majority of which are labeled. Several major plant collections have been established in the Arboretum including a Fern Garden, a Ginger Garden, a Primitive Garden, a Camellia Garden, a White Garden, an International Garden and a Conifer Garden.

The Conifer Garden was created in 1995 and has expanded to cover a 1.5 acre site. Currently, the Conifer Garden contains approximately 180 different types of conifers represented by 76 different species, 30 different genera and eight different families. While the greatest density of conifers exists within this collection, additional species can be found in other locations throughout the Arboretum.

The permanent plant collections consist of six primary collections and several other noteworthy collections. These primary collections are Camellia, Crepe Myrtle, Hydrangea, Holly, Rhododendron and Rose. Our Camellia, Crepe Myrtle and Hydrangea collection are certified by North American Plant Collection Consortium (NAPCC). Other noteworthy collections include Begonias, Conifers, Iris, Magnolia and Viburnum.

The Norfolk Botanical Garden conifer collection features 28 different conifer genera and 70 species. The conifer garden features 46 different species in 21 different genera. The Norfolk Botanical Garden has many large Coast Redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens) on the property including the state champion. The R.W. Cross Nature Trail in the Virginia Native Plant Garden features a boardwalk that winds through a bottomland hardwood forest, a bald cypress /water tupelo swamp, an Atlantic white cedar swamp, and a longleaf pine stand. In addition, Loblolly Pine is one of NBG's dominant canopy species.

Norfolk Botanical Garden History

The idea for what would eventually become Norfolk Botanical Garden came from Frederic Heutte, a young horticulturalist, and Thomas P. Thompson, Norfolk City Manager 1935-1938. Heutte and Thompson believed that Norfolk could support an azalea garden to rival those of Charleston, S.C., which even during the depression years drew thousands of tourists annually. The city of Norfolk provided Heutte and Thompson with a seventy-five acre section of high, wooded ground and another seventy-five acres of the Little Creek Reservoir to establish a city garden.

On June 30, 1938, Representative Norman R. Hamilton announced a Works Progress Administration (WPA) grant of $76, 278 for the Azalea Garden project. A group of more than 200 African American women and 20 men were assigned to the Azalea Garden project. They labored from dawn till dusk clearing dense understory vegetation. Within less than a year, a section of underbrush had been cleared and readied for planting. By March of 1939, four thousand azaleas, two thousand rhododendrons, several thousand miscellaneous shrubs and trees and one hundred bushels of daffodils had been planted.

To show the city's support for the Garden, the name was changed in 1955 from Azalea Garden to Norfolk Municipal Gardens. On February 18, 1958, the Old Dominion Horticultural Society took over maintenance of Norfolk Municipal Gardens and changed the name to Norfolk Botanical Garden. The Norfolk Botanical Garden strived to "promote for the people of Tidewater, Virginia, a Garden that will always remain an inspiration, and lead the home gardener to greater enjoyment and accomplishment in his own yard"... and to "present rare and exotic plants in variety only exceeded by few other sections of the world" (NBG mission statement, 1958).

Additions throughout the 1950's and 1960's focused on increasing the variety of collections in the Garden. A Japanese Garden, a Desert Plants Garden, a Colonial Garden and a Rose Garden, which featured All-American Rose Selection winners, were among the new gardens constructed. With increased attendance and public support, the Garden has continued to expand. Our latest garden completed in 2006 is World of Wonders which is a three-acre children's adventure garden where kids explore the connections between plants, international culture and the environment.

Conifer Garden History

The original conifer garden was probably built sometime in 1960's. In 2009, expansion began to prepare for the replacement of the canal's bulkheads by transplanting a number of dwarf conifers to new areas. New beds were designed by Director of Horticulture Brian O'Neil to feature these conifers among a variety of companion perennials such as grasses, bulbs, daylilies and sedums. These new beds occupied the space of former All American Selection beds and turf grass areas. Granite staircases and changes in a gravel path were also added to better showcase these dwarf conifers. The Conifer Garden has 46 different conifer species in 21 different genera. It features a large number of Chamaecyparis obtusa, Chamaecyparis pisiferaand Cryptomeria japonicacultivars. Norfolk Botanical Garden is working on building its collection.

To find out more about Norfolk Botanical Garden

Website: norfolkbotanicalgarden.org

Location: 6700 Azalea Garden Road, Norfolk, VA 23518-5337

Contact: Renee Frith, Curator of Woody Plants

Phone: (757) 441-5830, ext. 455