{"id":2088,"date":"2014-11-28T11:34:08","date_gmt":"2014-11-28T19:34:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogadmin.plantlust.com\/blog\/?p=2088"},"modified":"2024-01-24T06:30:16","modified_gmt":"2024-01-24T14:30:16","slug":"everythings-coming-up-conifers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/plantlust.com\/blog\/garden-nurseries\/everythings-coming-up-conifers\/","title":{"rendered":"Everything’s Coming up Conifers"},"content":{"rendered":"

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It\u2019s conifer season, and high time I tackle this topic. Oh, I’ve tried before, but every time I undertake Conifers 101, I get overwhelmed with how much there is to learn. I\u2019m determined to stick with it this time. (Note to self: stop trying to learn everything at once, and re-read Bird by Bird<\/em><\/a>, by Anne LaMott.)
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\"Conifers\"<\/a>
Conifers 101, Tree by Tree<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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There are over 500 species, and I don\u2019t expect to conquer all that anytime soon. But most conifers fall into one of four categories and surely I can remember\u00a0that. Spruce\u00a0<\/strong>Picea<\/em>,\u00a0Pine<\/strong> Pinus,<\/em>\u00a0Fir<\/strong>\u00a0Abies<\/i>, and Cedar<\/strong>\u00a0Cedrus<\/em>, easy enough, right?<\/p>\n

Of course, when I think I\u2019m on the trail of a simple explanation, the next thing I know, they\u2019re talking Pinophyta and Coniferophyta and Gymnosperms. That won\u2019t happen here, but at least I\u2019ve a few new notions on how to consider\u00a0conifers.<\/p>\n

Spruce <\/strong>needles are spiky and grow individually on\u00a0the branch, and can be rolled between your fingertips, akin to a crewcut style.<\/p>\n

Fir<\/strong>\u00a0needles grow individually as well, but are soft and flat and can\u2019t be easily rolled, like a fluffy symmetrical halo.<\/p>\n

Pine <\/strong>needles are attached to their branches in bundles of 2 to 5 and have something of a punk-hairdo look.<\/p>\n

Cedar needles\u00a0<\/strong>are individually attached too, but they give the appearance of clusters or puffs, a la\u00a0fingers in a light socket.<\/p>\n

I was freshly inspired by a quick visit to Boring Bark<\/a> last weekend, a conifer-rich little nursery about 20 miles east of Portland. Turns out, Boring Bark\u00a0is not boring at all. They have a lovely display\u00a0garden, an enthusiastic staff, and reasonable prices. As a nice bonus, another favorite\u00a0Treephoria<\/a>, a boutique nursery with choice trees and the likes of Witch Hazel and other shrubs trained into rare tree forms. And all this it\u2019s just down the road from Burns Feed Store, to meet your stock tank needs, according to Ms. Danger Garden<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Not all plants were labeled in the display gardens at Boring Bark, so I\u2019m guessing on several\u2014using my freshly minted conifer studies as a guide. Here are a few shots from our visit, and now as I set about to identify them, why oh why didn’t I keep better track. And I’m also seeing right off the bat, exceptions to every generality. Just look at that Spiky Spanish Fir below. It could pass for an eye-threatening succulent.<\/p>\n\n\t\t