Why I Oughta...

I planted a pair of small Weeping Norway Spruce trees IB2DWs in the Fall of 2023 and that experience has changed how I think about Fall Planting in general.  I've planted a ton of trees on our property, but these late-season conifers have been some of the most enjoyable to watch grow.  Not just because the Fall Planting allowed them to get established, but because of how they provide structure and four-season interest in a long, linear bed that sits between two driveways (hence the IB2DWs name).   That means that this is their third (full) growing season (2024, 2025 and now 2026).  In each of the first two Springs, we saw some red cones emerge on the trees and that has been a real treat. Here is a post from Spring 2024 showing the red (or purple?) cones .  And, here is a post from early May 2025 (a little under a year ago from today) showing those same red/purple cones.   Back in February, when there was snow-cover on the ground, I posted a phot...

This is the second Spring with the pair of Weeping Norway Spruce trees (planted IB2DWs) in our garden - with this growing season showing the same unique color as last year:  red or purple cones growing at the tips.    Here's a post from last April showing the brightly-colored small cones on the tips of the Norway Spruces .   This year, the trees are showing those same red or purple cones - but in greater numbers.  Below are a couple of photos showing these colorful cones on Weeping Norway Spruce - Picea spruce 'Pendula': But those aren't the *only* Spruce trees we have in the front yard; as I planted a small Skylands Spruce in the Island Bed last Fall .  This being the first Spring (for the tree) is also the first year for the red or purple cones on Skylands.  Lovely to see.  Photo of Skylands Spruce with purple cones below: What follows these cones is the small burst of lime green - or in the case of Sklyands...likely chartreuse green - grow...

This Spring is full of new garden experiences for me.  That's all thanks to the big "Fall Planting" sprint that I ran through in October of 2023, when I tucked in dozens of new things including the creation of the small, linear dwarf conifer garden IB2DWs.  I found a pair of Weeping Norway Spruces that were labeled 'pendula'.   I put one up closer to the garage and the other one further down closer to the sidewalk .  I staked them both up and hoped for the best.   They both handled the winter just fine (as expected) and are starting to put on a little spring flush of needle growth.  But, one of them is also showing some cones.  That's nice.  But, even nicer?  They're red raspberry-colored cones.  Small ones, but certainly raspberry-colored cones.  See below for a couple of photos. What is interesting (to me, at least) is that there's not any mention online of these Weeping Norway Spruces producing red cones.  Other s...