Conifers Galore!

I spent a good portion of the week out in Iowa which also experienced this recent record breaking warming spell.  The travel was all smooth sailing which you can’t always count on in February.  I had three presentations at the 61st Annual Shade Tree Short Course (sponsored by Iowa State University in Ames, IA) and enjoyed attending seminars, networking and seeing Reiman Gardens on campus.  On the way there, I stopped in Clinton, IA to enjoy the Bickelhaupt Arboretum.  While this was not my first visit there (seven times and counting…), it was my first visit on a 70 degree F February day and I was the only soul out there.  I enjoyed examining, photographing and enjoying their massive collection of conifers (over 600 different types or accessions).  Founded in 1970 by Bob and Frances Bickelhaupt, this 14 acre, non-profit is amazing in scope and plant content.  In 2014, this arboretum was given to the Eastern Iowa Community Colleges (EICC) and continues to be an educational resource as well as a beautiful destination.  The mission of The Bickelhaupt Arboretum is to serve as a connection between people and plants through a better understanding of horticulture by developing and maintaining a well-documented collection of landscape plants adapted to this region for education and enjoyment.

‘Filifera Aurea’ falsecypress (Chamaecyparis pisifera)

‘Stewart’s Gem’ compact Canadian hemlock (Tsuga canadensis)

Korean arborvitae (Thuja koraiensis)

‘Archer’s Dwarf’ concolor fir (Abies concolor)

‘Sester Dwarf’ Colorado blue spruce (Picea pungens)

‘Minima’ dwarf Serbian spruce (Picea omorika)

‘de Ruyter’ Serbian spruce (Picea omorika)

‘Angel Fall’s’ weeping white pine (Pinus strobus)

‘Pruhoniciana’ weeping white spruce (Picea abies)

‘Ottawa’ white pine (Pinus strobus)

‘Pincushion’ arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis)

‘Oliver Dwarf’ white pine (Pinus strobus)

‘Golden Glow’ korean pine (Pinus koraiensis)