And The Winners Are...

Winter Quarter is finally over and I realize I have yet to show my favorites in the conifer line-up.  Oh no!  First a little background... in the horticulture department of Edmonds Community College, the fine institution I am attending, plant identification courses are required.  In the fall we had broadleaf ID and winter quarter is conifer ID.  At first I was sure I would hate conifers but then I was introduced to some fabulous plants.  Conifers may just be some of my favorite plants out there.  I'll give my final verdict on that note after I take deciduous ID this spring.

So, to round off my ever-growing list of conifers I'm now in love with, here are my top four.

Let me introduce you to Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Filicoides' or the fernspray Hinoki cypress...

Through my conifer journey, I have realized I totally dig plants and trees that look like they've been bonsai'ed.  I like seeing the definition of the branches instead of just one big ball of plant-life.  The Hinoki cypresses satisfy that need.  And the cool part about the fernspray one is the branchlets hold themselves even closer to the branches so you can see even more definition.  And it is just very cool to see a conifer that looks like a fern.  I mean where did that come from?  Oh that's right, genetic engineering ;)  Here's a picture of the absolutely stunning one we have on campus.

My friend took this with her phone so it's not the best quality but I LOVE IT.  Just very awesome definition.  

The second runner-up is Cedrus lebani or Cedar of Lebanon.  

The form is just beyond cool and it holds its branches so straight.  Very cool.  Here are a few other pictures...

Cedar of Lebanon foliage and cones

The runner-up for the top conifer pick would be another cultivar of the Hinoki cypress.  I love Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Gracilis' or slender Hinoki cypress.  There are other forms that are similar that are great like the dwarf version or the dwarf golden version.  Upon my recent visit to a wonderful local nursery, I saw 6" versions of these that were absolutely adorable.  Here is what appears to be a dwarf version...

This foliage looks like cupped hands and it dances around the branches...

Here's the golden form...

The slender or 'Gracilis' form shows a bit of the trunk which is a beautiful red color.  I just love this.  And this tree is often bonsai'ed which is very cool.  

But I have saved the best for last.  My favorite conifer is the Juniperus chinensis 'Kaizuka' or the Hollywood juniper.  This one is very showy and takes on such cool forms.

These plants just grow like this, they have not been trained.  Sometimes there might be some shearing or pruning such as on the one on the right to make way for a walkway.  But most of the time, thankfully they are let to just grow in their own funky manner.  Two great specimens flank the doors of the Seattle Asian Art Museum...

And then there's this juniper - Juniperus squamata 'Meyeri'... another sculptural flashy specimen.

Just so cool with such character... characteristics I aspire to.

Hopefully you enjoy these cool plants as much as I do.

Ode to Vida

On September 20, 2002, a very sweet girl named Vida came into this world...

Her mama and papa were looking for an addition to their family and they knew Vida would be that certain special someone they needed.

Let's pause for a moment and adore baby fila brasileiros.  I mean really, the loads of skin and big ears, just too cute!  

Ah.

Just in case you need another example of cute puppy fila, here you go...

Everybody now... ah!

I met Vida a little while later as she came bounding into a hotel room after her big brother Ukiah who I've mentioned before... It seemed like at the time he was rather annoyed by the wee tyke bouncing around him but they soon became great friends.  They spent many years doing what fila's do... basking in the sun and in their case, watching their mama and papa surf...

Ukiah (in back) and Vida chillaxin at the beach

Along their beautiful lives, a little accident happened and as explained before, Fynn came into the picture.  For that I'm eternally grateful as this lovely gal not only carried my sweet girl but she took good care of her as a wee pup.

Vida taking care of her two pups.

Since then, my partner and I have had the pleasure of hosting Miss Vida at our "retirement home" (as we have a bunch of "senior" dogs) for the past two summers.  We spoiled Vida with lots of love and a few other treats:

Trips to the beach in Neah Bay.  I imagined this felt like a bit of home being back on the beach...

We enjoyed our evening constitutionals in the nearby cemetery as well as walks to the dog park and camping trips...

Tuckered but happy Vida at Magnuson dog park

We also enjoyed a lot of rest and relaxation!

I always thought this was such an attractive photo.  Pretty girl.  We always took lots of pictures to keep her mama aware of our adventures.

As fate would have it, my darling niece Vida passed this Monday, March 4, 2013.  Her mama made the brave and humane decision to end her pain as she was suffering a great deal from cancer.  I can only hope that I will be as wise and brave to make that call if necessary in the future.  She passed in Jennie's loving arms with her papa looking on and me calling to her from afar to join me for a walk.  

As my heart is still breaking, I am remembering the beauty that was Vida.  She was such a strong girl.  She was the ultimate princess as her papa spoiled her from day 1.  She had her mama wrapped around her little finger as she was treated like a queen every day.  She was stubborn (such a fila) and there was so much humor in that.  Vida would talk to you and tell you a story about her day when you got home... talk and talk and talk...  She would also curl up and loved to be a "Vida burrito" under her blanket where her nose would be bunched up against the side of the bed.  

Yesterday morning as I was getting ready for my day, I asked Vida to send me some signs from her just to comfort me. Later on that day, my Pandora station flipped to the following...

Van Morrison's "Tupelo Honey".  Vida and Ukiah were raised hearing Van Morrison's sweet refrains echo through their home or be the soundtrack to their road trip.  The lyrics touched my heart and made me think of Vida...

She's as sweet as tupelo honey 

She's an angel of the first degree 

She's as sweet as tupelo honey 

Just like honey from the bee.

And then I smiled through tears realizing, "my goodness, she certainly thinks highly of herself!"  That's my Vida.  I love her and miss her terribly.  I know she knows and is watching over us now.  

Vida Pita, know that you are loved even still and always.  Know that I'm forever grateful for the gift of my darling Fynn and for the blessing your life has been to me.

Love, your Auntie

Listening to her auntie and basking in the love...

Vida love her some Auntie time

Sweetest picture of her RainBow, pretty girl