I worked my ass off, and spent nearly the entire time away from home. My garden went to hell. I was in a relationship with an unkind person, and I didn't get a chance to get out into the woods at all.
The reason that I bring this up (other than to express my discontent to the world), is because I have no idea how I'm going to have enough plant-hunting stories to get through the winter on this blog. I am determined to do it, however.
A few weeks ago, when I was out with my friend David, I also collected some scions from a broom that I'd found just a few yards away from the Engelmann Spruce broom I posted about last time. This one is an Abies amabilis- the Pacific Silver Fir. It is a handsome species, and I have heard that there are very few forms of it in cultivation.
Unfortunately, this broom was hard to photograph. The understory of the woods is a thick tangle of Taxus brevifolia, and there is very low light. I am not entirely sure if this broom is a good one or not. This species is prone to a rust that produces ugly little tangled brooms.
In this picture, however, it looks like it might be healthy.
I did several grafts, so we will see how they turn out. .
I'm pretty amazed by this little area. I've found about 4 mutations within a small radius of a few hundred yards. One of my plans for last summer was to camp up there and spend some time searching. I know that there are more treasures to be found!
Next summer, I will do that. I will not be stopped by love nor money- which are the two things that stopped me this year.
