Artful Conifers

Last week we took a short side trip on our way to North Carolina, stopping at Pearl Friar's "topiary" garden. Pearl has been written up in several travel and garden magazines (and probably other journals noting oddities) and I have once seen his face on a billboard in South Carolina. This garden is absolutely worth the short drive off Interstate 20 near Bishopville, SC. The garden is visible from the road that passes by the front of his home, but you will want to get out and view these masterpieces up close.
When we arrived, the garden was deserted except for Pearl's son and an apprentice who were busy tending to the grounds. Soon a couple small buses arrived and there were people milling about. There is no admission but a donation station is available and we gladly contributed to help continue what can only be described as one conifer (and boxwood) lover's obsession. In fact, Pearl's art has spread the entire length of the small road to the neighbor's and their neighbor's and their neighbor's home.

Gyokruya - Made for Shade

Conifers that not only adapt to but also do very well in the shade are hard to come by in our area. We know of a number but were pleased to find this variety, a Japanese Cedar (Cryptomeria japonica 'Gyokruya') at a friends house on a recent visit.
We know we can trust the siting of this plant as our hosts own and operate their own nursery and propagation effort here in North Georgia. Their specimen approximately eight or nine feet tall is shown at left at the rear of the planting bed against the house.
Though we have carried these plants for some time in our own nursery but had never used them in the shade -- until now! We had an empty spot near our home's entryway and placed a small one there several months ago now. It seems to be doing quite well, though it is still small.
Note: We have seen a number of variations in the spelling of this conifer's cultivar but believe the one we list to be generally accepted.