We just got back from a trip on the Cumbres and Toltec and the Rio Grande in southern Colorado. The aspens were just starting to turn their brilliant yellow. My chief of staff says our "pine forest" needs some fall color. What do you guys suggest I plant between the pines to model the groves of aspen?
Rex
Here is a picture of part of my forest
and here is a picture os some full scale aspens
Have a look at Hawaiian Fire Bush. It can be found in a minature variant. Easc leaf will have a varity of colors. Reds, yellows, some time a shade of blue, up to 5 shades of green, all in ONE leaf. I'll take a picture a bit later. Full size plant is about 3 ft tall, but can be stunted to keep small. The minature variation runs around 10~14 inches.
Tom Trigg
Sorry about the delay getting pix. This plant likes cool to warm weather, it is severly stressed at present with the past 2 months of 95~110 temps. It should have 5~7 times the number of leaves. My daughter says it is called "Hawaiin Snow Bush", I say Fire she says Snow, don't know who is corect, (kinda think she is.) Hope this gives you a possible idea.
Those are full size bushes. 12~15 years old. It can be trained to be smaller and it is available in miniture form. When it is health, not stressed, is is full of color many times more than seen here.
Thanks Tom. I think I will wonder down to a couple of nearby nurserys and see if they can recommend your bush for this high altitude climate.
After I posted the pix, I did some googling about this plant. Best in Hardieness Zones 10 & 11, can tolerate some zone 9. If you have snow you may want to consider covering with straw. I have seen many statements that it is very invasive, I have not noticed any invasion elswhere in my yard, yes, about twice a year I notice a sprout in the lawn about 18 inches from plant base but one pass with the mower and its over. I've read posts where some folks in colder climes have used "submerged" pots that they bring in during freezing weather. Prefers light shade, well drained soils. Hopefully your local nursery folks can reccomend a variation more suited to your area. I'm going to be "rooting" a few clippings for my own layout. I'll be passing through your area (going to my kids in TX) around Thanksgiving and can drop off some cuttings for you to try if you want.
Thanks for your offer of clippings but we shut down for the winter here in the high country and move down to the desert where its warmer. Yes we get snow. It normally comes in November and can last into April. Today was bring in the buildings day and the last run will be this Saturday. The next run won't be until May when we come back to Pinetop. I'm still going to check and see what color I can get from the local nursery for planting next spring.
Since you have snow on the ground that long, this thing won't do for you. Have your local nurseryman do a hard search, and best of luck. I'm interested to hear what he comes up with.
This is a Japanese maple which has some nice redish color in the spring and fall! the big storm Sandy knocked the leaves off overnight though.
Winnegance and Quebec Railway
Eric Schade Gen'l Manager
I have a couple of the Japanese maples in my troll garden. They do produce a very nice red leaf for most of the year. I'm looking for the bright quacking aspen yellows to zing in my forest. If I can't find those I'll try some small Japanese maples as you suggest. Yours looks great!
Hi Rex,
Nancy Norris did an entire article about adding yellow to the railway in the October 2011 issue. She mentions a few tree-ish plants that could work--golden barberry, fernspray golden cypress, and Evening Glow mirror bush.
If you're a subscriber, you can see this article free online. There are photos of all three plants mentioned: http://grw.trains.com/How%20To/Railroad%20Gardening%20Library/Gardening/2011/08/How%20to%20use%20the%20color%20yellow%20in%20the%20garden.aspx
Rene Schweitzer
Classic Toy Trains/Garden Railways/Model Railroader
Thanks Rene. I just reread the article. I'll look into the Golden Nugget Barberry as it looks the closest to what I'm trying to model.
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