In this July 2004 edition:

1. Happy Birthday!

2. News From the Nursery

3. New Grafted Trees Now Available

4. Large Trees

5. Maple Seed Status

6. Japanese Maple News Channel

1. Happy 228th Birthday USA!

It might seem a bit odd for a transplanted Brit to be celebrating the anniversary of independence from British rule - but we live and work just north of the home of the leading draftsman of the Declaration of Independence, (Thomas Jefferson) here in central Virginia, and so we feel his influence.

We believe in life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness (aka gardening). Happy 4th of July from my family to yours. God bless all those who are in harms way protecting our freedom.

2. News From the Nursery

June came and went so fast and with it my 51st birthday! Here we are now enjoying the joys of summer! Thanks to all of you who have been patiently waiting for us to start shipping new season grafted trees. We're well into clearing the backlog and are presently running about 7 days behind our expected schedule.

All of May's back orders are now mailed and on Tuesday we'll be in full swing again starting to ship June's outstanding items. Later in this note we'll showcase many of the new cultivars we have in short supply. In many cases just 2 or 3 plants we've never offered before.

Don't forget to give your maples a special celebratory watering early in the morning or last thing at night - especially if you're in a high temperature location! They'll love you for it.

And if you haven't fed your trees yet this season now's a good time to do it before the mid-summer second growth spurt happens. Use a branded tree and shrub fertilizer from your local garden center or spray with a diluted fish emulsion as a foliar feed.

3. New Grafted Trees:

The following grafted Japanese maple tree cultivars are now available in limited quantities.

Tall Grafted (~30" tall) cut leaf weeping style trees (Acer palmatum dissectum). The tall graft means the tree can grow and make a more spectacular weeping effect!

Red Leaf:

'Red Dragon'
http://japanese-maple.com/red_dragon_grafted.html

'Crimson Queen'
http://japanese-maple.com/crimson_queen_grafted.html

'Orangeola'
http://japanese-maple.com/orangeola_grafted.html

'Tamuke yama'
http://japanese-maple.com/tamuke_yama_grafted.html

Green Leaf:

'Viridis'
http://japanese-maple.com/viridis_grafted.html

'Waterfall'
http://japanese-maple.com/waterfall_grafted.html

'Seiryu'
http://japanese-maple.com/seiryu_grafted.html

The following grafted trees are available to subscribers who call to secure plants on a first come, first served basis. Prices include shipping and handling via USPS Priority Mail.

==================
Call: 434-825-1589 (Eastern)
for more information
and to reserve plants.
==================

Acer palmatum 'Aka shigitatsu sawa': $59.97
Red tinged form of 'Shigitatsu sawa'. Has dark veins on a yellow green background tinged with pink and red color. Makes a bushy tall plant up to 12-15 feet tall.

Acer palmatum 'Ao Kanzashi': $59.97
Small to medium variegated tree. Has light cream-green variegation around the edges of the leaf. Densely branched makes an upright tree up to 12 feet tall.

Acer palmatum 'Aocha nishiki': $59.97
Said to be variegated, this is a 'shy' plant and does not always show srong variegation. Creamy yellow variegation may appear in small sections of leaves. Makes a short tree up to 10 feet tall.

Acer palmatum 'Aratama': $79.97
This dwarf red tree has bright brick red to purple red foliage. Leaf ribs often have a green color making a 2-tone effect. Only reaches 4-5 feet tall in 10 years.

Acer palmatum 'Beni gasa': $59.97
A red leaf plant, slow growing and somewhat similar to 'Kinran' with sharply pointed teeth to the leaves.

Acer palmatum 'Beni maiko': $59.97
Has fire red leaves in spring fading to a pinkish red. Greenish red color in summer and a blaze of red in fall. Plants not expected to reach more than 10 feet tall.

Acer palmatum 'Beni shi en': $79.97
Name means 'red smoke'.Unusual strap-like leaves change color through the season. From rosy-red to purple to a medium green then golden yellow in fall. Makes a small upright tree needing full sun or part shade. Might make 16 feet tall on maturity. Unusual specimen tree.

Acer palmatum 'Chitose yama': $59.97
Deeply divided leaves with serrated edges. Makes a small rounded shrub with some weeping character up to 10 feet tall. Makes a good container or bonsai specimen.

Acer palmatum 'Coonara Pygmy': $59.97
Dwarf green leaf tree selected in Australia. Makes a round bush up to 4-5 feet tall. Older wood has tiny leaves, new wood has larger leaves. Makes a globe shape without much pruning. Good bonsai specimen.

Acer palmatum 'Goshiki kotohime': $79.97
Variegated form of 'Kotohime'. Rich green leaves with variable amounts of variegation in white, cream, light yellow, pink and red. Slow growing and stubby. Grows to less than 3 feet tall. Rare in most collections.

Acer palmatum 'Goshiki kotohime': Bonsai $159.97
Description as above but grown with low graft for bonsai specimen.

Acer palmatum 'Hanami nishiki': $124.97
One of the rarer dwarf green leaf trees. Light yellow-green leaves are lightly bronzed on edges and tips in spring. Gets to 6 feet tall but grows only a few inches per year. A gem for the serious collector.

Acer palmatum 'Hessei': $59.97
Deeply divided red leaf form, rich purple-red in Spring and early sumemr. Bronzy in summer and brilliant crimson in fall. Gets up to 16 feet tall and 12 feet wide on maturity. A sturdy and hardy cultivar.

Acer palmatum 'Iijima Sunago': $59.97
Unusual dark-leaved variegated tree. Rich red in Spring, lasting into summer. Then leaves become a rich purple-brown with irregular green spots - like sprinkled sand! This 'sunago fu' (sand-dusted) variegation is what gives the cultivar its name. Matures at 25 feet tall.

Acer palmatum 'In the Pink': $99.97
A new small upright maple with new leaves pink turning darker in summer

Acer palmatum 'Kamagata': $59.97
Dwarf green leaf that is very cold hardy. Rusty red leaf edges in spring, light green in early summer with yellows and oranges in fall. In 8 years only reaches 3 feet tall - makes a rounded bush shape.

Acer palmatum 'Kamagata': Bonsai $159.97
Description as above but grown with low graft for
bonsai specimen.

Acer palmatum 'Kasagi yama': $79.97
Variegated leaf with brick red color shading into green with distinctive vein color. Color changes with placement in sun or shade and age of leaves. Grows to 22 feet tall as a small tree or open shrub. Rare and unusual choice.

Acer palmatum 'Kinran': $59.97
Deeply divided leaves with strong bronzy-red color in Spring. Mid-vein is a contrasting bright green. Color changes to deep green shaded with dark red in late summer. Fall is gold and crimson - hence its name "woven with golden strings".

Acer palmatum 'Kotomaru': $124.97
A dwarf green leaf ( a green Beni hime). Makes a slow growing small bush under 6 feet tall. New foliage is yellow with bronzy edges and tips, turning dark green. Second growth in summer overlays yellow on green for a nice effect.

Acer palmatum 'Matsu kaze': $124.97
Another deeply cut red leaf form. Great as a landscape tree. Spectacular bronze-purple red in spring with bright green contrasting veins. Rich green in summer and crimson in fall. Vigorous grower making a small shrub to 12 feet tall. Name means 'wind in the pine trees'.

Acer palmatum 'Mikawa yatsubusa': $124.97
A dwarf green leaf form with overlapping leaves - like shingles. A light yellow-green when opening, turning a medium green as they age.

Acer palmatum 'Mikawa yatsubusa': Bonsai $159.97
Description as above but grown with low graft for
bonsai specimen.

Acer palmatum 'Mizuho beni': $59.97
One of the 'Katsura' group with orange-yellow spring leaves. Has a dark pink edge merging into the leaf color. Similar to Katsura but leafs out 2-3 weeks later. This means it is less likely to be damaged by frost than Katsura.

Acer palmatum 'Moonfire': $59.97
An excellent purple-red leaf color that lasts well into Summer with less bronzing. Can grow 3 feet in a season! Reaches 22 feet on maturity and rivals the more commonly found 'Bloodgood'.

Acer palmatum 'Orange Dream': $59.97
Selected in Italy, this starts out orangy in spring then turns lemon-yellow with orange margins and tips. Also similar to Katsura but later opening. reaches 10 feet in 10 years making an upright bushy shrub. Best in part shade.

Acer palmatum 'Oregon Sunset': $59.97
A compact red leaf bushy plant suited for the smaller garden. Starting with a soft red color turning plum red then sunset red in fall. Great choice for limited space.

Acer palmatum 'Peaches & Cream': $79.97
Pretty but delicate variegated form. Cream to greenish-cream in spring blended with a soft rose red color. Stays pink- edged in summer with contrasting deep green veins. Color is similar to the seed parent - 'Shigitatsu sawa' and the pollen parent 'Aka shigitatsu sawa'. Makes a 10 foot tall small shrub.

Acer palmatum 'Red Pygmy': $59.97
A red linearilobum form, somewhat superior even to 'Atrolineare'. Red to maroon leaves are long and strap-like. New year's wood can look more palmate like. Color holds well. Can reach 6 feet tall in 20-25 years!

Acer palmatum 'Ryuzu': $59.97
A dwarf green compact shrub, often used for bonsai or in the rock garden. Forms a multi-branched shrub no more than 6 feet tall on maturity. New leaves have a slight pink tinge. Stunning warm orange-yellow colors in fall.

Acer palmatum 'Saotome': $124.97
Small leaved green semi-dwarf bush. Pale yellow green leaves with a hint of reusty red on edges. Name means 'Rice planting girl'.

Acer palmatum 'Sharp's Pygmy': Bonsai $159.97
Grown with low graft for bonsai specimen. One of the most outstanding dwarf plants! Leaves turn deep orange to scarlet in fall. Not likely to make more than 3 feet tall on maturity. Considered a truly remarkable dwarf that needs no training or pruning to give it a bonsai-like appearance!

Acer palmatum 'Shin deshojo': $59.97
A new selection from 'deshojo'. Has fire-engine red leaves in spring for 3-4 weeks. Turns reddish green in summer with reds and oranges in fall. Makes a shrub up to 10 feet tall. Can produce vigorous shoots when young. Popular for bonsai training.

Acer palmatum 'Shinobuga oka': $59.97
A green linearilobum with strap-like leaves that hang down in cascading form. Bright, dark green folaige holds well and turns yellow in fall. Reaches 10 - 15 feet tall and can make an attractive patio-container plant or bonsai sepcimen.

Acer palmatum 'Shishigashira': $59.97
The 'Lion's head' or 'Lion's mane' cultivar because of its bunched up leaf formation. Very compact grower. Can be grown in container, in a small garden setting or as bonsai tree. Fall colors are gols with rose an crimson tones. Can reach 15 feet tall when mature. Always atracts attention in the garden!

Acer palmatum 'Sumi nagashi': $59.97
Large leafed red considered one of the best in the 'matsumurae' group. Bright purple-red in spring, black-red or dark maroon in early summer gradually turning dark green-red or brown-red. A stong grower making 18-20 feet tall, great in the landscape.

Acer palmatum 'The Bishop': $59.97
A selection by the lae Henry Hohman. Has deeply divided purple-red leaves somewhere between the typical palmatum and matsumurae types. Bright in spring and bronzy in late summer. Reaches 12 feet.

Acer palmatum 'Trompenburg': $59.97
Outstanding red leaf form has finger-like appearance with edges rolling down making a tube-like shape. Gives an unusual and pleasant effect to the tree. Has a rich deep purple red color in fall and makes 20-25 feet tall. a landscape favorite.

Acer palmatum 'Tsukushi gata': $59.97
An attention getter! The rich purple-red or black-red leaves hold their color well most of the season. A green cast appears on the underside and leaf ribs are a constrasting green color. Makes a medium sized tree to 12 feet tall. One of the best dark leaved cultivars.

Acer palmatum 'Tsuma beni': $79.97
Tips of the leaf lobes are purplish red in spring. hence its name 'red nail'. This color belnds into the green leaf center giving an attractive effect. Makes a great companion plant that reaches 10 feet tall.

Acer palmatum 'Ukigumo': $59.97
Name means 'floating clouds' and represents the wite and pink spots that appear on the green leaves. Some leaves may be almost completely white or light pink. Slow growing reaching 10 feet after many years.

Acer palmatum 'Utsu semi': $129.97
Name means 'grasshopper skin' and refers to the shiny bright green of the broad leaves. Color darkens in late summer turning crimson and purple. A fine landscape choice.

Acer palmatum 'Yasemin': $79.97
Outstanding Dutch selection with deeply cut, shiny red leaves. May be a cross between Acer palmatum and Acer shirasawanum. Holds its color well into summer becoming bronzy over time. Vigorous and reaches 30 feet tall.

Acer palmatum 'Yuri hime': $79.97
One of the most dwarf green trees. Hardy, takes full sun and is a gem for the alpine or smaller garden setting.

Acer japonicum 'Dissectum': $79.97

Acer japonicum 'Meigetsu': $79.97

Acer japonicum 'Oisami': $79.97
Large leaf form with light yellow green is spring turning a rich green. Outstanding fall colors of reds and yellows. Grows to 20-25 feet on maturity.

Acer japonicum 'Fairy Lights': $159.97
An Australian selection with a multi-dissected form. Has a total lace like appearance. Light green in Spring and early summer with glowing ogld and scarlets in fall. Slow growing making only 3 feet in 7 years.

Acer shirasawanum 'Aureum': $79.97
The 'golden full moon maple'. A spectacular tree and highly prized in cultivation. Distinct bright yellow spring color turning medium green. can scorch in full sun in some locations. Wonderful fall colors of orange, red and occasional purples. Stubby growth becoming multi-branched as it matures. Specimens known to be 140 years old reach only 22-25 feet tall.

Acer shirasawanum 'Autumn Moon': $59.97
Small tree with atractive burnt-orange color foliage. Colors at best in full sun or high shade. Rich orange-reds in fall. Is a nice selection from seedlings of "aureum'. Stands heat well

Acer sieboldianum 'Sode no uchi': $59.97
Dwarf with smallest leaves of its species. Bright light green holds well all season. Bright yellow in fall with some red tones blending in. Annual growth is only 4-5 inches and forms a rounded bush. Popular in alpine gardens and in patio containers as well as for bonsai - requiring little pruning!

4. Large Trees:

From time to time we have some larger, more mature trees available that are still reasonably economical to pack and ship. Now is one of those times!

We have just ONE specimen of each of the following trees in 3 to 25 gallon sizes. All are shipped via USPS
Priority Mail. Prices include Shipping & Handling.

==================
Call: 434-825-1589 (Eastern)
for more information
and to reserve plants.
==================

Acer palmatum 'Oshu shidare': (25 gallon size) $599.97
An old and famous red leaf cultivar from Japan. Makes an attractive, small round-headed tree with a cascading form. Mature trees reach 15 -18 feet tall and wide. Some consider this a red equivalent to Omure yama.

Acer palmatum 'Seigen rubrum': (5-gallon) $229.97