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Age is not an accomplishment, and youth is not a sin.

Robert A. Heinlein

Firs

Abies (true firs)
Pseudotsuga (douglas fir)

I love firs. The needles are soft, a bit flat, many with a faint groove running down the middle. Most of them have a lovely fresh scent. Fir is the most popular genus for natural Christmas trees. I currently have two species of fir, Veitch, and Concolor. Balsam and subalpine to come eventually

Only balsam fir is native in the Edmonton area, and I've only seen it in a few ravines running from the plains down into the river valley. While they should be hardy here, they will always need a bit of protection, and need additional watering. I ordered balsam this year, but alas, all the BC suppliers have their firs in quarantine.

The true firs (genus Abies) have needles that go out on either side of the twig in one or two rows. Some curve upward. Douglas fir (genus Pseudotsuga) has needles going around the entire twig.

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Copyright © 2008 - 2013 S. G. Botsford, Sherwood's Forests Tree Farm, All Rights Reserved

This file last modified on Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Sherwood's Forests is located about 75 km southwest of Edmonton, Alberta. Please refer to the map on our Contact page for directions.