Add: "Conifers" to the title of the Trees & Shrubs forum?

Hi Dave and all,
I have noticed that there really is not much discussion of conifers in the Dave's Garden Forums (there is some discussion, but it's pretty limited) and I wondered if adding the word "conifers" to the trees and shrubs forum might bring out more discussions on these fascinating plants?

Simply renaming the forum: Trees, Shrubs and Conifers" would be an easy way of reminding people where they can post questions or comments on these great, four-season plants.

Is there anyone else out there that thinks this is a good idea? This would be very easy to do with only a small investment of time required on Dave's part.
Thanks,
Mike
(a conifer nut, or should I say, a "cone-head? (o:)

But wouldn't that be redundant, since a conifer is a tree? Mr. Conehead? lol

Well, "conifers", or the plants with needle-like leaves and whose (usage?) seed producing structures are in the form of cones, take the form of trees and shrubs and everything in between.

The growth rates of conifers range from miniature (less than one inch of growth per year) to large (more than 12 inches of growth per year).

Many people refer to conifers as "evergreens" and this is not a correct term to use since there are a few conifers that are deciduous; Metasequoia (dawn redwood), Taxodium (baldcypress), Larix (larch) and a couple of other very obscure genuses (I don't know the correct plural form of the word genus, sorry) that lose their leaves every fall and produce wonderful fall colored foliage. There are also many broad-leaved plants that hold their leaves all year and are "evergreen".

I just thought that this would be an easy way to increase the discussion of these plants.

I did a search of all of the forums for the word "conifer" and found only 61 instances. I also searched for the word "pine" and found many more entries, but most were in the form of pictures being posted with the name of the plant. I suppose I could search on many of the conifer genus names to see if there are others, but it doesn't appear to be much chatter here on these plants.

With today's small yards, dwarf conifers are just about the perfect choice for all-year interest in the landscape.

Maybe there isn't enough interest here to justify this, but I had to ask. The worst that can happen is that Dave and Co. will say no.
Thanks,
Mike


This message was edited Jan 22, 2005 1:12 PM

This message was edited Jan 22, 2005 5:10 PM

I'm with you, Mike. Would love to see more discussion about conifers. Have seen virtually none in my mere 2 months of membership at DG.
I have quite an interest even though I have a very large garden. My DH has been complaining about the bleak winter views but I would like dwarf varieties even in the large spaces I'm filling. I've read a lot of reference books and articles but there's nothing like drawing from other peoples' experiences to really learn and benefit. If this change could provoke more discussion...

Michele

It's easy enough to change the title, and "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers" is nice and neat. My only concern is whether the inclusion of Conifer then leads people to think that evergreens are excluded. And if we try to make it all-encompasing (i.e., "Deciduous & Evergreen & Coniferous Trees and Shrubs") well, that's a lot to read and/or say, for sure!

Thoughts? Other comments and suggestions? We're always open to changes that will lead people to the proper forum for their questions and posts.

Well, about all I can add to this one is that the plural of genus is genera!... lol

Actually, the Trees, Shrubs and Conifers option sounds pretty good to me - it takes into account pretty much all woody plants, plus the herbaceous shrubs. Even if the conifer part is redundant, it might be worth it if the inclusion of the name stimulates more discussion on them.

~Shannon in *it's been winter forever* Gatineau

What about having a forum just named 'Conifers'? Thanks.

Kathy

I think Trees, Shrubs & Conifers makes a snappy forum heading. I like it. Dotti

I really like that! I too am a cone-head ;)

I like the idea of renaming to Trees, Shrubs & Conifers. I do grow quite a lot of conifers and think more conversation concerning them would be useful. DonnaS