what did i steal

hi everone, i'm visiting you today from dahlonega , ga. i spent two weeks with my sister in welches oregan about ten yrs ago.there were hugh cedar type trees growing every where, all the way to mt. hood. she had smaller ones in her yard and around the neighborhood.they self sowed themselves evidently.to make a long story short(er) , i pulled some up and borrowed her suitcase,stuffed it full, then flew back to ga. they all are looking good and some are 15' tall.they are similar to layland cypress,but a richer green.can anyone tell me what i have? my sis isn't into anything but bulbs and has no clue.she also has moved back to texas and has no one to ask .thanks bunches,,sally . oh, and ps,spent some time in or. over the years,i love your state,even the rain.

You probably have one of two types of cedar:

Alaska Yellow Cedar - Callitropsis Nootkanensis

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Callitropsis_nootkatensis

and Western Red Cedar - Thuja plicata

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thuja_plicata

Yellow cedar's classifications have changed several times. You can see from the information in the link that it was for awhile classified with cypress because of the similarities in appearance. Both of them have that [what I call] droopy look. Oops, as I read, I guess it is a cypress. Hmmmmm. Differrent sources, different information.

They both grow huge here and are/were widely used by the native peoples. To tell them apart you lightly grasp the end of a set of branches and rub backwards. If the needles catch on your fingers, it's Alaska Yellow Cedar, if not, then it's Western Red Cedar (really not a cedar, but a thuja).

Glad they are doing so well in Georgia. We'd love to see pictures.

Kathy

Sally, from what I'm hearing, you could use the rain, we'll send you some. we don't need more, this year. I'm looking for more sunny days, Jim King

this old red clay holds moister about six in's under ,but when it's dry that deep, it's dry. but heck, i water in the rain. by the way jim, did you used to live in arizona?( i hope not)

digger, no, I never lived in Arizona, too hot, too dry, not enough green, Jim

i didn't stay any longer than my job demanded,about six mos.