New Crops!
At Lawyer Nursery we are always working to improve the product mix we can provide for you. The list of new species and varieties since last season is impressive. As you look through the listings in this paper, look for New! highlighting these items. Some are returning to our inventory and others are brand new. Here are some examples:

Cotinus ‘Grace’ – ‘Grace’ is the natural choice of description when admiring this variety. The lovely, soft, pink flower panicles wave over red-purple foliage. The leaves continue to change color over the seasons turning blue-green by late summer and then red, yellow, and orange in the fall. This is another specimen to prune as a small tree accent.

Cornus mas ‘Redstone’ - Excellent for its early spring flower show and abundant bright red fruit in summer. This selection also has shown improved disease and insect resistance. This is one of the tall shrubs/small trees that can be used with great effect when pruned to tree form for smaller landscapes.

Xerophyllum tenax (also known as Bear Grass) – Native to the Rocky Mountains, this perennial has grass-like foliage and an impressive flower stalk. It is often found on steep slopes and can be used for bank stabilization on sandy or well-drained soils. Wildlife will use the seeds but don’t worry about loosing the foliage to wildlife unless you have a resident population of mountain goats!

out most of the year. During the summer months, carotenoids aid chlorophyll in photosynthesis by contributing to harvesting light, and protects chlorophyll from damaging sunlight. Photoperiod, or daily duration of light, largely regulates the process of change from green to red or yellow. Photoperiodism in plants plays an important role in regulating many biological activities. In the autumn, the photoperiod acts as a signal to initiate dormancy to help prepare the trees for a potentially, harsh winter. As the leaves of the trees perceive the nights to be growing longer, the production of chlorophyll stops and the degradation of the remaining chlorophyll starts to occur. This will soon result in the unveiling of the underlying carotenoid and xanthophyll pigments, resulting in a display of yellow and orange.

Anthocyanins, which are responsible for the beautiful red foliage of Acers, Euonymus, Cornus, and Viburnums, are not present in the leaves throughout the year, but are synthesized in the autumn months.
In many cases anthocyanins are formed as a result of various environmental stresses such as light and temperature. Anthocyanins were found to form during high light periods in the autumn to mask the remaining
chlorophyll, protecting the leaf cells as they senesce. This can result in greater use of existing nutrients
in these senescing leaves, which are exported to other parts of the plant before the leaf falls. The formation of this protective pigment is accentuated by cool, but not freezing, night temperatures. Since the formation of anthocyanins is largely the result of environmental conditions, the resulting red foliage can vary greatly from year to year. The most brilliant red colors will be exhibited during autumns that have many bright sunny days, cool nights, a warm wet spring, and mild summer drought. Conversely, since carotenoids are present in the leaves in relatively the same quantities annually, the yellow and orange colors remain relatively consistent year to year.

And finally those russet brown colors that are characteristic of many Quercus species come from tannins that are in the leaves. Tannins are secondary chemicals, which aid in protection from foraging animals and insects. These attractive browns should not be mistaken for the effects of frost damage. An early hard frost that occurs before leaf drop can cause leaves to senesce early, which may result in regularly red or yellow leaves to turn brown and drop early. Autumn color is a complicated metabolic process, but it is always spectacular to itness. This protective attribute of many trees is an added bonus for the landscape and should be considered in plant selection. Not all species exhibit an impressive fall display of color, so finding a species with vibrant fall foliage, like Euonymus alatus or Viburnum trilobum can extend the landscape season well into late fall.

The Amelanchier species are a stalwart of the reclamation industry, and have been for decades. A hardy, wild fruiting, medium to large shrub, Amelanchiers have one of the largest plant ranges in North America. They can be found in the northern reaches of Canada near the Artic Circle, through all of the Western continent to the Eastern Seaboard and south to Florida and parts of Mexico. The potential to produce, process and export Saskatoon products is world-wide. Currently supply is far short of demand, and as consumer education increases, this gap could widen further.

Consumers are attracted to the unique subtle flavor of a "wild" fruit product made from Saskatoon berries. The flavor has a distinctive sweetness with almond undertones that rivals a blueberry in taste. The antioxidant roperties of the Saskatoon is roughly equal to that of most Vacciniums (including the blueberry) and it has many oil, medicinal and herbal uses as well.

Planting Saskatoons in an orchard setting is relatively simple, a result of the high adaptability of the species. Amelanchiers are Zone 2-3 hardy (to -40ºF) and are tolerant of a wide range of soil types and pH levels. They will grow reasonably well in soils with low nitrogen levels and low organic content – this writer has seen several plants growing on a mountain scree slope with no apparent trouble.

Several orchardists have reported that cultivars are capable of handling heavy nitrogen loads and with aggressive fertilizer applications the new growth explodes at an astonishing rate. Most Amelanchiers are a small shrubby tree form. In their natural state they form a thicket that will be home to many small woodland creatures. Masses of white flowers appear in early May and the fruit begins to ripen 45 days later. Naturally a self-pollinator, annual yields will increase by 20% with cross-pollination, but this also increases the seed content – a less desirable characteristic.

Fruit drop is normal and should be expected.In the fall Amelanchiers put on a brilliant show of reds, yellows and oranges. Many folks are familiar with the bright red fall color of Amelanchier.

‘Autumn Brilliance’ or the orange of Amelanchier ‘Forest Prince’; and similarly Amelanchier alnifolia has consistent red to orange fall color. Yet, these cultivars have been primarily selected for their fruit characteristics, not their leaf color.

New plants will begin producing fruit within 2-3 years of transplanting a P-2, and will reach maximum production within 5-10 years.

Fruit loads can range from 4,000 – 12,000 lbs/acre, depending on the cultivar chosen. Most literature on the subject suggests that an orchard’s lifespan will exceed 50+ years, a long term investment!.Wild specimens have vast variability, high seed content and have a rather mealy fruit. Though not domesticated, the cultivars listed below are superior selections based on outstanding fruit size, seed content, taste, skin strength, yield, harvest time, and color – all important aspects of commercial production. Increased flavors and yields, a lower seed content and improved propagation will improve the success of any orchard.

Most orchardists report a nearly a 90% marketable yield with minimal effort For listings of available varieties see page 3. ‘Theissen’ is one of the oldest varieties available. More than 20% of Canada’s commercial production is in Theissen. It has a sprawling form and will reach a size of 18’ x 15’ within 7 – 10 years. It is considered very productive and will ripen in late June. Theissen fruit is tangy and has a juicy flavor. It is also the best for U-Pick operations because of its large fruit size, extensive fruit clustering and uneven ripening cycles.

‘Martin’ is a seedling selection from Theissen and shows many similar fruiting characteristics except that its ripening Saska‘ Regent’ is a compact form that only reaches 6’ x 6’. It is highly productive and produces masses of berries that ripen in early July. Regent has a unique plum-like flavor with smaller, nearly seedless fruit. Some growers have reported Juniper Rust resistance.

‘Northline’ is considered to be one of the best “up and coming” varieties because it is the most productive of the cultivars. Already nearly 30% of Canada’s commercial production is in Northline. Upright in form, it reaches a manageable spread of 12’ x 12’. Fruit ripens late in mid- to late-July. Its strong and sweet flavor are sought after and the firm fruit skin makes mechanical harvesting painless.

‘Pembina’ is an upright shrub to 15’ x 15’. This cultivar is very productive, and ripens in late July. It has a strong, tangy flavor with a fairly uniform ripening pattern. Pembina
is a newer variety and is still undergoing trials for specific disease resistance.

Smokey has the best flavor with a very sweet sensation. Its uneven ripening makes it a good choice for U-Pick operations and its excellent skin strength makes extended mechanical harvesting possible.‘Smokey’ is considered to be the orchardists’ pick, and nearly 40% of Canada’s commercial production is in Smokey. Spreading in form to 18’ x 15’ it is a very productive cultivar that ripens in late July.

There has been some discussion of the necessity to maintain true-to-type progeny. Seedlings show a similarity to the mother plant and are nearly 70% similar to the P1 generation. Many growers have been satisfied with this variability. Indeed, even at Lawyer Nursery we have propagated these cultivars by seed for several years. Yet many orchardists are insisting on absolute reliability and consistency in their orchards. As a result, Lawyer Nursery has transitioned to propagation from tissue culture. This allows for absolute confidence in a zero variability product.

Rooted cuttings and budding of cultivars are viable lternatives, but the low success rate and higher expense make, in our experience, tissue culture propagation the best choice for true-to-type production.

It should be noted that, like any commercial fruit there are a few pitfalls that can result in a lost crop. Most importantly, alternative yield cycles need to be avoided. Orchardists must also spray for several insects including the Saskatoon Sawfly and common Leaf Rollers. And, if you – or your neighbor – has cattle, the new vegetation is toxic to ruminants, so it’s best to keep your cows clear from your orchard.

In general this species is relatively easy to manage. Production levels are high and require little input. Reported prices for the 2007 season are between $2.20/lb for U-Pick fruit and $3.50/lb for fresh fruit. Annually, an orchard needs to be pruned back to keep the hedges in a manageable form and the fruit crop needs to be sprayed with a broad spectrum insecticide.

Beyond these requirements, and basic watering and fertilizing, the needs of a Saskatoon orchard are minimal. Plus Saskatoons are a crop that will ripen before most cherries, bringing in money during a slower time of the year. An Amelanchier orchard presents tremendous potential as a U-pick operation, they will supplement any commercial fruit orchard superbly or will provide the reclamation site with a fantastic food supply to wild fauna or a hungry family. Indeed, the applications of Saskatoons and all Amelanchiers are a testament to the adaptability and productivity of this species. Opportunities are tremendous!