What's the tree behind the street sign?

It's gotta be Abies alba 'Green Spiral'. See the conifer database at the ACS.

A photo I easily recognize.

Dax

Here is a link that might be useful: American Conifer Society

Yes, Dax is right on, as usual. There are a handful of other pics of that, bboy, if you go to the link I provided. None were all that spectacular, so I didn't include it here. It was a pretty impressive tree, though, and one of which I'd like to get another picture.

-Steg

Super nice! I like the dawn redwoods and the rat tail thing. Thanks for posting these.

Thanks, sluice. The dawn redwoods were certainly majestic and that rat tail thing really caught my eye, too. I was definitely inspired to check that place out after seeing some of your amazing pictures on here. Wish we had some more unique conifers growing naturally out my way, but Secrest is definitely a gem.

-Steg

Ditto the endorsement. I have been there many times and always find new surprises. Some other interesting plants of note:
Huge! Abiea procera 'Glauca' - and many other firs
80+ y.o. Pseudolarix amabalis
Reproducing populations of Cercidiphyllum japonicum and Magnolia macophylla
Plantations of many larches - incl. L. gmelinii var. principis-rupprechtii and L. occidentalis

I donated a truck load of stuff and met with the director last year...I need to go back.

Off topic! :-)
Steg, is that your 944?

If I were to guess I'd say it's Picea glauca 'Fort Ann' - a Bob Fincham introduction says my book, on the net one site says Greg Williams introduced it. The rat tail plant.

Dax

A follow-up, months in the making... Firstly, Wadet, yes, that is my 1983 944. Secondly, I have purchased a legit camera, so look for some more 'steg activity' in the upcoming months!

As many of you heard, and as Dax posted, a pretty beastly tornado hit the OSU agricultural extension campus in Wooster on Thursday, and unfortunately, the hardest hit area was Secrest Arboretum. Thankfully, my buddy Kyle and I swung by for a visit earlier in the month and we snapped up a ton of pictures. The highlights are as follows, with the full collection of higher-res photos on my picasa page: http://picasaweb.google.com/stegmeier/SecrestArboretumSeptember42010

It's incredibly sad that this happened, but at least we have some recent pictures of Secrest as many will remember it.

Tsuga canadensis 'Sargentii'

Picea abies 'Virgata' - This 'rat tail' spruce is near the main entrance and not the one posted previously.

Larix kaempferi 'Pendula'

Pinus mugo 'Aurea' - Fine color

Abies alba 'Green Spiral'

Larix decidua?

Early fall colors. I was in larch mode that day...

Taxodium disticum 'Secrest' - based on a witches broom found at the arboretum. It's more of a prostrate form and I believe this was grafted on to a standard.

Sciadopitys verticillata 'Starburst'

Pinus densiflora 'Oculis Draconis' - What a gorgeous specimen!

Calocedrus decurrens

Larix kaempferi

Two good looking Serbians (actually, I'm German, so I suppose I should find a Pinus nigra...)

Metasequoia glyptostroboides, perhaps my favorite pic of the day

Great 'blue spruce-esque' color on this one!

A 'Gold Rush'/'Ogon' Dawn Redwood among the giants

A hoss of a Pinus strobus 'Pendula'. 'Fastigata' in the background.

I WASN'T LYING THAT IT IS HUGE!

The original rat tail previously posted.

Thought it was just another Norway spruce until I checked the tag.

Hope this post somewhat redeems myself from being a one hit wonder.
Steg

Thank you for posting these wonderful photos. That certainly looks like a special place to visit. I actually watched a short video on the Weather Channel about this tornado. Are you aware of the extent of the damage (to any of the plants you have shown here)? Is the picea omorika shown a particular cultivar?
Richard

Well done Steg and I never got a chance to go there. Was trying to plan a trip the beginning of this month. We might have been there on the same day.

As I posted on the trees forum, '20ft/7M trees are no longer there and the Arboretum is pretty much destroyed'

Dax

Wow, a great tour! I like the Pinus densiflora 'Oculis Draconis' and the 1918 P. obovata is fantastic.
Sorry to hear about the tornado. Fortunate that you were able to get these photos beforehand.

I am amazed by tree damage in storms. Both a morbid curiosity and honest interest in how they come apart since I am near Tornado Country. Is Secrest open to visitors?

Before and after pictures would be terrbile/interesting.

Here is a link with a limited amount of information. There was another thread around here someplace....

Here is a link that might be useful: News Link