As both a plant buyer and a nursery manager, I have spent the past twenty years buying, selling, and growing trees. During this time, […]
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Plant Portraits: American Elm (Ulmus americana)
Prior to the arrival of the fungal pathogen Dutch Elm Disease (DED) in 1930, American Elm (Ulmus americana) were widely planted as street trees throughout eastern North America. Their rapid growth, urban tolerance, and graceful vase shape made American Elm a...Plant Portraits: The Common Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)
The common Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) is a large deciduous tree, native to the midwestern and eastern states of the United States. While commonly found in rich soil adjacent to streams and rivers, it is very adaptable, and may be grown in a wide...Trucker Appreciation Day
There are few jobs more important in today’s society than the truck driver. They are the bloodline of the economy, transporting the products that fuel businesses and consumers alike. In the nursery industry, shipping is as important as growing, as nearly...Celebrating the Mondragon’s
For as long as there has been a Bremo Trees there has been a member of the Mondragon family at the helm. Original nursery manager Woody Cumbo hired Adan Mondragon in 1995, and Adan has been leading the field operation ever since. When the first tree spade...Celebrating the Mighty Oaks
As I traverse the nursery at Bremo Trees, I often wonder if we are doing a disservice by growing too many non-native trees and genetically identical cultivars. Of course, we must grow what demand dictates. With that said, we do grow a diversity of native trees,...Remembering the surprise winter storm of January 2022
I left the mountains of North Carolina in shorts and a t-shirt on December 29th. Exactly one year before the roads in Boone had been snow packed, but we rolled off the mountain toward Wilkesboro with the windows open, enjoying what felt like a warm spring...Growing Relationships One at a Time
As a pioneer of the Christmas Tree industry in the mountains of North Carolina, my dad dedicated countless hours into growing the businesses of his competitors, as well as his own. This was a selfless pursuit, but as he saw it, the right thing to do. While...The Collaborative Art of Growing Trees
Growing trees is a well-known science that has been studied by various cultures for millennia. Universities and institutions spend millions of dollars in research and education on this pursuit each year. However, in conjunction with this...Rethinking My Relationship with Trees
One of my earliest memories is being five years old and helping my father install several dozen balled and burlapped trees at a newly constructed retirement community in the mountains of North Carolina. “Ok,” he said. “Here is how I am going to pay you. I will give...Latest Post
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