What is Brooming?

It's the most extreme form of ACS (Addicted Conifer Syndrome.) Otherwise sane horitcultural enthusiasts are found skulking around cemeteries and woodlots at odd hours in exotic raiment that often includes climbing saddles and pole saws. They call themselves broomers because they are in search of witches brooms, those odd looking genetic mutations of plant life that could portend a new cultivar, one that they could name after themselves, but just as often end up being called Old Fogey, Piggelmee or State Trooper.

There are stories behind the origin of most new cultivars; this is a place where they can be told.

Here are three brooms called Hibbard, Wilson Park and VW Bug.