THUJA "GREEN GIANT"

The Western USA has been through a tremendous drought and one of many negative effects has been a loss of one of the two major trees of Northern New Mexico, the pinon.
Due to drought stress, the pinon was attacked by the pinon bark beetle, and it is estimated that well over 2/3rds of the pinons in the Western US, untold millions, primarily located in New Mexico and Arizona have been lost, the devastation peaking in the summer of 2004, before the drought breaking rains and snow reappeared in the Fall and Winter of 04.
Home owners had used the adult pinons as wind breaks and even more importantly as visual fences. Pinons planted as natural blinds between sight lines between neighbors or between windows and the view from the street. With the loss of so many of these trees, there has been a scurrying for a replacement, and possably one has been found.
And that tree much touted as a replacement for the pinon is the evergreen, fast growing, drought resistant, pest free conifer, "Thuja" Green Giant.
I'm particularly interested in the 3 feet or more a year growth selling point. So, as part of an experiment, I planted 5 Thujas, all around 6 feet, and all labeled with their height and date of planting, to see just how quickly and well they do grow in this climate #5B.
Will report yearly.