A couple of new projects

As I wrote in one of my previous posts I caught collecting bug last spring and had an irresistible feeling I haven't collected enough trees in the last few years. I thought I have enough space for a few new projects, which obviously proved terribly wrong. Nevertheless, I managed to bring a few new trees last year. 

In desperate attempt to make my shelves look decent this spring, I was repotting everything that was possible to be repotted into ceramic pots from plastic bowls. So did I with two trees on pictures below. Both were collected in March 2018. Both were very vigorous so I repotted them. Not that I'm recommending it as a standard approach with freshly collected trees. It is still better to wait 2-3 seasons and than disturb trees again. In this case, trees were Prunus mahleb and second is Elm, which is both vigorous growers. I had almost no doubt they will do just fine. 

For mahleb, I see its future with a round, rather wide crown, with upward branches. Trunks need to be carved for sure. I hope the tree will create nice even nebari all around the trunk. 

March 2019 after repotting

March 2019 after repotting

April 2019

April 2019

Summer 2018, a few months after collecting from wild

The second project is Elm. Also with strong roots, already nice even distribution. Even if it was not true they tend to improve nebari themselves by growing a lot of roos on all sides. I decided this will be traditional (!!!) broom project. I know, I know what you are thinking. That I'm not doing a lot of traditional shit and so on. But As I was looking at the trunk I saw it there, I promise. I'm following one interesting thread on BonsaiNut about crating broom and I think I can try to do it along these lines. It will be extremely challenging, and it will take two decades to bear fruit but I'm going to give it a try. Now, tree pushed a lot of growth from the cut in late spring, I cut off absolutely nothing. It pushed two branches from below the cut but I should have removed them but was not sure where I'm going with it. And those two branches were there much earlier than growth on cut. So, now everything is cleared, all excess growth was cut out and only 5-6 upward shots were left. They were shortened on two-three buds in March during repotting. Month later growth is strong again many new shoots emerged. I will leave it like it is to let the tree gain more strength after the repotting stress and thin out branches in about month time.  

Spruces

Spruce No.2 (on left) moved into new pot couple of days ago. So new spruce (No. 7, on right and second picture) moved into empty chinese pot, from plastic bowl where it was sitting since 2011. Ready for styling next year. Tree collected in 2011, since then only pruned to get foliage back to the trunk. I wanted to sell it for too long, nobody wanted it. Now it will be styled a I will see how it will play out. Nice tapering of the trunk is the main advantage.

PICEA ABIES NO.2 in new pot

I got couple of new pots from Tomas Snovicky so I decided to use one of them for this spruce. It was repotted about week ago. Pot is bit smaller than previous one and much lighter. 

PICEA ABIES NO.2

Couple of days ago spruce was thinned, new growth shortened and due to strong growth another few abundant branches were removed. Now tree is fertilised and watered well and new buds will form during the summer. Then further shortening and editing of branches will be possible again. 

Picea abies No.2

One month ago I took few pictures of this spruce. I was covered with a lot of new freshly opened buds. Just month later tree looked like this today. One can clearly see tree is happy and fertiliser I'm using is working. I always prefer more growth, healthy tree. I think when you perform any styling work with healthy vigorous tree you can push it with less risk. A lot of editing and refinement will follow with this spruce during next couple of years. 

To compare here is the picture taken in mid April. 

There has been several unjustified claims from several sources I cant smile, based on this picture . Those claims were based on few of my last selfie Me-Tree pictures from some of the later posts. To fight those claims Im adding picture of myself smiling which is clearly proving contrary. I hope it will stop any further accusations once and for all. 

History in pictures from 2010 to 2017

Picea No.2

This tree was collected in woods in 2010, and its first styling took place in summer last year. Whole tree was wired then and some jin work was done as well. 

Spruces could be sensitive to too much work so I was not removing all unnecessary branches back then. Now it is quite clear it is budding strongly so I think it is adapted after styling. There was one too long branch sticking out from future outline. Now it was removed so tree can use energy during this season in desired direction. Later this year some more branches will be removed or shortened. 

before, branch on left side is too wide. Now it was removed. 

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April 2010. Shortly after collecting from wild. Potted into plastic pot into almost pure zeolite. Branches are sparse and long. They were shortened on transportation minimum, but still way  too long. All inner needles except news fell off in 2010.

Picea No.2

 During last few days I revived one old project which was on standby in my garden for some time. Tree I was working with is Picea abies, spruce. Tree was collected in spring 2010 and you can find few words about it here. It was first major complete styling of the tree. Now wires will stay for a long time, maybe year or eventually more. More work will be done on top jin and other jins as well when wood will dry. Some of the main branches will be removed later when crown will fill with new growth and smaller branches I would like to keep will be stronger. 

Current stage after wiring and styling. 

 

April 2010. Shortly after collecting from wild. Potted into plastic pot into almost pure zeolite. Branches are sparse and long. They were shortened on transportation minimum, but still way  too long. All inner needles except news fell off in 2010.

Size comparison and detail on empty long branches. Long branches must be cut back step by step, year by year. Tree grown new buds back on older wood and I had to cut back so they have enough energy to grow.

New buds visible on old wood in Autumn 2010.

May 2011 - vigorous new growth after first winter in pot. Growth far from trunk though. 

April 2012 - one year later, growth around the apex. 

Late April 2012 - tree responds with strong growth. Result of  good feeding, watering and maximum sun exposure. 

April 2012 - all bottom growth removed and only those branches left which will be used in final design. In 2011 during Walter Pall visit in my garden when discussing this tree, he grabbed lower branches and says "Cut this off". So, this was easy part. 

Long and healthy shots. Point is always keep only two growing from same spot. I usually remove middle one. 

June 2012 - lots of new growth. 

June 2012 - I decided to pull branches down with guy wires.  I hoped it will help me with their final positioning. later. 

August 2012 - tree was slip potted into new ceramic pot. Not final, and yet too big but made manipulation much easier. 

June 2016- after neglecting the tree for some time, this is stage where it started this year. 

Dense foliage must be reduced. On spots where more shoots grow from one place only two are left. 

Details of the bark. 

Working on jins. 

Carving jin with Dremel and bit made by Rudo Spanko. 

And wiring beggins. 

...and continues. Seems like endless job. 

And this is result after few hours of wiring and styling. Now still too dense, after new buds will appear branches will be further shortened. 

Detail of the lille dry stump, you can see amazing wood density. It is clear tree was growing in harsh condition with very limited resources and was growing very slowly.