Spruce #1

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Chumono
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I spotted this in the summer of '09 and dug it up Spring '10. It went into a wooden box that was made from scraps and rotted quite nicely. It went perfectly into this big mica pot after I removed three thick dead roots. The tree put on tremendous root growth and I didn't cut any. I gave it a light pruning after getting it secured and watered. It didn't grow up top at all the first year, but it did develop plenty of healthy looking buds.

Dave
 

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plant_dr

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Judging by the size of trees and grass growing so close to the tracks in the background, it looks like they haven't seen a train in quite some time.
 

mersino

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nice find! do you have any experience with spruce? how are they as bonsai?
 

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The Dr. is right. No trains on these tracks for years. These are the spruce I will learn on, so no experience. I'll post updates, and all us Nuts can learn together...
 

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Chumono
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Ok, I looked into it, and it is either a Picea mariana (black/bog spruce) or Picea rubens (red spruce) or quite possibly a hybrid of the two. This is not uncommon when their habitats overlap.

Dave
 

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Pruned, carved and wired some main branches to start building a framework. I left extra branches and shoots in the apex to leave options for the next styling session.

Dave
 

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And after the wiring

Dave
 

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Alex DeRuiter

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Wonderful work! I really like the look of this tree. Do you have a pot in mind for it yet? I'm thinking maybe something the same size except shallower? Are you thinking of adding more jin?
 

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Wonderful work! I really like the look of this tree. Do you have a pot in mind for it yet? I'm thinking maybe something the same size except shallower? Are you thinking of adding more jin?

Thanks. This is only the first step. This pot will be fine for a couple years. After that either a masculine rectangle (much smaller than this tub) or some sort of stone/slab. I won't add much jin, but I will continue to work on the deadwood areas that already exist.

Dave
 

october

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Looking really good.. A very natural design.. Are you going to keep those bottom 2 branches? Are they there as part of the design or are they there to thicken up the base more?

Rob
 

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Looking really good.. A very natural design.. Are you going to keep those bottom 2 branches? Are they there as part of the design or are they there to thicken up the base more?

Rob


Thanks Rob. As for the two bottom branches, I don't really approach the first stylings with too much thoughts on a "final" design. After looking at the pics, they do seem out of place a bit, and most likely will be removed. I already removed a bunch of foliage, so for now I think I'll leave them. I'm also thinking they will help draw energy in to and around the freshly carved areas.

Dave
 

jason biggs

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incredible that you can get such a good tree in 1 year.Is collecting the best method for conifers?? Looking at your avatar i reckon that ''HOT ACTION''would be drifting a dry fly downstream,cheers....
 

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incredible that you can get such a good tree in 1 year.Is collecting the best method for conifers?? Looking at your avatar i reckon that ''HOT ACTION''would be drifting a dry fly downstream,cheers....

Thanks Jason. Collecting is one way to get material for bonsai. It isn't better or worse than any other way. I've gotten good material from many different sources, I just kept my eye open, and put myself in alot of places where bonsai were being sold. This tree still needs ALOT of work, and I probably should have let it rest a bit longer. It will be at least a few more years before I'd ever consider showing it. If it grows well next spring, I'll do some rootwork the following year. Hopefully, I'll get it into a better training pot at that time. Then it will need to be left alone for a bit to get nice and strong. So, I figure in about 4 years I'll be able to attempt a major styling again. Then, I can start shopping for a nice show pot, if everything goes according to plan.

My dad is the flyfisherman. They call me the "larch hunter."

Dave
 

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Chumono
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Thanks Jason. Collecting is one way to get material for bonsai. It isn't better or worse than any other way. I've gotten good material from many different sources, I just kept my eye open, and put myself in alot of places where bonsai were being sold. This tree still needs ALOT of work, and I probably should have let it rest a bit longer. It will be at least a few more years before I'd ever consider showing it. If it grows well next spring, I'll do some rootwork the following year. Hopefully, I'll get it into a better training pot at that time. Then it will need to be left alone for a bit to get nice and strong. So, I figure in about 4 years I'll be able to attempt a major styling again. Then, I can start shopping for a nice show pot, if everything goes according to plan.

My dad is the flyfisherman. They call me the "larch hunter."

Dave

R.I.P. you will be missed
 
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