Trident Maple Forest

Dorian Fourie · Aug 29, 2016

I bought this TM forest in the beginning of 2008

In Oct 2008, I added a few rocks into the mix

By 2012 I had still not re-potted it and the tree was clearly starting to raise out of the pot.

By March 2014, I had still not re-potted the tree and I knew that in the spring of 2014 it would have to be done.

In Sept 2014, I took it to a bonsai nursery and asked them to re-pot it for me as I felt my knowledge on re-potting a forest was too limited. It was put into the most horrible pot as that is all the nursery had in stock at the time.

From Sept 2014 - beginning August 2016 some of the trunks and branches were wired to get more movement in them

13938288_608969639284140_7356017277095854528_o (1).jpg

Dorian Fourie · Aug 29, 2016

Mid August 2016 - I decided to re-pot the tree myself and put it into a shallower pot.

I took the forest to a friend and we discussed it in length on how to get a better overall view. We decided that the 4 trees on the front left had to be worked on (Marked with red)

As you can see from the following image, 3 of the trees are in a straight line and almost exactly the same distance from each other.

We decided to move one of the trees into the back of the forest to help with the depth perception and to rearrange the 3 trees that were left, and move them closer to the centre trees.

The 2 trees on the right of the forest were decided to swap them around so that the smaller of the 2 trees sits on the outside of the forest.

The one tree that was removed from the group on the left was placed and the back of the forest to help with the depth perception.

Dorian Fourie · Aug 29, 2016

During this weekend, I decided to add some stairs into the forest just to add another feel to it.

I got some pieces of slate and cut out small stairs with my dremel. I cleared out the moss and positioned the stairs as I wanted them.

Dorian Fourie · Aug 29, 2016

Now to let the tree settle and fill up the gaps around the steps with moss.

So thoughts and suggestions?

just.wing.it · Aug 29, 2016

Dorian Fourie said:
Now to let the tree settle and fill up the gaps around the steps with moss.

View attachment 115442
View attachment 115443

So thoughts and suggestions?

Nice work! I can't wait to start a forest, of some kind...
I really like the stair path, looks legit.
It makes the planting look bigger and older.
Very creative and well done.... imo.

Dorian Fourie · Aug 29, 2016

just.wing.it said:
Nice work! I can't wait to start a forest, of some kind...
I really like the stair path, looks legit.
It makes the planting look bigger and older.
Very creative and well done.... imo.

Thanks so much

Appreciate it.

sorce · Aug 29, 2016

Good work!

I love the stairs....

But the top one kills it for me...
Can it be dug deeper, changed out, or removed?

It seems to stop you from continuing in.

Everything else is wonderful!

Sorce

jcrossett · Aug 29, 2016

Stairs look awesome.

Dorian Fourie · Aug 29, 2016

sorce said:
Good work!

I love the stairs....

But the top one kills it for me...
Can it be dug deeper, changed out, or removed?

It seems to stop you from continuing in.

Everything else is wonderful!

Thanks Sorce.

That step just keeps on moving when I water it. I am washing in soil underneath each step. Hopefully that will settle it. I am also going to find very fine soil to brush under the steps too. Eventually it will fill up and settle. The moss will grow onto it to secure it too.

Does this look better?

Dorian Fourie · Aug 29, 2016

jcrossett said:
Stairs look awesome.

Thanks. I appreciate it.

sorce · Aug 29, 2016

Hell yeah!

I wonder if you can't glue them together...
Or give them toothpick feet to jam into the soil.

Nice!

Sorce

Stickroot · Aug 29, 2016

Dorian Fourie said:
Thanks Sorce.

That step just keeps on moving when I water it. I am washing in soil underneath each step. Hopefully that will settle it. I am also going to find very fine soil to brush under the steps too. Eventually it will fill up and settle. The moss will grow onto it to secure it too.

Does this look better?

View attachment 115448 View attachment 115447 View attachment 115446 View attachment 115445

Looks wonderful!
I think it looks very real, life size.
Great job on scaling the rock!

Dorian Fourie · Aug 29, 2016

sorce said:
Hell yeah!

I wonder if you can't glue them together...
Or give them toothpick feet to jam into the soil.

Nice!

Sorce

I did think about glue but then with the dirt, making sure it flows down correctly, I decided against it.

Dorian Fourie · Aug 29, 2016

Stickroot said:
Looks wonderful!
I think it looks very real, life size.
Great job on scaling the rock!

Thanks so much Stickroot.

Appreciate it.

I was actually quite amazed how easy it was to cut the slate. Also the pieces are so thin, you can break them easily to size with a pair of pliers

rockm · Aug 29, 2016

Slate is very easy to cut carve, break, etc. I've been using the remains of an old 200 year old slate roof off a smokehouse to make slabs for accent plants. With the slate quarried here in Virginia, you can cut make very fine, detailed cuts using a fine-tooth hand saw, like a hacksaw. You can also break patterns into it using pliers. Fun material to work with.

namnhi · Aug 29, 2016

Very nice. Looks very real. I love it...

LanceMac10 · Aug 29, 2016

I like to shape them like little tombstones and stick 'em in the soil for Halloween!! Can't find the dang photo!!! Grrrrrrr

Looks better without the top step.

Dorian Fourie · Aug 29, 2016

rockm said:
Slate is very easy to cut carve, break, etc. I've been using the remains of an old 200 year old slate roof off a smokehouse to make slabs for accent plants. With the slate quarried here in Virginia, you can cut make very fine, detailed cuts using a fine-tooth hand saw, like a hacksaw. You can also break patterns into it using pliers. Fun material to work with.

Now that I have used it, going to use it more often.

Dorian Fourie · Aug 29, 2016

namnhi said:
Very nice. Looks very real. I love it...

Awesome thanks

Dorian Fourie · Aug 29, 2016

LanceMac10 said:
I like to shape them like little tombstones and stick 'em in the soil for Halloween!! Can't find the dang photo!!! Grrrrrrr

Looks better without the top step.

I would love to see that. I think I might just fool around with that idea of yours.

The top stair is still there, just been levelled out.

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