Big cypress

c54fun

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I put a couple bungee cords on the lower branches to get and idea of the pond. Looks like it will have a nice line up and to the left looking at the picture. The branch dead center of the tree will probably go. Doesn't fit there at all. What you cant see in the picture is the top leans forward a lot. I will be able to get some out but not all. So many possibilities with this tree. In person the trunk is amazing. Crazy things going on all over it. I could care less if it didn't have a single branch. Grow new ones.
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c54fun

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I started sketching some ideas on what to do with the bald cypress. My sketches normally change completely but it works good for me as a starting point. The sketches show a lot of branches but I really don't want that many but I thought I would keep a bunch like the sketch and later if I want remove some I can. The tree usually shows itself later. The sketch shows it to tall. Plan on shrinking it more than what the sketch shows. VERY rough idea at this time.
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c54fun

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The base is just crazy to see and I don't care for the look of the big roots sticking out but love this one. My favorite is a super flared base that goes into the soil without roots sticking out. Love that look.

Been trying to get the bald cypress and a redwood healthy again. The color of this tree didn't look good. Redwood is worse. Its starting to green up and also showing some growth so I'm on the right track. The pond looks very healthy but looks like it will need chopped and most all branches removed. Just not sure I can work with whats there. I mainly wanted the truck anyways.
Also took @BillsBayou advise and bought a goof gun. Worked great for cleaning the trunk. Just don't stick your finger in front of the stream of water.

Balds color getting better.
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After cleaning with the goof gun
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c54fun

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That's some sweet cleaning! I love that bark texture.
You warned to turn it down to start. I plugged it in and filled it up in the kitchen pulled the trigger and could see it was spraying into the sink. Dumb ass me put my fingers in front of it to feel the spray. Didn't look like much at all. Holy crap. That thing is not to mess around with. Does work good. Thanks for posting about it.
 
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BillsBayou

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(ACTUALLY LAUGHING)

That is exactly how I learned not to put my dumb-ass finger into the stream. "Hmmm.... doesn't look like much... I wonder how much pressure is OH HELL! DID I BREAK THE SKIN?" I hadn't, but not for a lack of trying.
 

RobertB

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I really like the way this bald cypress trunks roots are exposed. I might try and start something like that with one of mine. I'm not a big fan of the exposed roots also, but yours is absolutely incredible. I love it. If I may, where did you purchase it?
 

c54fun

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I really like the way this bald cypress trunks roots are exposed. I might try and start something like that with one of mine. I'm not a big fan of the exposed roots also, but yours is absolutely incredible. I love it. If I may, where did you purchase it?
To me it seems if there are only a few roots exposed it doesn't look good but if you have a bunch it ends up the focus point.
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BillsBayou

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That is an awesome looking base for a bald cypress. You should be very happy with that. It has a great future ahead.

That said, it is an unnatural look for a bald cypress base. BC roots coming from the base will go in a more downward direction than in the wrapping directions of your tree's roots. Also, bald cypress are rarely in situations where that much of their root system gets exposed. It will happen when there is a significant soil erosion of their initial growing spot, or in places where the water level has been lowered. Water level changes would typically be because of man-made conditions. BCs grow within a few feet of local water levels. When those local levels are close to sea-level, this much erosion becomes even more rare. You'll need a story to explain this tree's condition.

I like to come up with stories for my trees. Especially when the tree has characteristics that make you wonder just what the hell happened. Once I come up with a story for the significant features of a weird tree, it helps me with the styling of the rest of the tree as well as what I expect in the future.

I'm working on a video for a tree I haven't shown before. The base is very unique. The problem is, the base was created by Mother Nature, and the top of the tree is created by Bill Butler. I need the story that Bill Butler tells to match the story that Mother Nature began. I have no idea how the base was formed but it looks like a tragic event took place, and it looks very natural in how it recovered. Thus, I need a story of tragedy and recovery in the top.

If you're going to have a base that does not look like your average bald cypress, you're not going to want a top that looks like it belongs on an average bald cypress.
Example 1: http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/p...-river-at-sunset-royalty-free-image/722209225
Example 2: http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/p...e-roots-in-river-royalty-free-image/722209209
Example 3: http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/photo/boy-in-canoe-near-tree-in-river-royalty-free-image/722209229

I'm very excited about the third example. Especially with how it matches with a drawing of yours further up the thread. It doesn't taper normally. It goes up and suddenly the girth of the trunk drops by three quarters. Growth is sporadic, but covers more of the trunk than it reveals. Fissures in the trunk are revealed as light passes through the canopy. Deadwood on the left side of the photo shows that the tree had tried a lower apex and either it died or the tree abandoned it.

You've got a story to tell. Good luck. Can't wait to hear it.
 

c54fun

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Getting closer to the time to chop this tree. Its WAY to tall for sure. The side branches are also way to long before ramification starts. I basically wanted just the trunk on both the pond and bald anyways.

Thought I would ask when the best time to chop is here in Texas. I believe @BillsBayou mentioned January?? Wanted to make sure to find out the best time. Any advise would be appreciated. Looking forward to making this a manageable size.

Tree was very healthy by the end of the summer.

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c54fun

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I chopped both of these big trees in March. Wanted just the trunks and then build off of that. Will be a long project. The pond is putting on growth real fast. Growing the new top out and a few branches are being set.
The big bald will probable be chopped again. I cut it pretty high thinking it may die back and it didnt die back at all. Still not sure on my plans with it. For now just watch it grow untill I come up with a plan.
Pond cypress growing real nice.
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mcpesq817

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Quirky base on it but I like it. You could always try to bury it deeper up to the flare if you ever wanted a more traditional looking tree. Otherwise, lots of cool character as is!

What is the goof gun?
 

c54fun

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Quirky base on it but I like it. You could always try to bury it deeper up to the flare if you ever wanted a more traditional looking tree. Otherwise, lots of cool character as is!

What is the goof gun?
Its an electric gun that sprays high pressure water. Real high. Works good for a lot of things. @BillsBayou posted a video of using it.
 
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