Krummholz style spruce

Tycoss · Oct 13, 2017

I found a spruce while out searching for things to collect. Not the oldest or most spectacular specimen, but needs almost no modification to look like the full sized krummholz trees flagging near the tree line. It would make a nice "Rocky Mountain penjing. If I collected it, I think the challenge would be in preventing the new growth from destroying it's initial charm

Tycoss · Oct 13, 2017

Here is the tree. I'm interested in seeing what you think. Is Krummholtz windswept a legitimate/desirable style? What would you change about it if it were yours? Sorry about the poor photo.

Tycoss · Oct 13, 2017

A couple of large spruce with (I think) similar character.

michaelj · Oct 14, 2017

It could be a fun tree, if you wired some movement into the trunk. I don't know if a straight trunk makes it something other than a krummholz, but all the best krummholz have crooked trunks that are swept in the direction of the prevailing winds.

just.wing.it · Oct 14, 2017

Reminds me of the trees along the power lines near the roads.

M. Frary · Oct 14, 2017

just.wing.it said:
Reminds me of the trees along the power lines near the roads.

I know how to make those. Done thousands. We call it side raping.
And if you really want to do them up,after cutting off all side branches,cut the top off for good measure.

sorce · Oct 14, 2017

Tycoss said:
I'm interested in seeing what you think

I think you slacked!

I grabbed that dope Lil fu@ker right when you left it!

You didn't know I had BSD'S out there following you did ya?

Didn't know I contracted Stickroot and M FRARY to equip the BSD'S with tree spades and feller bunchers?

Go back and you won't even find a hole, the BSD'S are programmed to refill holes so as to not break any caribou legs!

For real!

That's a wicked dynamic piece already!

I dunno what the hell Krumholz is....
But these crackers can hold my crumbs you know what I'm sayin!?

Trunks perfect.

I'd wire the branches now so you don't have to wait till recovery....

Cuz that bitch is ready to go IMO.

Wire, Dig, Recover, pot, keep styling.

Good things may come to those who wait.

Sometimes great things come in great haste.

Sorce

M. Frary · Oct 14, 2017

sorce said:
I dunno what the hell Krumholz is....

Same here.
I see a literati tree in this though.

Vance Wood · Oct 14, 2017

A Krummholz is a tree driven to grow along the ground almost into a contorted bush with a sometime upright growing at the end of it. What you have pictured is a relative known as a banner or flag tree. These are all forms created by environmental conditions. I would go for the tree it's worth the effort.

Arcto · Oct 14, 2017

Lance is correct. A flag tree is a different form that grows in exposed windy areas. Krummholz can form at the base of these and other forms of trees at high elevations when the bottom branches root along the ground. A challenge with krummholz collection is the width of of those forms make collecting a good amount of the root mass from a very wide area difficult. I would consider flag trees a form of windswept. Here is another pic of a dead one showing the trunk and branch structure. Unlike traditional windswept, these often have a very straight trunk even though they are being buffeted by very high winds.

This style is under represented in the bonsai world. I'd encourage you to collect it. Maybe just pull the moss back from the base and make sure there isn't reverse taper under there.

miker · Oct 14, 2017

I have an Englemann spruce styled in Krummholz style, will post pictures of it later.

Tycoss, I really like your tree and personally think you should continue to style it in the flag/Krummholtz style. I think this style is underrepresented in Western bonsai.

Just to clarify, many of the stunted trees I have seen photos of in Krummholtz regions ARE simply flag trees though I think the look that epitomizes the style is the hunched over, contorted, weathered look with all the foliage on the leeward side of the tree. Either way, your tree is perfect for the former, and with a good bit of work, could be the latter.

This is the thread I started about 8 months ago. The tree still needs a lot of refining.

https://bonsainut.com/threads/englemann-spruce-yamadori.26136/#post-458076

Tycoss · Oct 14, 2017

Thanks guys. It doesn't have some of the characteristics that I was looking for in yamadori spruce, but it's not often that you see a tree that is so obviously styled by nature to look like it's larger counterparts. If all goes well, this should show up in my yard next spring. It'll look like it's already had a first styling. Any other thoughts?

Tycoss · Oct 14, 2017

Most of te trees I'm interested in in the same area are much older, but getting them collected, established and styled will take years before they are really convincing.

Vance Wood · Oct 14, 2017

If you take the right tree you should be able to get a believable bonsai in five years or less. Don't buy into this it takes an awful long time myth as an excuse for not being able to do the work that needs to be done. If you have access to decent material you should find a teacher that can help you learn what you need to know to utilize this stuff.

Tycoss · Oct 14, 2017

Here is an example of what I meant. Other trees I checked out there had a large number of branches close to the trunk, lovely bark, and some movement or subtrunks. They are so tall and densely branched, however, that it will take time to reduce both the height and the foliage. Here is a far shot and a closeup of the bark and inner branching. I think they might be nice styled something like Micheal Hagedorn's spruce and hemlocks.
I think the windswept one I posted will look decent with very little time and work. The other ones will need more.

Tycoss · Oct 14, 2017

Sorry about those last ones. Seems my son was playing with my phone

sorce · Oct 15, 2017

Lol!

That last one is awesome too!

May be easier to collect with all that foliage to regenerate roots.

Jam it in a tiny pot like WP!

Tell your son he scored 2 points!

Sorce

Vance Wood · Oct 15, 2017

Are you certain these are Spruce? They look an awful lot like Fir. If so this would account for the Krummholz formations.

Tycoss · Oct 15, 2017

Vance Wood said:
Are you certain these are Spruce? They look an awful lot like Fir. If so this would account for the Krummholz formations.

I thought they might be alpine fir at first too. I had a good look at the needles though. They roll freely between your fingers like spruce. Firs that I have seen don't seem to get the flaky bark that the larger ones have, unless they are really old.

Vance Wood · Oct 15, 2017

Are the tips of the needles really sharp and painful to handle? What species of Spruce are known to grow where you are? I am thinking Sitka and believe me these are some prickly trees.

Krummholz style spruce

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