Another collected Rocky Mountain Juniper

[Poink88]

Those do look like totally diff. environments. Thanks Dan for the explanation.

To my thinking though, seems it'd be easier (and maybe higher success rate?) to pry a smaller root mass out of rock pockets, than to dig them like from Brian's area? Prob. not as simple as that.

True if it is in a pocket...however, they usually are in fissures/cracks and long roots are sandwiched between giant SOLID boulders.

 

[Dan W.]

I'd much rather pry them out any day. But you do have to make some very odd shaped boxes somtimes... and you get to walk past a LOT of really awesome trees before you fnd one that MIGHT come out...lol. But I'm glad all of those are still up there. I go back past my favorites every time I'm in the area.

 

[Dan W.]

Those do look like totally diff. environments. Thanks Dan for the explanation.

To my thinking though, seems it'd be easier (and maybe higher success rate?) to pry a smaller root mass out of rock pockets, than to dig them like from Brian's area? Prob. not as simple as that.

Fore, 95% of the time it's not as simple as that... but every once in a while you get extremely lucky and one basically pops out like you're taking it out of your bonsai pot. I LOVE those ones.

 

[fore]

Fore, 95% of the time it's not as simple as that... but every once in a while you get extremely lucky and one basically pops out like you're taking it out of your bonsai pot. I LOVE those ones.

LOL! Rarely are things 'simple', but I know what you mean!

 

[Dav4]

So, it's been a long time since I've updated this thread. I made the decision to graft shimpaku on this one 4 years ago and Have probably placed at least 10 approach grafts on it... it has spit out every one except 3. Luckily, the 3 completed grafts are each one one of the live veins and were separated completely a year ago and are currently growing well. I brought it to the Redneck Bonsai study group workshop with Boon at @Adair M 's place this past weekend. At his suggestion, we chose to re-pot rather then place more grafts. I'll say that it was quite enlightening to watch Boon work his magic fixing this one solidly in it's pot, and even more satisfying to pick it up without feeling the trunk shift. It ain't moving and I don't have wires running from the drain holes to the deadwood to steady it... solid! Hopefully, more grafting to be done later this spring/early summer.

 

[Adair M]

So, it's been a long time since I've updated this thread. I made the decision to graft shimpaku on this one 4 years ago and Have probably placed at least 10 approach grafts on it... it has spit out every one except 3. Luckily, the 3 completed grafts are each one one of the live veins and were separated completely a year ago and are currently growing well. I brought it to the Redneck Bonsai study group workshop with Boon at @Adair M 's place this past weekend. At his suggestion, we chose to re-pot rather then place more grafts. I'll say that it was quite enlightening to watch Boon work his magic fixing this one solidly in it's pot, and even more satisfying to pick it up without feeling the trunk shift. It ain't moving and I don't have wires running from the drain holes to the deadwood to steady it... solid! Hopefully, more grafting to be done later this spring/early summer.
View attachment 181228View attachment 181230View attachment 181231View attachment 181232

And you thought you were done with Square Roots back in high school!

 

[Vance Wood]

And you thought you were done with Square Roots back in high school!

Don't forget log rhythms. I know; it's not spelled properly but the joke works I think.

 

[Dav4]

It seems that when I transition junipers into akadama based soils, the tree slows down for a season and this one was no different. Not much growth from either the grafts or the native foliage. Still, everything is a nice and healthy green... except the lowest graft on the left which somehow got muted... grrrrrrrr... sprayed and we’re good. Several new approach grafts started this spring are growing well... planning to get some wire on the older grafts this fall.

 

[coh]

Kind of reminds me of some Dan Robinson trees.

 

[Dav4]

It seems that when I transition junipers into akadama based soils, the tree slows down for a season and this one was no different. Not much growth from either the grafts or the native foliage. Still, everything is a nice and healthy green... except the lowest graft on the left which somehow got muted... grrrrrrrr... sprayed and we’re good. Several new approach grafts started this spring are growing well... planning to get some wire on the older grafts this fall.View attachment 204126

Should say "mites"... as in spider mites... heh heh, auto correct and the inability to edit a post after 20 minutes strikes again!!

 

[Dav4]

So, spider mites took the lowest graft on the left and the live vein that fed it, necessitating a style change. Luckily, the remaining grafts have continued to grow strongly, which allowed for a pretty radical transformation. I've still got 2 newish grafts on the back that may or may not take, but they aren't necessary to make the new style work. I think this one will be ready for prime time in relatively short order, give or take 4-5 years .

 

[Dav4]

One of many reasons this one was grafted... the last bits of native rmj foliage left

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Hate that stuff. Shimp foliage is so nice plus no CAR.

 

[Dav4]

Hate that stuff. Shimp foliage is so nice plus no CAR.

Uber frustrating, too. I soooooooo want to cut that stuff away but that foliage is supporting 2 grafts that haven't officially taken yet.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Not to mention the introduction to previously unaffected apples, hawthorns, and Chinese quinces. I’m down to 1 RMJ foliage, and this is a good reminder to nuke it with fungicides...like today!

 

[Dav4]

Not to mention the introduction to previously unaffected apples, hawthorns, and Chinese quinces. I’m down to 1 RMJ foliage, and this is a good reminder to nuke it with fungicides...like today!

My property is full of/surrounded by ERC and various indigenous/ornamental Prunus and Malus species... the cow is out of the barn!! I think I'm going to go out there sometime this week, beer in hand, and scrape away as much of the goo as possible, and hopefully, the remaining rmj foliage can be cut away by this timer next year.

 

[Vance Wood]

I must have missed something here; you guys are saying that RMJ (foliage) is more susceptible to scale and fungal issues than other members of the Juniper family?

 

[Dav4]

I must have missed something here; you guys are saying that RMJ (foliage) is more susceptible to scale and fungal issues than other members of the Juniper family?

That's been my experience down here in GA, except for the scale, which I've found on both shimpakus and RMJs in small numbers here. The shimpakus I have get mites as frequently as the RMJs but I've never had C-A rust on them... ever.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

I must have missed something here; you guys are saying that RMJ (foliage) is more susceptible to scale and fungal issues than other members of the Juniper family?

Clearly you have. Shimpaku junipers don’t get Cedar Apple Rust. RMJ and ERC seem innately infected By it.

 

[Dav4]

Spring sprang!