Collecting Sub Alpine Fir Vancouver Island

[River's Edge]

The collecting window can be brief for this species. I collected one this spring as early as the site could be accessed safely and before bud break. June 25th, had to move the melting snow away from the area. Then i collected one this fall after the growth had hardened off and dormancy from the summer dry spell had set. September 28. The growth period approximately 2 to 2 1/2 months. Here is a set of pictures showing the site and process with the spring collection.

 

[GGB]

That thing is brutally perfect. I dream of retiring on Vancouver island

 

[River's Edge]

That thing is brutally perfect. I dream of retiring on Vancouver island

Thanks. Seeing as you liked that one, here is the second one i collected in the fall.

 

[GGB]

Too cool, I tried to grow some from seed a few years ago. In hind sight it was a foolish newbie thing to do. The seeds never germinated anyway haha. Our climates are quite different

 

[Bavarian Raven]

One of my fav species. Collected a tiny one last spring. It needs a "few" more years to say the least. Beautiful tree.

 

[wireme]

Nice.
I dug one a couple years back, pic was this summer, seems to have collected well. I'll probably start lopping some bits off next summer, get a better idea of what's there.
I'd like to go after more, I've noticed that every now and then I see one with excellent basal flare. They seem to grow those nice big bottoms more often than other conifers for some reason, have you noticed that too?

 

[River's Edge]

Nice.
I dug one a couple years back, pic was this summer, seems to have collected well. I'll probably start lopping some bits off next summer, get a better idea of what's there.
Just from the picture, looks like a broken top with strong branching growing out and up from the break. nice potential and likely some cool deadwood area.
I'd like to go after more, I've noticed that every now and then I see one with excellent basal flare. They seem to grow those nice big bottoms more often than other conifers for some reason, have you noticed that too?

I have, the trick seems to be finding the flare associated with collectability and suitable size for collecting. Also is often associated with a really strong dominant root, making the collection trickier. The more i see collecting the fewer i deem collectable. The last few years it seems one or two per year of any type. Often one just enjoys the outing and comes home with a light backpack.
The triple trunk i collected in June this year has a nice basal flare on the largest trunk. The overall height and the three apexes are reducible which will in time make it a nice size of approximately 34 inches with appropriate proportion between the three trunks.