Five days at Boon’s

[Cadillactaste]

I don't know if I have the patience to needle select. I see my OCD along with indecisiveness finding them a nightmare...but so admire what you bring to the table @Adair M !

 

[JudyB]

I love how the big olive is starting to read like one large tree and a subsidiary.

 

[Adair M]

I really like the pot though...maybe for another tree?

Oh, it’s a nice pot, just too big. This tree is getting close to being show worthy. So it needs a smaller pot.

Something like this:

 

[Adair M]

And here’s something different indeed: a Mino Yatsabusha Trident Maple. Very old.



This cultivar has droopy leaves. And rough bark. And the center lobe of each leaf is elongated. And makes good color every year.

The pot is oversized because it’s sitting on two 2x6 planks, getting the nebari to flair out via the Ebihara method.





After defoliation. This tree was allowed to grow all year since we wanted good root growth to improve the nebari. Prior to my ownership the tree had been kept under shade cloth, and it wasn’t very strong. This past summer it got full sun, and developed long runners. Now, it’s time to cut back!



After cutback and a bit of wiring. All cuts were sealed. One major branch was removed.

 

[Adair M]

Here is a project pine. This time I remembered to take thenrfore picture, but forgot the “After” picture!

Lol!!!



By now you know the drill: pull old needles, thin excess summer candles, cut back, wire... ho hum.

Last spring,I grafted on three new branches. Two took. So, I placed another graft. Hope it takes!

 

[Adair M]

Let’s crunch one!

Before work:



Last May, we applied the rebar, and gave it a crunch. Guy wired it in place. The guy
Wire was loose, which means the bend had taken. So, Time to crunch again!



The idea is to bring the trunk up near the apex back to the right to create another sharp curve. A good way to make these dramatic bends is to do a little bit at a time. So, it was bent some last May,some in November, and maybe some more inJanuary. We’ll see.



After, you guessed it, pulling needles, thinning excess shoots from summer, and wiring.

 

[Adair M]

What else? How about a big Utah Juniper? Sure, no problem!



It was collected 20 years ago. Put in a box, a root graft was placed, and some Kishu grafted on the back. Then, left alone for 20 years.

Spent a couple hours cleaning the bark, then we placed 5 new shimpaku approach grafts.



Notice the life line isn’t as dark red as some other junipers.



The back is good, too, but you barely see the lifeline about 1/2 way up the trunk. So the other side is the front. The final tree’s foliage apex will be about midway. The Jin’s will protrude up higher.

 

[defra]

Wow!
Nice work adair!
I notice you grafted the utah juniper and a pine is now (fall) a good time for grafting?

 

[Adair M]

Boon’s climate is very mild, so he can graft almost all year. Approach grafts can be set at any time.

 

[defra]

Boon’s climate is very mild, so he can graft almost all year. Approach grafts can be set at any time.

Thnx for the reply !
Other grafts in spring?
Im working on a big squamata juniper wich maybe i want to graft different foliage on so im gathering info on the grafting techniques

 

[Cadillactaste]

Oh, it’s a nice pot, just too big. This tree is getting close to being show worthy. So it needs a smaller pot.

Something like this:

View attachment 167069

I understand...and the new pot I like even more! You have some amazing pots I must say.

 

[sorce]

I’m going to try to steam bend the straight deadwood. If it works, great! If not

If not....try again!

Is that a bat on the front of that smaller future olive pot?

That's a fine pot!

Sorce

 

[thams]

Oh, it’s a nice pot, just too big. This tree is getting close to being show worthy. So it needs a smaller pot.

Something like this:

View attachment 167069

Details on the pot?

 

[JudyB]

love love the pot for that olive...