Hand-me-down JM

[ABCarve]

This was given to me last spring. It is a mere shadow of what it used to be. The story goes it was started by Grace Suzuki's grandfather in 1924 California. It was purchased in 1968 by it's former owner (I know this for a fact), whom I got it from. Its original composition was 5 trees. I don't know the arrangement. You can see the remnants (stump between trees) of the main tree in the close up. The other trees have either died or were squashed from a large branch falling on it, which also broke the 24" shallow pot it was in. The top of the tree on the right was broken of as well, shown by the wound at the first branch. Last spring I combed out the weeds and roots and put it into the largest pot I had. I let it grow all season.

 

[ABCarve]

This spring I removed the large first branch of the larger tree. My thought was that the wound would only make the reverse taper worse. I also removed the dead branch which was bleached as deadwood. So now I have this pair of trees........hmmm?? I've been thinking of cutting them apart and making two. The lava rock carves easily. I could change the potting angle and have many more options. However......It would ruin the original intent of it's creator. So...what do you all think....try to save the thought as best I can or move it on to something completely different??

 

[ColinFraser]

Perhaps you could start some cuttings to replace the previous trunks. That lowest branch might have been a good start as an air layer . . .

 

[klosi]

Try to save it! As a sign of respect towards the creator/master.

 

[GrimLore]

So...what do you all think....try to save the thought as best I can or move it on to something completely different??

Myself I would look at separating and growing both while keeping in mind "binding the 2 together down the road... Just my penny

Grimmy

 

[ABCarve]

Myself I would look at separating and growing both while keeping in mind "binding the 2 together down the road... Just my penny

Grimmy

If I would have seen this sitting with a for sale sign-cheap, I would have giggled and moved on. The only appealing thing is its age and how its managed to hang on through some tough times. Kinda like bonsai yamadori. I don't want to be the one to kill it or its design!! I'm trying to think of maybe re-carving the rock to fit some smaller trees in.

 

[jk_lewis]

Myself I would look at separating and growing both while keeping in mind "binding the 2 together down the road... Just my penny

Grimmy

I agree, wholeheartedly. Who cares about the original intent? They're long gone, and the immediate past owners obviously didn't care much either. But, cut apart now and then pushed together, this could make a nice twin trunk or mother-daughter tree, given a few years.

 

[GrimLore]

I agree, wholeheartedly. Who cares about the original intent? They're long gone, and the immediate past owners obviously didn't care much either. But, cut apart now and then pushed together, this could make a nice twin trunk or mother-daughter tree, given a few years.

I just wanted to point out that since 1968 come hell or high water these two made it and "that" is a story worth telling. I would feel I was offending that brutal history by replanting them with similar trees with no history. They are still there after all of that! Damn the original owners would be grinning ! On a side note I feel at 60 I have the time to pull it off - Dave if you want you know how to contact me and we might work something out, and yes as usual I would need the History

Grimmy

 

[ABCarve]

I would feel I was offending that brutal history by replanting them with similar trees with no history. They are still there after all of that!

Grimmy

I take your point quite well. I'll let it grow for now. It'll give me time to ponder. I smell a special pot coming on.

 

[ABCarve]

Well..... here we go. I just let it grow last season. Gave it a hedge clip in July. Got healthy, especially after a dose of Subdue to kill of a fungus it had as did all my maples.

 

[ABCarve]

Fall came around and I kept pondering the design problem. I decided I needed to make a bold move. My study group liked the new angle, but hated the stone it was on. It has a straight top and uninteresting side with very little texture. It's lava rock, some call it feather stone. It's very soft and easy to carve.

 

[ABCarve]

This is after making some choices with the branching, a little wire and chewing away some of the stone.

 

[ABCarve]

In the fall I wondered how to get it stay at that angle and still have something that fit the stone design. That's what winters are for.

 

[ABCarve]

After a little shoehorning........ I left some choice branches as a backup to see where it goes.

 

[aml1014]

After a little shoehorning........ I left some choice branches as a backup to see where it goes.

Looking great!
What a trasformation in just year.

Aaron

 

[barrosinc]

that does look like a convincing angle and pot!

 

[MACH5]

Bold and out of the box thinking turn this average material into something with real potential. Well done!

 

[AlainK]

To me, the problem is that the two trees are too wide apart. It might sound anthropocentric, but they look as if they didn't want to have anything to do with each other - Oh no! Not in the same pot as that one, Lordy, Lord, no!

OK, the sun's gone down and it's beer time, but seriously it's either you want a forest and if they're only two, hopefully we have a good chance they will reproduce.

Or if you think of a Father/Son, or Mother/Daughter, or Bro, Sis, etc., I prefer when my kin stays close and at the same time doesn't suffocate me, but we love each other

 

[Cadillactaste]

That is stunning...something reminiscence of what I see on hiking trails!

 

[AlainK]

I realise they're from the same root.

You can slice the horizontal root, then graft/fuse tha two parts, if you see what I mean:



Then you can match the two cuts, tie them with raffia that will rot away while sealing takes - and the cuts will probably produce new roots that will improve the nebari.

Then, in this pot and position or any other, I think the trees will look as if they get along much better