Hugemadori

[Bunjeh]

A friend of mine brought me this huge burl from the slash pile on his building lot. Hard to see it now but it is an Alder (Alnus Rubra) and a Vine Maple (Acer Circinatum) that somehow intertwined. I am intriqued if not intimidated. It is quite large and will involve a lot of carving. I anticipate that I will try to turn this in to the "Fairy Tale Style" of which Walter Pall speaks. going to let it grow for a couple of years before I try anything major. It is in a mix of 40% DE, 40% Turface, and 20% sifted pine bark. I put more bark on the surface as a mulch as I understand that Alder do not like to dry out. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[Bunjeh]

Pictures

Here are a couple of pictures. Again,..any advice will be appreciated.

 

[sorce]

Looks like a fun project.

Wicked Base.

I'd cut the trunks back by half mid summerish. Then hedge cut it for a few.

This will make a nice Tale!

Score!

Sorce

 

[Bunjeh]

Looks like a fun project.

Wicked Base.

I'd cut the trunks back by half mid summerish. Then hedge cut it for a few.

This will make a nice Tale!

Score!

Sorce

How low would you hedge cut it? The whips are about 2" long now.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

If you post photos of each side, from the same angle you took the first photo in post #2, people may be able to help offer their opinion on front, along with proposed chop locations. This appears to have a respectable base, but the trunks are likely too tall.

 

[sorce]

Depends on how fast and where it grows.....

Looks like you got a couple nice new leaders, but as BVF said, it would be nice to see around the horn!

I dig the hedge cutting method, but I use a highly particular form of it. Which kind of makes it regular maintenance pruning!

I would Try to cut it back once maybe twice a summer for 4 years. It will provide you with a solution by then.

Hard thing is going to be the different growth rates!

Read smokes blog about safety cuts, it'll be crucial to know what each will do.

More I think about it, more excited I get, ....

Did you get good roots? What's it's survival look like?

Sorce

 

[James H]

wow what a great find and grab. You have the chance to make two distinct trees each with their own styling and growing methods and still work the different designs together. I cant wait to see it after it wakes up in the spring.

 

[Bunjeh]

Did you get good roots? What's it's survival look like?

Sorce

I think we are good. Lots of fibrous roots underneath. It has been sitting on top of a slash pile since last June and still grew through out the summer,..so I'd say we have a good chance.

 

[catfish chapstick]

I like the uniqueness. Would be interesting to give each tree it's own branching character to set them apart

 

[Michael T]

I'd cut it right at the top of the burl and grow the resulting whips as a clump style. That would take two to three years to be convincing. The trunks are too straight no taper.

 

[Bunjeh]

I'd cut it right at the top of the burl and grow the resulting whips as a clump style. That would take two to three years to be convincing. The trunks are too straight no taper.

Odd that you say that. I was just outside looking at it and thought the same to myself. Otherwise, it's never going to look right.

 

[sorce]

Bunjeh,

I hope you didn't chop it! Is it living?

With those big wounds on the bottom, that won't likely close, a clump at the top of this Will never never look natural, or nice IMO.

The trunks don't have taper, but the whole thing has great taper!

I would make a carving project out of this one. You can create taper in the trunks and let this turn into the rugged holey halfdead halfbreed it wants to be!

I don't mean Nice carving with torches and hardener,

I'm talking gouge the s out of it and let it rot where it will! Maybe after a good years growth and promoting back buds.



Sorce

 

[Bunjeh]

Bunjeh,

I hope you didn't chop it! Is it living?

View attachment 68886

Sorce

Sorce: So get this. So much for the whole alder/acer intertwined thing. Now that it is coming to life (lots of back budding all over), it turns out it is serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amelanchier_alnifolia So, now I am even more intrigued. Not only flowering, but with edible berries.

 

[sorce]

Sorce: So get this. So much for the whole alder/acer intertwined thing. Now that it is coming to life (lots of back budding all over), it turns out it is serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amelanchier_alnifolia So, now I am even more intrigued. Not only flowering, but with edible berries.

That's awesome!

Pics!

Sorce

 

[Bunjeh]

That's awesome!

Pics!

Sorce

Raining today. I will take some and post over the weekend. Also, all of my collected hawthorn seem to have survived and reestablished vigor. Great Spring so far.

 

[Bunjeh]

Here it is now. It has reestablished vigor and is indeed a serviceberry.

 

[Bunjeh]

Let's try that again.

 

[BonsaiButler]

wow very cool! is this thing still alive?

 

[aml1014]

Service berry are awsome they are a native here in the southwestern desert so I know these things are tough

 

[Cotyledon]

Saskatoon you say. Very cool