Inspired Alberta Spruce...

[fraser67]

Having thrown up a few assorted posts and a question or two...this is my first time (in nearly three years of working on Bonsai) throwing up one of my trees to the wolves
While doing some reading last night, I uncovered a couple older posts on the Alberta Spruce and became inspired to have some fun with one I picked up last year. I repotted her and did a prune and some initial wiring.
She rebounded quickly and seemed very happy coming into spring.(Gotta love Southern California)
I removed the wire last month and, surprisingly, she maintained her shape.
To bring the branches further down, this time I tried cutting a notch under the branch at the truck as well as removing some of the cambium on top of the branch at the trunk (per one of the threads) to create some scarring and perhaps stave off the inevitable...
At any rate, I'll watch the progress and see...

 

[wireme]

Hey, I think it's ugly but I like it! The trunk has its flaws and problem areas but still something about the image does put me in mind of nice old trees I've seen in nature. I'd think about losing 1 or 2 or 3 of the lowest branches but maybe not now, I think a few people here have lost albertas after too much work too soon on the first styling.
I think it can become a nice interesting tree.

 

[fraser67]

The tree is young and the trunk is flawed....but I think all the years I've spent skiing in and among trees like this, I'm drawn to them and I like that look!
Yes, eventually, a couple of the lower branches will be jinned. I'm curious to see how she responds to this round of cut and wire.
Thanks for looking

 

[JudyB]

Thanks for posting this, it's a good first effort for an Alberta, of course, there will be a second, and third...

What wolves???

 

[fraser67]

Thanks for posting this, it's a good first effort for an Alberta, of course, there will be a second, and third...

What wolves???

I've had three wolves over the years...they are sweet, loving and caring creatures
I would like to thank you Judy B for your previous posts on the Alberta...part of the "inspiration"

 

[JudyB]

You are welcome. Please continue to post your work. It can really help to motivate you to do things.
Here is a picture of my long gone sad alberta group, I think a lot of people have had them. I learned a lot about wiring on mine....

 

[fraser67]

You are welcome. Please continue to post your work. It can really help to motivate you to do things.
Here is a picture of my long gone sad alberta group, I think a lot of people have had them. I learned a lot about wiring on mine....

Ha! I don't need help getting motivated to do things ( I just recently repotted over 35 trees!)... I need someone to help me with my addiction...I need to stop bringing home trees
How long did you work with the Alberta's? Thanks for the pic

 

[JudyB]

I think I had that grouping for 3 years. I finally gave them to my sister, wonder if they still live. Probably...

 

[HumbleTrees]

The top.

Will you walk me through your thought process for keeping the taller top and jinning the smaller?

 

[JudyB]

I chopped the top on the larger one as well, it's just not as visible the way the photo was taken. I did reduce all of them before I gave up on them, they were a bit too rangy as they were.