JudyB
Queen of the Nuts
Have a good trip, happy hunting!
Planning first collecting trip
- Thread starter Cable
- Start date
Cable
Omono
Well, now it isn't looking good. Supposed to rain tonight and tomorrow with scattered showers on Saturday. My cohorts are worried it will be too muddy and miserable. Thing is, I can't do it the following weekend. The weekend after that would work but it is supposed to rain that whole week, too. And I'm worried it is getting too late in the season to dig...
rockm
Spuds Moyogi
Then you'll have to dig in the rain
...A muddy miserable day digging potential bonsai is a lot better than a muddy miserable day thinking you're missing out on digging potential bonsai. Wear waders, mud boots, etc...Don't know if you hunt, but rain never stopped me...
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BrianBay9
Masterpiece
Getting wet and muddy is just part of the price for "free" collected trees. Part of the charm of the experience too.
Cable
Omono
I seriously considered going alone but now I'm targeting next weekend after I move my Sunday commitment. I think it will be more fun with other peeps on the trip so I'm trying to be patient. Was bummed all day long, though.
Cable
Omono
And I stopped hunting in the rain, too. Never seemed to get anything but wet and miserable anyway! lol
Housguy
Chumono
Just got back from my Utah Juniper collection trip, collected 5 trees, will post those later, but here is a couple of cool pics from the trip.
Cable
Omono
Turned out to be a good call to cancel. Pretty severe thunderstorms hit the area in the afternoon and then later turned to snow.
Leo in N E Illinois
The Professor
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@Cable
How long is your permit good for? The spring collecting season closes as soon as buds start opening, but several weeks after summer solstice, after foliage has largely hardened off, there is a second season that opens. It is NOT as guaranteed to be successful as the spring season, but I've averaged over 50% on summer-autumn collecting. Your after care has to be good. Shade at first then sun later, or even the following year. You will have to respond to cues the tree gives you. But it can work.
I also walk around the farm with fluorescent tape. Mark stuff for spring. I've got two hawthorns marked for 2019
How long is your permit good for? The spring collecting season closes as soon as buds start opening, but several weeks after summer solstice, after foliage has largely hardened off, there is a second season that opens. It is NOT as guaranteed to be successful as the spring season, but I've averaged over 50% on summer-autumn collecting. Your after care has to be good. Shade at first then sun later, or even the following year. You will have to respond to cues the tree gives you. But it can work.
I also walk around the farm with fluorescent tape. Mark stuff for spring. I've got two hawthorns marked for 2019
Cable
Omono
Until June 15. Thanks for the tip, I'll keep it in mind if I can't get out soon.
Colorado Josh
Yamadori
Is the permit with the state, usfs, or blm? I went to get a permit from the blm the other day, and they told me the season doesn't open until May . That's kind of late in my opinion. Most of the buds are well on there way by that time.
They also said rock collecting doesn't open until may either. I guess they aren't mature enough until then. Gotta let them grow up. ?
They also said rock collecting doesn't open until may either. I guess they aren't mature enough until then. Gotta let them grow up. ?
BrianBay9
Masterpiece
I guess that depends on the elevation and snow pack. When I was collecting in Colorado there were times I couldn't get to the sites until June.
Leo in N E Illinois
The Professor
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If trees have started growing when you finally get out to collect. For the more vigorous deciduous trees, you might try defoliating the tree as you collect it. Most trees have enough energy to produce as second round of foliage after a late frost. Defoliating will make it possible for the tree to only open buds after collecting that it has enough roots to support. Fewer roots, fewer buds. This will not be a ''sure thing'', you might not have a high success rate, but this way you will at least get some use of the permit you paid for.
Just a thought. I've done this after the summer solstice. I've collected in july, defoliated the tree, chopped the trunk, did all the radical work on the day collected and had about a 40% success rate with elms and Elaeagnus. It is not guaranteed. My summers are considered mild, I usually have fewer than 10 days above 90F, many years with zero days above 90 F.
Just a thought. I've done this after the summer solstice. I've collected in july, defoliated the tree, chopped the trunk, did all the radical work on the day collected and had about a 40% success rate with elms and Elaeagnus. It is not guaranteed. My summers are considered mild, I usually have fewer than 10 days above 90F, many years with zero days above 90 F.
Housguy
Chumono
One of the Utah Junipers I collected Now I will care for it like it was the last tree on earth and won't even touch it for the next year and half to two years, as long as it has survived the collection process.
Now I will care for it like it was the last tree on earth and won't even touch it for the next year and half to two years, as long as it has survived the collection process.
Cable
Omono
A state agency.
Cable
Omono
Today's the day! Two of the three in our group canceled but it will still be fun. Forecast all week was for around 70° with rain around 4:00pm. Now they're saying chance of showers starting at 11. I think it will be fine. Wish me luck!
BrianBay9
Masterpiece
Good luck. The trees will do better collected in light rain anyway.
Cable
Omono
Today went pretty good. Found some nice trees, though nothing spectacular. The weather was damn near perfect, too! I ended up with a white pine (I know they're not the best for bonsai but the trunk was really cool), a beech, and what I think is a boxelder. The other guy got a white pine and what appears to be a yellow birch.
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