Divide_by_zero
Yamadori
I finally found a nursery just out of town that has a Limber Pine (pinus flexilis) in the field which they estimate is 30 to 40 years old (it was in the field when they bought the place several years back). It is about 5 ft tall and has a trunk that is wider than the palm of my hand at the base. The trunk line takes a 45 ° bend about 5" above the ground and the top of the tree looks like it was chopped a year or more ago. There are plenty of side branches low down to start building movement by chopping the tree off and establishing a new leader. (It's a shame pines do not air layer, there are so many other branches further up that have all sorts of potential)
I am very tempted to purchase the tree and get them to lift it in the spring for me. The main problem I have with it is that, understandably, they are asking a significant price for it ($400 CDN ish) and I wonder if I'm willing to risk that on any tree... even though this is probably the only way I will ever get my hands on such large material. Unfortunately, my Yamadori hunting days are behind me.
While I didn't go there looking for anything else they also have a Bur Oak (quercus macrocarpa) in the field that looked interesting. It's about 20 years old, a trunk base about three quarters the width of my palm and about 6 ft tall, again with a broken top. It looks more like a bush with lots of low side branches and lots of potential (again pricey, $300 ish).
I also noticed a 30 to 40 ft Northern Red Oak (quercus rubra) that was an enormous tall whip in a nursery tub. The trunk base is much smaller than the others and I'd guess it's not much more than 10 years old. It doesn't have the exciting potential or size of the others but if it air layers well I could probably get 6 + trees out of it.
While I'm fairly familiar with growing Limber Pines (one of my very first Yamadori 20+ years ago, before they became endangered species out here). I have no experience with Oaks and how suited they are to being grown and trained as bonsai.
Thoughts? Suggestions?
And yes, I'm kicking myself for not taking pictures of them when I was out there.
I am very tempted to purchase the tree and get them to lift it in the spring for me. The main problem I have with it is that, understandably, they are asking a significant price for it ($400 CDN ish) and I wonder if I'm willing to risk that on any tree... even though this is probably the only way I will ever get my hands on such large material. Unfortunately, my Yamadori hunting days are behind me.
While I didn't go there looking for anything else they also have a Bur Oak (quercus macrocarpa) in the field that looked interesting. It's about 20 years old, a trunk base about three quarters the width of my palm and about 6 ft tall, again with a broken top. It looks more like a bush with lots of low side branches and lots of potential (again pricey, $300 ish).
I also noticed a 30 to 40 ft Northern Red Oak (quercus rubra) that was an enormous tall whip in a nursery tub. The trunk base is much smaller than the others and I'd guess it's not much more than 10 years old. It doesn't have the exciting potential or size of the others but if it air layers well I could probably get 6 + trees out of it.
While I'm fairly familiar with growing Limber Pines (one of my very first Yamadori 20+ years ago, before they became endangered species out here). I have no experience with Oaks and how suited they are to being grown and trained as bonsai.
Thoughts? Suggestions?
And yes, I'm kicking myself for not taking pictures of them when I was out there.
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