I keep asking the question hoping that someone has cracked that nut, so why don't you cut me some slack I meant no offence?
I did not say anything bad about this tree, your trees, any-one's trees. You assume to think what my intentions are but you are wrong. I seldom say anything about any-one's trees so what makes you think I,--- by posing the question about the really old Manaznittas, am only using this as a ploy to criticize what you are doing? Do you think I spend my days and nights thinking of ways to belittle your accomplishments with this tree? If you go back to the GW days, which you brought up, if I remember correctly; it was my questions about collecting Manzanittas that forced you to post some pictures of your efforts. Further still it was this that got you selected to do some shows and conventions with Manzanittas as a focal point.
And even now, after having my work slammed by you, refuse to follow suit. However seeing that legitimate criticism seems to be the message of the day my I respectfully offer this: For a man who has spear-headed Manzanittas from collected material why have you not gone after this problem (collecting the really old and twisted ones) with the same zeal you exercise to go after me?
Believe me, if I had access to the same type and age Mugos that are available to European masters do you think I would not go after them? This begs the question, if you have access to the young stuff and demonstrated the ability to harvest it from the wild, why have you not gone after the really old and valuable stuff that has to be out there? This would drive me crazy.
I'm sorry Greg, but you threw down this gauntlet, I just asked a question and was attacked for it. I will continue to ask this question from time to time hoping to get a difinitive answer and not just venom. I will make a note not to ask it of you. For those reading this and wondering what is going on I will ask the original question.
For those who live in California and parts of the South West there is a native bush called Manzanitta. They are a gorgeous little tree that rivals, and I would say surpasses the Florida Buttonwood in beauty because of the delicate little flowers and the stricking red bark. I saw many of these trees growing up in California, many of them were old and beaten up by the weather and environment. Many of them had the kinds of trunks you would expect to see comming out of a Kimura studio; gnarled, weathered, bleached white by the sun and reachable. My question was then as it is now has anyone as yet found a way to collect these trees? Greg has proven he can collect the young ones. That's wonderful and an accomplishment, but what about the really old ones? Is it wrong to ask such a question?