Before:
After:
What was done was remove the first two leaves of each branch. Flowers buds will form only in nodes that have a leaf. So, no flowers on those two modes. Instead, they will form vegitative buds. So? I should get new branches started there in 2017.
Meanwhile, just about every place that has a leaf will get a flower bud. See how the leaves are all kinda curled? That's the sign they're making flower buds.
Also, most of the branches were wired. With aluminum. And little curves put into the branches. I had initially wired some of the branches down, but Boon said not to bend them down, just put in curves. Let them grow "up", but put in movement. So, I did.
Really, I did. You can't really see it, it's obscured by the leaves. And I didn't wire all the way to the end. Only about half way out. You see, late next fall, the wires will be removed when the leaves fall, and the branches will be cut back (yes, sacrificing some flowers!), cut back into the curvy portion.
The tree isn't cut back that far right now so that the tree will be stronger.