I think this is my tree. But regardless of who's possession it is in, it is the best spruce in the yard.
Finally, Jason, why did you post these trees? Too lazy to pull out the good ones to photograph I assume. I am sure you have some good pre-bonsai, as well as regular old bonsai, on those benches that are a little better than what you posted here...
Yes Rich, these were easy to get to on the bench and they were light..... One day soon I will get some better stuff up here on Da' Nut!
I like this tree. In fact, I don't see much more to be done than develop ramification and clean it up a bit. This tree would become a natural showstopper just about anywhere in a short amount of time. What a great find!
Thanks Chris, You are right but there is some carving that will be done on the upper 1/3 to 1/2 of the trunk when it is all said and done. I need to connect shari and tie it all together. But for the most part it is close to bieng a good tree.... just needs a pot and some detail work and we will be there. I will have more spruce similar to this by the end of this fall.
The lodge pole pine is a great tree. Of the two pictures you show the second would be my chosen front. I do have a slight concern about what appears to be bulging/reverse taper at the midsection possibly due to the branching in that area or it could be just a bad camera angle. My second concern would be a bottle neck if the smaller trunk is chosen as a lead to the apex (which would be my preference). Both probably could be over come though through some quick work of a makita. The branch placement is good through out the tree. With some branch development this will be a great tree..
I just went and looked in person and I didn't see any major buldge so it must have been my bad photos
This can become a very classic tree in a short amount of time. The big leader I cut off will see some love with the Makita but other than that it is get it in a pot, carve and then some wiring (if I can ever get some copper wire
)
The Sierra Juniper has great dead wood, however that is all I can positively say about it (bracing for the boos and hisses) Perhaps its the photo but I can't share yours and Rick's enthusiasm about it. In the right hands I have no doubt it will make a good bonsai. I know that Sierras aren't used for its foliage per say. So I'm not really even factoring that in. The problem I see is that you don't want to edit the dead wood to much and rob mother nature her hard work so that leaves little options left on the movement, shape and size of the trunk ... I truly hope to be proved wrong here..
I will prove you wrong!!!
The foliage doesn't bother me, infact I kinda like the blueish color and the smell doesn't bother me either. I am not a purist when it comes to foliage, ya know... graft shimpaku or black pine on everything so I plan to keep it native. In person this tree is probably the best tree I own at the moment. There is plenty of options without really editing the deadwood too much and still making a very naturalistic bonsai that will show its age, deadwood, live vein twists, etc.
The white pine in my opinion is ... well ... blah! Its bulbous tush doesn't do a thing for me. Does it have any nebari? Sorry Jason, perhaps its all the other great material your showing that makes this piece lacking..
I know, I know, lol! It is one of those things that you have room on the pack, it has some unique style to it and someone will want it if I don't. Then factor in it came out of the rock in 3 minutes....hmmm, grab it! It has no nebari to speak of since it was grown in a crack, hence the bulbous base. You can't always have killer trees, know what I mean?
This is an absolutely true statement. The dead wood is fantastic, outstanding movement for a contorta. These two features will make this another show stopper someday down the road. This is the best example of lodge pole I've seen (except maybe for the ones I have in my growing field
)
I love this little engelmani I think it will be a stonker sooner than later. It looks like its ready to be styled and jump into a pot. Your wife should have fun with this. Has she decided on a styling scheme yet?.
I told her lastnight that while Walter is here she needs to take part in the private stuff we do in the yard and work on this one..... she likes it just like it is and doesn't want to change anything. So I will either get her to work on it or I will sneak it into my pile of trees to work on...hope she doesn't notice. Again, this will be a very natural looking tree since there really isn't a whole lot to do with it. Enhance some movement, clean up the deadwood and do some wiring. That will be all for its first styling.
That contorta is a show stopper..... I can't wait to work on it and get it into a much better pot. I have seen thousands in the woods but never one with deadwood like that. What a brutal life it has lived so far....
Jason, based on your past experience, how long after collecting have you see trees such as these regain health enough to begin working on them?
Will
Will, I am a lot more aggressive than most on working on things. If it is pushing new growth and I can see new root growth I will work on it then. Most of the times it will be in 1 growing season that I am able to work on things maybe 2 at the most. I want to get it out of native soil as soon as possible and into a pot of some sort. But if I don't see new roots and new growth to support the roots then I will wait until both of those things come together. Most of the time it is within 1 year of collecting no matter the species. A good root pad and feeding program will normally show me both in a year or less....
I guess I follow the logic of Chris's teacher Boon on this one
It isn't time, it is health of the tree....
Thanks.....
Jason