Celtis Sinesis / Africana

fredman

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WoW its a great tree that will only get better under your hand Dorian. Good to see the progression. Thanks for posting this. I love the Stinkwoods. Such a happy looking tree with its new vibrant green leaves come springtime...!
I like the carving idea as they are very reluctant to cover scars. Very well designed I think. Is the carving finished? Do you treat it with something?
I take from the heading you're not sure whether it africana or sinensis? They are very close but as it ages they are easier distinguishable (or so I remember:oops:).
Anyway I really like it. It inspires me to keep fertilizing my little ones I have in the ground....:p
 

Dorian Fourie

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WoW its a great tree that will only get better under your hand Dorian. Good to see the progression. Thanks for posting this. I love the Stinkwoods. Such a happy looking tree with its new vibrant green leaves come springtime...!
I like the carving idea as they are very reluctant to cover scars. Very well designed I think. Is the carving finished? Do you treat it with something?
I take from the heading you're not sure whether it africana or sinensis? They are very close but as it ages they are easier distinguishable (or so I remember:oops:).
Anyway I really like it. It inspires me to keep fertilizing my little ones I have in the ground....:p
Hey Fredman. Thanks so much. I am also falling in love more and more with Celtis. I now have 4 in my collection. They are an amazing green colour. I fertilize them like crazy and I am rewarded with great luscious growth.

Yeah not sure if it is an africana or sinensis. The feeling his heading more to sinensis but only time will tell. Carving isn't finished yet and I still want it to go much deeper into the wood (almost hollow out the tree). I haven't treated it with anything as I want the wood to soften up so that I can carve it. This is a friend of mines (Hannes Fritz) celtis and his carving has hollowed out the whole trunk. I really gives it the perception of age so I want to go deeper with mine too.
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Dorian Fourie

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Been awhile since I updated this thread.

A few weeks ago, I did some cleaning up of the Celtis. I cut back many of the long branches to assist with the future growth / ramification when Spring hits in September. I have also been pulling down the branches to give the tree a better overall look to it. When the tree is nice and strong again, I will continue carving out the centre of the tree. I also need to think about how I am going to improve the nebari on the tree.

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Anthony

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Interesting Dorian,

on this side, the wounds keep on healing, but I was told that the Celtis, was not Africana,
instead it was a hybrid,

Just started seeds for C. chinensis,

Thanks for showing a beautiful tree, I am not crazy about hollowing, but that is just me.
Good Day
Anthony
 

Dorian Fourie

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Interesting Dorian,

on this side, the wounds keep on healing, but I was told that the Celtis, was not Africana,
instead it was a hybrid,

Just started seeds for C. chinensis,

Thanks for showing a beautiful tree, I am not crazy about hollowing, but that is just me.
Good Day
Anthony
Thanks Anthony for the feedback.
 

petegreg

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Thanks for a response on other thread, don't know how I missed your updates. The tree looks great...and it's for USDA 4a, so I'm gonna look for one.
 

CamdenJim

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So there we have it for now. The journey over the last 7 - 8 years.

Thoughts and suggestion, critiques welcome

Thanks for posting this! Your tree completely captured me, and the progression photos are great.
I miss the green pot ;), but the tree looks better to me in its new home.
 

Dorian Fourie

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Thanks for posting this! Your tree completely captured me, and the progression photos are great.
I miss the green pot ;), but the tree looks better to me in its new home.
Thanks CJ

Appreciate the comments. I also love that green pot but agree that the tree definitely fits in the new pot. Over the next few years, the idea is to let it grow out to the left and right so that it will reach over the edge of the pot. Not far to go but I believe another 2 - 3 years will work. Till then will continue to enlarge the hallow in the trunk bit by bit and work on the ramification.
 

my nellie

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I had not noticed this thread until now...
... ...Thanks for showing a beautiful tree, I am not crazy about hollowing, but that is just me.
I am not crazy either, but yes this is a beautiful tree and since that vast scar was not going to heal.... you had the only solution for the problem...
Very good work during "The journey over the last 7 - 8 years" The ramification speaks about that!

I couldn't help commenting "beautiful air plants" :)

So every few weeks, I have been carving a small amount off the centre trunk and then leaving it to dry out again before doing it again... ...
The best approach in my humble personal opinion.
 

Dorian Fourie

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I am not crazy either, but yes this is a beautiful tree.
Very good work during "The journey over the last 7 - 8 years" The ramification speaks about that!

The hollowing doesn't look good at the moment but I know it will improve as I take it deeper and clean it up. Also it needs to callous over nicely and it will improve. It was the only option though as that wound would never of closed up.

I couldn't help commenting "beautiful air plants"
Thanks so much. Yes my other hobby over and above the bonsai.

This pic was taken this morning. Its mid winter here so I moved some of my Air Plants onto my veranda to protect them from the cold. The other half were left to the elements but have been doing well.
till.jpg
 

Dorian Fourie

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What a nice display of your collection!
I have just started and have got only three plants.
Thanks. It is an amazing type of plant with the hybrids and species. Be careful though. It does become addictive. I am sitting with 319 different types and I cannot stop buying more.
 

Dorian Fourie

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Quick update on this Celtis. Spring is in full flow here and the tree is healthy. The back half of the tree is filled with leaves whilst on the front, the buds are only just breaking. Weird.
Over the next few weeks, the leaves need to open fully before I will continue wiring and doing branch selection on which to keep and which to remove.

I will also remove more of the carved area in the next few weeks.

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AlainK

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Thanks for posting: a great story and a very good tree.

I only regret that you've made such a large shari that widens from the first cut. To me -personal opinion!- it would have looked much more natural with a less conspicuous wound. So far, the bottom part looks a bit artificial, but I'm sure it will improve, and anyway I'm impressed by what you've done in terms of ramification.
 
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