A Japanese Black Pine

[markyscott]

Here's one of my black pines. I bought it a little over two years ago from Jim Gremel. I wired it out completely over the past couple of days - the first time it's seen wire since I purchased it from Jim. Thought I'd share it and some things I think I've learned in caring for this tree.

Front

Right

Back

Left


Scott

 

[markyscott]

Some history first. According to Jim, "I bought your pine many years ago from a grower in central CA. His nursery was a hot spot for trees for a while, but it was picked pretty clean. I styled & restyled it many times, but I don't think it was touched for a year or more." So I have it on Jim's authority that this is a domestic tree, not an import.

I purchased it from Jim in November 2011 and it was shipped from California to Houston in February of 2012. Jim's beautiful handmade pot was destroyed during shipping (Jim was kind enough to send a replacement - equally beautiful). I used the opportunity to change out 1/2 the old soil. The tree grew strongly that spring so I candled in late June and pulled needles in December. Late June is early for candling in Houston - I often wait until late July or early August, but I was conscious of the fact that the tree had not yet adjusted to Houston's climate (heck - I've been here 15 years and I still haven't adjusted). If one candles too late, a black pine will respond by setting buds but will not push any summer growth. Here's an example of summer buds, but no summer shoots on a black pine I candled in late July with my other black pines during its first summer in Houston.



It's not terrible, but a good reminder that it can take trees 2-3 years to acclimatize when moving them to a different part of the country.

Scott

 

[Jason_mazzy]

have you watched this?: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=Yn1FiRw2JBo

 

[markyscott]

In January of 2013, Boon visited - he and I (mostly he) repotted. Although I thought I had removed 1/2 of the soil - Boon found quite a lot of old soil that I had left inadvertently directly under the trunk. It takes a fair amount of digging to remove it and I hadn't been as thorough as I should have been. Again 1/2 the rootball was undisturbed.



Scott

 

[markyscott]

I decandled in late July - my normal Houston schedule. The tree responded decently, but about 1/2 the branches set buds and the other 1/2 set summer shoots. I'm thinking 3 years to completely acclimate. Tree was completely wired over the past couple of days. We'll see what grade Boon gives to me on his next visit. Lastly, I did the soji - the term refers to cleaning, in this case the removal of the top 1/2" or so of soil containing weeds, broken down akadama, and degraded organic fertilizer - this should be done every fall. That'll be it until Boons visit.

Here's something we'll have to work on.



Lack of branching close to the trunk on several branches. A lot of my pines suffer from this as a result of improper pruning early on. What it means is grafting. This branch will probably take 2-3 bud grafts this winter. I had about a 50% survival rate last year. Hopefully I can do a bit better next year.

Scott

 

[markyscott]

have you watched this?: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=Yn1FiRw2JBo

Indeed I have. A wonderful lecture delivered with a lot of clarity. I also recommend Boon's black pine video series if you have not seen it already. And also, Brian Van Fleet has a wonderful document he updates periodically that does a great job illustrating the seasonal care of Japanese Black Pines.

I love growing black pines.

Scott

 

[edprocoat]

That's a monster sized tree, one more like that and you can string a hammock between them. Its looking great already, love the aged looking bark and the natural look of the style.

ed

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Looking great Scott, nice tree with a good trunk. Looking forward to seeing this one fill in.
I had 2 random thoughts reading this thread:
1. Nice, tidy wiring on that last photo; well-done.
2. it's always good to have someone like Boon visit your garden; I appreciate and enjoy the pressure of preparing for that experience.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Ok...3 thoughts...have you considered removing that lowest branch?

 

[markyscott]

Looking great Scott, nice tree with a good trunk. Looking forward to seeing this one fill in.
I had 2 random thoughts reading this thread:
1. Nice, tidy wiring on that last photo; well-done.
2. it's always good to have someone like Boon visit your garden; I appreciate and enjoy the pressure of preparing for that experience.

Thanks Brian. I appreciate the nice words about the wiring - means a lot coming from you. I tried to up my game in anticipation of the upcoming Boon inspection. Trying to raise my grade to a C.

- Scott

 

[markyscott]

Ok...3 thoughts...have you considered removing that lowest branch?

I have - still lacking courage.

- Scott

 

[Smoke]

Some history first. According to Jim, "I bought your pine many years ago from a grower in central CA. His nursery was a hot spot for trees for a while, but it was picked pretty clean. I styled & restyled it many times, but I don't think it was touched for a year or more." So I have it on Jim's authority that this is a domestic tree, not an import.

I purchased it from Jim in November 2011 and it was shipped from California to Houston in February of 2012. Jim's beautiful handmade pot was destroyed during shipping (Jim was kind enough to send a replacement - equally beautiful). I used the opportunity to change out 1/2 the old soil. The tree grew strongly that spring so I candled in late June and pulled needles in December. Late June is early for candling in Houston - I often wait until late July or early August, but I was conscious of the fact that the tree had not yet adjusted to Houston's climate (heck - I've been here 15 years and I still haven't adjusted). If one candles too late, a black pine will respond by setting buds but will not push any summer growth. Here's an example of summer buds, but no summer shoots on a black pine I candled in late July with my other black pines during its first summer in Houston.

View attachment 46258

It's not terrible, but a good reminder that it can take trees 2-3 years to acclimatize when moving them to a different part of the country.

Scott

Mark, would you like to see where the tree came from and have some pics for your portfolio?

 

[markyscott]

Mark, would you like to see where the tree came from and have some pics for your portfolio?

I would love to - Jim did not tell me the name of the grower, but I love to know the history of the plants I own. I'd greatly appreciate anything that you can contribute.

- Scott

 

[Smoke]

Born in 1917 in Hiroshima Japan, Hoshiko Yamaguchi would grow much of the black pine known around California for many years. In the 1950's she would come to America to make a new life. Her father gave her a dowry of 500 black pine seeds and told her that these seeds would carry her thru life. In 1956 she planted the small pine seeds and nurtured them along until they were ready to prune. With only a small amount of bonsai training via her Father she was able to keep 2.5 acres of black pine under control seemingly by herself. The pines, Mikawa and Awagi would do well in the central valley heat. The seed, started in flats and transferred to pots would grow and later be placed in the ground. During the late sixties and seventies these pines would grow and develop into wonderful bonsai material. Many of the best black pine bonsai were started in this small nursery 58 years ago.

In the early 90's the property would be cared for by her eldest son, a Japanese tradition of passing down to the eldest, and pruning continues today. In fact the pictures posted here were taken a few weeks back while Richard was out pruning and decandling pines. Today the large 10 to 14 foot tall pines soar above the ground waiting to be removed by backhoe to find a new home in shopping centers and near hospitals around the country. Many of these trees have sold in the 10 to 15,000 dollar range. Pretty good investment on 500 free seeds. Hoshiko is still alive today and is living in San Francisco, she will be 97 years young this year.

 

[markyscott]

Born in 1917 in Hiroshima Japan, Hoshiko Yamaguchi would grow much of the black pine known around California for many years. In the 1950's she would come to America to make a new life. Her father gave her a dowry of 500 black pine seeds and told her that these seeds would carry her thru life. In 1956 she planted the small pine seeds and nurtured them along until they were ready to prune. With only a small amount of bonsai training via her Father she was able to keep 2.5 acres of black pine under control seemingly by herself. The pines, Mikawa and Awagi would do well in the central valley heat. The seed, started in flats and transferred to pots would grow and later be placed in the ground. During the late sixties and seventies these pines would grow and develop into wonderful bonsai material. Many of the best black pine bonsai were started in this small nursery 58 years ago.

In the early 90's the property would be cared for by her eldest son, a Japanese tradition of passing down to the eldest, and pruning continues today. In fact the pictures posted here were taken a few weeks back while Richard was out pruning and decandling pines. Today the large 10 to 14 foot tall pines soar above the ground waiting to be removed by backhoe to find a new home in shopping centers and near hospitals around the country. Many of these trees have sold in the 10 to 15,000 dollar range. Pretty good investment on 500 free seeds. Hoshiko is still alive today and is living in San Francisco, she will be 97 years young this year.

That's a fascinating history. Thank you so much for sharing it with me. If I may, how did you recognize the tree as one of hers?

Scott

 

[art-rodriguez]

jap. black pine

this is probably one of the best threads i have seen here..... excellent job scott & smoke !

 

[Smoke]

Mostly due to the fact that the bark looks to be Awagi to me and the taller nature of the pine. It looks to be one that has not had that much work done since it was dug. The part right at the top, maybe last six inches has been worked fairly hard due to the zig zag nature of the top. That is something you would not see on a tree from Mama as she was known.

The paragraph that I included was from an article I wrote for GSBF in 2009. That part at the end when I spoke of taking the photos recently was back then. In 2009 when I took those pictures I found a card from Dan Robinson on the fence. I suspect he had made a trip there on his way back to Washington after visiting Riverside at that years convention. That year he came down in a vehicle with a trailor and took it back home full of soil, pots and etc.

Everyone that was anyone has been to Yamaguchi at some time if you were a bonsai person in the 70s thru 80s.

I suspect this tree came to Jim Gremel thru Andy Swanson and his employee Ripsgreentree, Glen Vanwinkle, the cali-dama guy.

 

[markyscott]

Mostly due to the fact that the bark looks to be Awagi to me and the taller nature of the pine. It looks to be one that has not had that much work done since it was dug. The part right at the top, maybe last six inches has been worked fairly hard due to the zig zag nature of the top. That is something you would not see on a tree from Mama as she was known.

The paragraph that I included was from an article I wrote for GSBF in 2009. That part at the end when I spoke of taking the photos recently was back then. In 2009 when I took those pictures I found a card from Dan Robinson on the fence. I suspect he had made a trip there on his way back to Washington after visiting Riverside at that years convention. That year he came down in a vehicle with a trailor and took it back home full of soil, pots and etc.

Everyone that was anyone has been to Yamaguchi at some time if you were a bonsai person in the 70s thru 80s.

I suspect this tree came to Jim Gremel thru Andy Swanson and his employee Ripsgreentree, Glen Vanwinkle, the cali-dama guy.

Thanks Smoke - that fills in a lot of gaps for me. I really appreciate you taking the time to post the article and the photographs. The top and several of the branches were definitely worked by Jim - I recognize the work - so your intuition is right on there. It's interesting how different artists can leave their imprint on the tree.

Scott

 

[markyscott]

2014 Update

Here's the pine after a growing season. After inspection, I decided to hold off on decandling this season. The tree is healthy and growing fine, but the spring candles were a bit on the short side. I'll fertilize heavily the rest of the season, but will not decandle, in order to encourage it to set strong buds. I'll look at decandling again next year.

Scott

 

[Dav4]

The tree looks great. Just spit balling here, but would it make sense to de-candle now (early?), and keep feeding into the fall? That would be my inclination, but mine is far from an expert opinion. Glad your posting these updates.

Dave