Alaska Yellow Cedar - Gnarly

[grouper52]

I got this fellow up collecting with Dan Robinson in an alpine bog on Vancouver Island about five years ago. He's just been settling in and recovering since then, and the first photo shows him resting over in the yard a few days ago.

Then the next three photos show the initial work on him today. He seemed to be pushing enough new growth to start some work, so I cleaned him up and did some preliminary wiring. Promising so far. Enjoy.

 

[sorce]

Very nice.

Interesting material.
Never seen or heard of this one!

Sorce

 

[Giga]

the foliage on cedars like this always throw me off, but I really like yours!

 

[grouper52]

the foliage on cedars like this always throw me off, but I really like yours!

Thanks. Of course it's not a true cypress. I forget the whole story, but it was recently re-classified, I think, as a distance relative of the Hinoki, a chamaecyparis, but not even a true chamaecyparis, or something like that. Those interested can probably hunt down the details. They're great trees for bonsai, though, whatever they are.

 

[grouper52]

Thanks. Of course it's not a true cypress. I forget the whole story, but it was recently re-classified, I think, as a distance relative of the Hinoki, a chamaecyparis, but not even a true chamaecyparis, or something like that. Those interested can probably hunt down the details. They're great trees for bonsai, though, whatever they are.

Get a grip, grouper - you meant "cedar," not "cypress"!

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Well....good news is you're not wrong either way.

 

[Cadillactaste]

That has some amazing bones...really love the look of it!

 

[Vin]

One day you'll surprise everyone by posting something that isn't really nice. Until that day comes I guess we'll just have to enjoy ho-hum trees like this one. You know, "I got this five years ago (looks like a bush in trash bag) and did a little initial work on it today" (showing us photos of this amazing tree). You're killing me!

 

[grouper52]

One day you'll surprise everyone by posting something that isn't really nice. Until that day comes I guess we'll just have to enjoy ho-hum trees like this one. You know, "I got this five years ago (looks like a bush in trash bag) and did a little initial work on it today" (showing us photos of this amazing tree). You're killing me!

I'm truly sorry - I'll try to come up with something less ho-hum . . . .

 

[fraser67]

I'd be happy to take your "ho-hum" off your hands lol...

 

[grouper52]

For those who really aspire to be bonsai trivia experts, on the web site "Wood Database," ( http://www.wood-database.com/lumber-identification/softwoods/alaskan-yellow-cedar/ ) we find the latest “clarification” about the taxonomy of this thing:

“Alaskan Yellow Cedar has more or less always had the species label nootkatensis (so named for the Nuu-chah-nulth people of Canada). But the genus of the tree has been less clearly defined—it’s perhaps one of the woods with the most often-changed and reclassified botanical name. Alaskan Yellow Cedar was initially placed in the Cupressus genus, and later in the Chamaecyparis genus (where it had remained for roughly 160 years). Recent reclassifications have moved it from Chamaecyparis to a newly created genus named Xanthocyparis, and then to Callitropsis, and finally back into Cupressus.

Well I, for one, am dang glad that’s finally settled!

 

[armetisius]

For those who really aspire to be bonsai trivia experts, on the web site "Wood Database," ( http://www.wood-database.com/lumber-identification/softwoods/alaskan-yellow-cedar/ )

Grimmy & I were talking about if, when doing a tanuki, the dead wood
needed to match the species placed on it. He stated that he didn't think it
could be identified--dead wood--so it was a moot point. Grimmy, somebody
was obsessed enough to give us a database to check against. lol. And you
thought I was obsessing over trivial matters.
Do like the front page of the site though; such a serious approach to the matter.
http://www.wood-database.com/

 

[Bunjeh]

the foliage on cedars like this always throw me off, but I really like yours!

I agree. There is a rather large western red cedar at the pacific collection but because the foliage really does not reduce the suspension of disbelief does not work. Looks like a very nice,..bush.

 

[grouper52]

So here's an update as I get this guy ready for the local club's yearly "mall show" next weekend. Lighting's not great, so the bark colors really don't stand out, but you get the idea. Enjoy.

 

[Vin]

That's just plain gorgeous and gnarly! I'm sure it will gather much attention at the show.

 

[Bavarian Raven]

Any updates on this beautiful tree.

 

[grouper52]

They don't change much over time, and this is not a great quality photo, but here it was several months ago.

 

[Bavarian Raven]

They don't change much over time, and this is not a great quality photo, but here it was several months ago.

Oh I know they grow slow. They're one of my fav trees. I'm very envious of yours.