Finally found my Blue Atlas Cedar

[WNC Bonsai]

I’ve wanted a Blue Atlas Cedar for several years but just never have found one with a decent graft and enough branches to actually work with. However today at a local nursery my luck changed. They had just gotten in a shipment from Eshraghi Nursery and among them were a half dozen of these. After looking them all over carefully I finally found this one. The tree is about 4’ tall with a base about 1.5” across. The graft union is so good it is barely distinguishable from the typical wrinkles seen around the root collar on any trees. It also has plenty of branches to choose from. I may even try air layering the upper half using the techniques I recently found on YouTube. Plus my wife had recently seen photos of Blue Atlas Cedar bonsai and really liked them so she decided to break her no more bonsai rule and volunteered to buy it as a anniversary present for me! So here are some shots to start a progression thread.

 

[queenofsheba52]

Beautiful tree, and even better that it's a present from your wife! Very happy that you found it!

 

[James W.]

And I couldn't help noticing that you hit all the other more recent Blue Atlas Threads.
That looks good. Standard, not 'Horstman's'?
I have been seeing several around that are tempting except for the staked dead-straight trunk. Do you have a plan for that?

 

[WNC Bonsai]

I’m not concerned about the straight trunk. The reason that stake is there is because these are so supple (flimsy) they’d likely form a natural cascade if not restrained. They are so supple it takes about 3 years for them to take a set after wiring.

 

[snowman04]

There is a lot there to work with! It will be interesting to see what direction you go...

 

[Maya]

Hello! I adore blue atlas ceder. I've had one for three years. Such a lovely tree!

 

[snowman04]

Anything new on this guy?

 

[Deleted member 47471]

Hello! I adore blue atlas ceder. I've had one for three years. Such a lovely tree!

Would love to see your BAC. A local nursery has plentiful BAC and I am tempted to purchase one for Bonsai!

 

[WNC Bonsai]

Anything new on this guy?

It’s in bed for the winter. We’ll see what happens next spring.

 

[snowman04]

Sounds reasonable...

 

[Dabbler]

I love these guys and I'm still on the look out for good one - may have to start my search again

 

[snowman04]

Got mine from Conifer Kingdom...

 

[jszg]

Got mine from Conifer Kingdom...

How is the graft site like? Iseli often has discrete unions, but I've heard bad things ab CK.

 

[snowman04]

Mine came from CK and I have no issues with it...

 

[Wulfskaar]

I'm just curious on how you move forward with a tree like that. Are you going to do a trunk chop above the top branches?

 

[WNC Bonsai]

I'm just curious on how you move forward with a tree like that. Are you going to do a trunk chop above the top branches?

Who are you asking? If me then I plan to put a radical bend in the trunk about 4-6” above the soil line and make a cascade out of it. Seems a waste to just lop off the top.

 

[snowman04]

I don't think he's asking me. Mine is already set at the top...

 

[Wulfskaar]

Who are you asking? If me then I plan to put a radical bend in the trunk about 4-6” above the soil line and make a cascade out of it. Seems a waste to just lop off the top.

Ah I see. Sometimes I see trees like that and wonder how to deal with them. I'm looking forward to seeing what you do with it!

 

[WNC Bonsai]

Ah I see. Sometimes I see trees like that and wonder how to deal with them. I'm looking forward to seeing what you do with it!

This is pretty much what I plan to do:

 

[Maya]

Hi, i want to shere foto of my ceder. Newer chopped, only formed: