Kanorin
Omono
I could, but I have lots of trees that I’m growing trunks on. I need more practice on refinement techniques.
Genus study - Amelanchier aka "Serviceberries"
- Thread starter Kanorin
- Start date
Kanorin
Omono
Did you guys see that an Amelanchier (asiatica) won a Kokufu prize this year?
(Picture from Bill Valvanis's blog: https://valavanisbonsaiblog.com/)
(Picture from Bill Valvanis's blog: https://valavanisbonsaiblog.com/)
Frozentreehugger
Masterpiece
I think even in very traditional. Japan it’s nice to see non traditional tree species win awards .
Frozentreehugger
Masterpiece
Collected yesterday ( see 2023 Yamadori collecting thread also ) what I believe is Allegheny service berry . What I thought wax a Shallow spreading root system on top of granite outcrop . Tree was loose . Was one large tap root going along for a while then into a. Crack . Hopefully I got enough . Was latter collecting than I hoped for crazy spring weather . And cleaning up storm damage at home
But you can see the purple / bronze emerging foliage . Principle reason why I identified as . Allegheny. Tree had rare aged rugged bark at base . ( best feature ) and natural deadwood from broken original top . Been looking forward to this tree will not be happy if it don’t make it . Was a fun day collecting . Even with the hike back in the rain And the broken hori kori knife
But you can see the purple / bronze emerging foliage . Principle reason why I identified as . Allegheny. Tree had rare aged rugged bark at base . ( best feature ) and natural deadwood from broken original top . Been looking forward to this tree will not be happy if it don’t make it . Was a fun day collecting . Even with the hike back in the rain And the broken hori kori knifeI’m unsure what you are referring to bro . Early spring . ( both our climates are the same ) window for Dicid is small . Conifer ideal time during bud swell is after . Ground is normally unfrozen and not a problem . Complications . Come from collecting higher elevations or remote areas . Example north shore of St Laurence river near the mouth on a cliff . Where it was 1 degree c and freezing cold rain first week of June . You collect in conditions like that then bring the tree home to full summer heat conditions . Can be problematic . This is primary reason for fall collecting . The tree recovers in cool weather . The problem in zone 4 is the winter is so harsh . I still think spring is best time . Unless you have a greenhouse for winter . But what do I know . I struggle badly with native juniper . 2 fir 5 lifetime including loosing the last one which seemed to have everything going for it . Lots of roots at collecting time . Lots of foliage . It pushed growth for the summer then declined in the fall before winter . I’m thinking over watering . ( excessive rain last spring ) was the culprit . But what do I know , they are notorious to collect . Seems if you get them to grow roots the battle is 1/2 way there . Anyway I’m rambling . Most conifers collect after Dicid . When buds swell late spring .
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HorseloverFat
Squarepants with Conkers
Not sure .. I live on a peninsula.. this may account for it... I'm also at least 3x your elevation... My county ranges from 600-800ft.. (Green Bay, in the county over dips DOWN to 581)... Ottawa is probably like 230' (or so, not exactly sure)
Folks in Milwaukee and Chicago try to say our climates are the same, too.
But after reading the content of your post, I do not think that is my issue! 
I just always assumed you collect conifers before budswell... And never exactly CHECKED (like a dumbass) if the coniferous and deciduous swelled at different rates. I just went with "all are awake".
..
So although I feel dumb...
That really helps.. thank you.
(Hey! I ALWAYS say, "I am NOT a conifer guy!")
(Just took some closer looks at that collection you posted.. I really like it! How close was the pocket wall to the shin (heartroots) of the tree? Will you have to focus on building up the rootmass on that side?)
Folks in Milwaukee and Chicago try to say our climates are the same, too.
But after reading the content of your post, I do not think that is my issue! I just always assumed you collect conifers before budswell... And never exactly CHECKED (like a dumbass) if the coniferous and deciduous swelled at different rates. I just went with "all are awake".
..
So although I feel dumb...
That really helps.. thank you.
(Hey! I ALWAYS say, "I am NOT a conifer guy!"
)(Just took some closer looks at that collection you posted.. I really like it! How close was the pocket wall to the shin (heartroots) of the tree? Will you have to focus on building up the rootmass on that side?)
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Frozentreehugger
Masterpiece
Again it’s species dependant . Thuja are not picky . The enemy there is the water loving tree drying out in heat of first summer . And or winter . Latest info from Miria .hemlock buds swell tips change colour before open perfect for collect or repot . Ryan says all talk of picky roots are outside this window . Eastern larch . Godfather Lenz . Is miss quoted as saying fall is best . If you read his stuff carefully he recommends bud swell in spring . Collect and repot . He collects the best bog larch in the fall . Because he can snd they survive . Real reason is northern wet bog is a bast place in the spring and he is busy . For me spring in the harsh north is best max time to recover before there largest test which is first winterNot sure .. I live on a peninsula.. this may account for it... I'm also at least 3x your elevation... My county ranges from 600-800ft.. (Green Bay, in the county over dips DOWN to 581)... Ottawa is probably like 230' (or so, not exactly sure)
Folks in Milwaukee and Chicago try to say our climates are the same, too.
I just always assumed you collect conifers before budswell... And never exactly CHECKED (like a dumbass) if the coniferous and deciduous swelled at different rates. I just went with "all are awake".
..
So although I feel dumb...
That really helps.. thank you.
(Hey! I ALWAYS say, "I am NOT a conifer guy!"
(Just took some closer looks at that collection you posted.. I really like it! How close was the pocket wall to the shin (heartroots) of the tree? Will you have to focus on building up the rootmass on that side?)
HorseloverFat
Squarepants with Conkers
Yeah... I've been treating them all like deciduous...
Except thuja.. those beasts do NOT care.
Thank you so much.
Frozentreehugger
Masterpiece
My next step I think with service berry . I’ve been experimenting with air layer in the wild , in the same area as I collected . I’m going to look for a chunk of mature trunk .
FreshAirSunshine
Shohin
Yet again I find some gem of a thread for one of my recent acquisitions. Got this from a club auction which was collected a couple years ago I believe. Carved it and wired it this spring before it started bud swell. Excited to see what I can do with it. Right now buds just unfurling but happy to have a single-trunk one more than 2” in diameter even if it needs work on branching (Two approach grafts in place for now).
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FreshAirSunshine
Shohin
Frozentreehugger
Masterpiece
Do you know exactly what cultivar it is
FreshAirSunshine
Shohin
I’m not totally sure - I know it was collected in Rhode Island near Providence. I know the collector so I could ask and see (Paul Olson).
FreshAirSunshine
Shohin
I believe it is a downy serviceberry, amelanchier arborea, as the new leaves are coming out with featherlike fluff all around them.
Frozentreehugger
Masterpiece
That would be my choice . They do hybridize . But considering it’s collection origin . Mine is really the northern cousin of downy .the downy are around but fairly rare I believe north of southern Ontario . I’m interested in yours as it has deadwood . Any info on how well it lasts . I have heard wood turners and carvers like the wood . For what reason I do not now
FreshAirSunshine
Shohin
Unfortunately I’m not sure how well it lasts - when we had the auction it had chops on the center but a broken branch on the side. Some of the club members suggested carving it so in a later meeting I did so under their guidance (shoutout to John Romano who brought a Dremel for me!). This was it when I got it in Dec. 
Kanorin
Omono
I assume others see this because it happens on all 3 of my amelanchiers - As the leaves are emerging and haven't hardened off yet, they appear almost wilted. I was pretty concerned with one of mine because I had just re-potted it, but I think that's just how they look until they harden off.
Frozentreehugger
Masterpiece
Glad you said that . My collected one is my first . Almost did not collect it . Was late buds already opening about 1/2 the leaves are out . Small but they look
. I think wilted is to harsh a word but at least they drupe . And look slightly worse after walk out in thick bush and car ride repot .
HorseloverFat
Squarepants with Conkers
Out of curiosity, do you guys MOSTLY see clump specimens of wild amelanchier/serviceberries, when hunting them?
That seems to be the only way they grow here... Many thinner trunks..I do see a decent clump for collection I will probably grab next year.
I will keep looking though.
That seems to be the only way they grow here... Many thinner trunks..I do see a decent clump for collection I will probably grab next year.
I will keep looking though.
HorseloverFat
Squarepants with Conkers
Kanorin
Omono
Yes, I see a lot of clumps, triple-trunks, etc. Am. arborea is apparently the most likely to grow as a single trunk, but even those sucker quite easily. I'd guess that in the wild the only thing keeping the suckers in check are deer and other grazing animals.
