SD collecting 2013

[fore]

Cool tree pics Brian!

I might have an opportunity to collect a juniper from someones garden. Looks to be about 2'Tx 4'W. If I can get in there and get it, should I leave all the foliage on like you did with these RMJ's? Thanks Brian!

 

[Poink88]

Found a few more photos...good stuff, all still there...
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Wow, even the deadwood are worth collecting either for decoration or maybe some tanuki project.

 

[monza]

Great collecting trip, very nice looking trees and thanks for sharing! Do you ever hook up with Andy Smith when your in his neck of the woods? I've been trying to travel his way for collecting for a few years.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Chris, yes...get all the foliage you can get, and as big of a root ball as possible.

Dario, yes, quite a few pieces of good stuff, and it was very tempting; had a couple snags in my hand at one point, but ended up leaving it all behind. It's just amazing to see the skeletal remains, yet still a portion is alive. It convinces me thoroughly that when we lose a tree, 99% of the time, it's root-related.

Monza, Andy Smith guided us to a few good areas, but I haven't met him in person or been out to his place. Maybe next year.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

6-week update

Is still early, but my buddy took some photos today. All 13 are still alive. The nicknames for the 4 I collected are: biggest, smallest, best (foliage), fire (collected at the edge of a forest fire that killed WAY more than 13 trees...)

The next 4 posts will be the trees...

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Biggest

The biggest one:

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Smallest

Smallest one:

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Best

This one has foliage like a kishu, and great bark for a juniper. Don't know what it will end up looking like, but I'm glad it's still green!

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Fire

The first one I dug, at the edge of a fire that decimated the area last summer. The foliage was a bit sketchy at collecting, and it's no worse so far...

 

[fredtruck]

You and Ron get some very fine material, Brian. Hope they all thrive.

 

[Dan W.]

I'm glad they are looking so good. Mine are doing well so far too. I'll have to get pictures up soon!

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Reunited

The RMJs made their migration south this weekend...looking good so far!

 

[Dan W.]

Looking great!

 

[Vance Wood]

That is a hell of a lot of hard work. Don't forget the ibuprofen!

If you are really considering doing a collecting trip do it before you get too old. When you hit the other side of 60 working at altitude is the primary issue you will have to deal with, not to mention the labor, the climbing and just walking around. Then of course you have to haul out your treasure. When you're fighting for breath it is surprising how those wonderful things that got you to that place start to dim in the light of reality.

 

[prestontolbert]

Isn't that a hell of a thing. When you're young you can't afford it, but if you wait until you can afford it, your body can't afford it.

 

[Vance Wood]

Isn't that a hell of a thing. When you're young you can't afford it, but if you wait until you can afford it, your body can't afford it.

We spend so much time trying to dodge the bullet of aging that we don't realize that it has hit us between the eyes one day unaware.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Update...
All 4 of these are alive and well. I'll be repotting the smallest one when it dries out a bit. I'll be eager to see how the roots have grown the last 2 years, in preparation for this summer's collecting trip.

The one called "fire" was grafted over with Itoigawa last year, and while I didn't do the best job, it is taking.

The one called "best" was grafted over today with Itoigawa. It took 3 hours, but I'm happy with how it went on. The grafts were attached to what I'm using as the back. The current plan is to convert the non-grafted (left) trunk to Jin, as well as the lowest right branch, and build a more compact tree over the next few years.

 

[Dav4]

Very nice and good luck with the grafts...I'll be grafting one of mine shortly. Have you noted any cedar apple rust on these yet?

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

No cedar-apple rust...yet. Maybe it will stay at bay until I can remove the original rmj foliage!

Those grafting nails are really useful, and I have been reusing the only ones I ever found since 2002. It's like having a third hand. Have fun grafting yours!

 

[Dav4]

Hopefully, mine will arrive today...I have tomorrow off!