Gabler
Masterpiece
I need one of these:
The 2024 Yamadori/Collecting Thread
- Thread starter Cajunrider
- Start date
Gabler
Masterpiece
I collected some Kalmia latifolia today. One bigger specimen and three seedling-sized specimens. I'm eager to see if I can keep them alive. The last one I collected perished, but I'm now aware of several things I did wrong. They're probably my all time favorite shrub, but they're apparently somewhat persnickety.
I made a new friend while collecting. First snake of the year. He was trying to get warm in the sun, as he was rather torpid from the cool weather.
When I set him back down, he yawned and continued sunning himself.
I made a new friend while collecting. First snake of the year. He was trying to get warm in the sun, as he was rather torpid from the cool weather.
When I set him back down, he yawned and continued sunning himself.
ShadyStump
Imperial Masterpiece
He's a cute little guy.
The tree's cool too I guess.
I could think of all kinds of trouble I could get into with one of those.
They're apparently only available from China, though, despite being made in Japan.
PerryB
Shohin
I've lost count of the number of Kalmia latifolia I've killed. They seem like great candidates for bonsai with beautiful peeling bark and a muscular twisting habit.
Please share any tricks and successes!
rockm
Spuds Moyogi
They certainly look like good bonsai material don't they? In reality, they seem to extremely touchy about root work and soil. Collecting them, particularly in larger sizes, is not easy. People have been digging them for decades (one bonsai book from about 1970 or so --can't remember the author, but they were local to the middle-Atlantic states) dug a few and made similar remarks. I think the N.C. arboretum collection has one, but I don't think it was collected (anyone know?).
Do you normally leave some branches that have buds on when collecting BC right now?
Cajunrider
Imperial Masterpiece
If it hasn’t budded, I cut all the branches unless one really fits the vision I have for the tree. If it has, I keep them because the tree already expended the energy to form the buds. If the tree can’t support them and they wilt, I cut the branches.
The Barber
Chumono
Mountain Laurel are so toxic, even the honey from their pollen is toxic. Love their growth pattern, but I gave up on them. They definitely depend on micorrhiza. Good luck!
Goodbrake
Yamadori
Our mountain laurels here in Texas (Dermatophyllum secundiflorum, botanically unrelated to Kalmia) are also highly toxic, but the flowers smell exceptionally strongly of grape Kool aid, so they're used everywhere as ornamental plants. I eventually want a rather large one, since the flowers form in large clusters similar to wisteria.
The Barber
Chumono
There are thousands of them near the house, I just leave them be, would love to successfully collect them, but for now I just admire them where they stand...wish they were all dead usually, they are thick and are where I end up covered in ticks
Goodbrake
Yamadori
I have no clue how easy they are to collect, but I love their flowers. You can literally smell them from across the street.There are thousands of them near the house, I just leave them be, would love to successfully collect them, but for now I just admire them where they stand...wish they were all dead usually, they are thick and are where I end up covered in ticks
The Barber
Chumono
Sweet birch is popping branches already. Probably a 10 inch trunk on this guy. Cant wait to see what i can do with this one, has a really nice radial nebari. 
Frozentreehugger
Masterpiece
Cajunrider
Imperial Masterpiece
Today is the anniversary of your last visit young man. You let a year go by.
namnhi
Masterpiece
Yes Uncle. I really glad we met.
Here is an update on The Hulk to remind us of the special day. Like all of my trees, I didn't feed him all last year. I have already threw in some osmocote a couple days ago. Everything else is doing well... except two in the forest didn't make it.
Bnut didn't want me to post photos today. Will do it again later.
namnhi
Masterpiece
@Cajunrider Uncle C corner...
If you look closely at the triple trunks Mayhaw you will see I employed the redneck positioning of the small trunk
Attachments
Cajunrider
Imperial Masterpiece
Twisties.
I think as soon as the trees recover, I will twist them some more.
I think as soon as the trees recover, I will twist them some more.
19Mateo83
Masterpiece
I like where your mind is at
Cajunrider
Imperial Masterpiece
Last edited:
Cajunrider
Imperial Masterpiece
One interesting thing I see is that the new leaves vary greatly from the leaves on the tree when I collected it.
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