Czech Yamadori

31.12.2003 Last day of 2003  and I am in a woodland looking for yamadori on a loamy slope of Central Bohemia.  Location facing south with scarce supply of water. Place where you can see dwarfed oaks, common junipers, and dogwoods.  I was searching through an undergrowth when I spotted a tree partially buried with fallen leaves and branchlets, but the visible part has some interesting deadwood. And if you are a yamadori hunter, you know what it means. The heartbeat rate goes up,  you go down on your knees, and your fingers start cleaning the area with eager expectation of what is under the cover.  Sometimes a disappointment or a hesitation and sometimes a sheer pleasure... 2015 2018 2025 Height 55 cm Pot: China

  Collected in 2004.    Current height  54 cm.  Pot: Yixing. The design of this tree really doesn't reflect the natural habitus of  Cornus in the area I live.    In its natural habitat in Central Bohemia ( limestone based dry slopes ) it grows like a shrub or a small multiple trunks tree up to 3-4 m.  Its native range is in Southern Europe from where it has been taken  by Celts to Central Bohemia I guess. Another location where it can be found  and it is quite abundant is in south Moravia.  Below you can see a typical habitus of Cornus . https://pladias.cz/taxon/pictures/Cornus%20mas#image4,  Aleš Moravec This is a typical location in Central Bohemia.   

 Finally, it seems there is a nice bunch of flower buds this year ready to open...