Posts

Looking at my trees...

Image
If the dogs look like their owners does this also apply to our trees?    The logic is pretty much the same, isn't it.    We tend to select things that are somehow "compatible" with   perception of ourselves.  Prunus mahaleb_Double          If the above statement holds then I am affraid my problem is much bigger than originally thought...    

Prunus mahaleb_The Cock

Image
Another year spent on building the surface roots.  So far all the efforts were solely based on the usage of a sphagnum moss.  For the next years to come I will cover the soil with "standard"  moss while adding more acadama to the roots encircling the rock.  I feel that the first root from the top looks a bit strange.  Time to cut it off?  Happy for your thoughts. Happy with this deadwood.  Nice focal point. The roots shouts: " GO! Catch more sunrays, we hold you fast".   So it means a cascading trunk despite the horizontal line of it.  See the second and third pics.  I feel the third one is about right.   And if so I have another problem to find a suitable pot.  I do not like the crescent bonsai pot that one should "normally" use.   I guess I would need to combine something different to please my eyes. Despite the fact I do like semi or full cascades similar to this one I have to admit they a bit of a nuisance once it comes to basic horticulture.  The inc

Still working...

Image
 Most of my mahalebs are the last to drop their leaves.  Right now ie on the 30th of November there are still four of them with no signs of  changing color or being  damaged by frost ( the lowest temps so far was only -3°C,  27°F ).   While the other species in the garden have started  the colour festivity around early Nov the majority of mahalebs were in the status - what is the fuss about?   With the arrival of first frosty nights some of them have started to change their colour from green to something yellowish but definitely nothing spectacular.   Some others have simply drop their green leaves.  And the last group is still in full swing.  I can hear their whisper : carbs, carbs, carbs.   Height: 19 cm   The target height should be in the range of 23-26 cm.  

29th November 2020

Image
 

Tilia cordata_A lot of carving ahead...

Image
 This little-leaved linden is not very keen to callus open wound left after size reduction/horticulture cuts.  It doesn't look so bad at the first picture,  but if you look at the second one-you will understand. In the course of last 5-7 years I  have not seen any reasonable attempt to form a callus there.   So inevitably the time to pick my milling machines is getting closer.   As a last attempt I had made an approach graft earlier this spring - see the blueish circle at the second pic.   And I still plan to add another one on the other side of the wound - green circle.  I know that the wound of this size will never be closed but I just want to make it a bit narrower so the inevitable hollow will be less dramatic.   If I keep the front as it is in the first pic  the hollow will not be noticeable I guess.   And if I do the carving well - I can still use the other side as a front and have the tree in my preferred 360°. Approach graft_I have decided to keep both branches to have ther

If only it looks like a birch...

Image
Massive nebari is probably the most attractive feature  right now... The trunk has nice white color... The crown starts showing some initial branch structure and even some sort of ramification...    Is it a birch, though? Birches tend to be slim, tall trees with thin long branches.  White in color with lots of black spots.  Joyful dalmatians.   Well, at least the vast majority of birches looks like that.    For sure, this tree will never have such typical habitus.   On the other side there are some very old gnarled birches that definitely differ from the " typical" birch perception.    Looking at this one I know that I need to go into this direction.    And that would require a lot of time to get the right appearance of age.   This tree looks promising but still looking way  toooo young for that category.    

Crataegus monogyna_Spriral_Winter look

Image
Dewired and lightly pruned. Need to fix the scar in the top section next season.