Collecting landscape bald cypress....?

[Wee]

It's ALIVE.....I wasn't sure if this BC would make it because I dug it at the wrong time and it was a big-un...But the buds are popping so I built it a new bench.

This is built with with wood that the warehouse would have just thrown in the dumpster...I stained/sealed it.

Before it was sealed....

After it was sealed.....

Brian

 

[johng]

glad to hear it made....give it this season to get healthy again! Nice bench!
John

 

[Dav4]

Brian, if you can transfer any of the talent you have working with stone or wood to working bonsai, you're going to do just fine...great bench! Let's see a picture of the cypress now.

 

[GrimLore]

You made a bench out of it?

Grimmy

 

[Wee]

I just got the kid to help me move it to the new bench....I'll take some pics and post sometime today.

Grimmy...If I had a mini sawmill I could make dollhouse furniture out of folks dead bonsai....?

Brian

 

[evmibo]

Any pics of the "bones" of the bench? How deep are the holes? Did you seal the wood that is submerged in earth?

 

[Wee]

I put flashing around the legs where they go into the ground and sealed it with silicone caulk. The holes on top are drilled about half way thru so I could use 3" sheetrock screws to attach the top boards. I then filled the holes with liquid nails. I'll have to look to see if I took any pics during the build. If not I'll take some up close pics to show how it was built. I know this won't last forever but it should hold up for a few years and the wood was free. If I had built this with treated 4x4's it would have cost about $150 in lumber.

Brian

 

[Vin]

The biggest issue I find with my BC are multiple branches trying to grow from the same location. You'll have to keep nipping the unwanted ones back for a while. Good to hear yours made it.

 

[Wee]

Here it is in it's new home.....Pretty much full sun all day long.

Close up of the new growth....

Brian

Yes the house needs pressure washing....

 

[GrimLore]

Nice job! The house doesn't need anything when the plants do... Call it patina

Grimmy

 

[Wee]

It's still doing well....New pics taken today of the BC and a few others.

Brian

 

[mcpesq817]

That's a horse of a tree, very nice! Have you started branch selection yet? It's a good idea to remove branches you don't want when they are small, or you'll end up with big scars later.

Also, Zach Smith had some good ideas on how to do chops to transition things to the new leader. It's very easy to start getting reverse taper up top. I have a big one that had such issues that Guy Guidry ended up doing a big carving job on.

 

[Wee]

I have been really afraid to do much to it....It was only collected 9 months ago in Nov. which is not the best time of year.....I plan to carve the top 6" or so anyway.....At this time my plan is to just let it grow till spring and then to pick a leader and carve from there.....I am open to suggestions.

Brian

 

[mcpesq817]

I would think about picking a front and your leaders. If you have a dozen strong shoots at the top, you can start getting knobs and unsightly taper.

 

[sikadelic]

I would look closely at where the branches emerge from the trunk and reduce any clumps to 1 strongest branch/shoot. One of my collected trees looked full of branches. Upon closer inspection, all of the foliage emerged from 4-5 places on the tree instead of being evenly distributed branches. I was able to catch it in time before it began to swell at those points, but I wish I would have done it earlier.

It is an ongoing process of rubbing off new buds and making sure you are getting growth where you want it. The earlier you can get a grip on it, the better!

 

[Wee]

It's time to start planning the carving and branch selection....Here it is with no leaves.

Brian

 

[Cypress187]

I finally got the makeshift greenhouse finished last weekend....So far it hasn't popped any new growth but I still have my fingers crossed that it will by springtime. Here are a few pics, I didn't get one of the finished product.Here is my helper.....Brian

Is that greenhouse open on the front or is it just for the photo?

 

[Wee]

That is just a potting shed. I used the clear panels so I wouldn't need lights while working during the day. I may one day but some barn style doors on it.

Brian

 

[Wee]

Oops...I didn't realize you were talking about the temporary greenhouse I built for the cypress....I kept it open unless the temps were going to be below freezing. It has since been torn down.

Brian

 

[johng]

If I may suggest...
Thick trunk...hard to make a believable tapered transition without taking 10 years or more.

Therefore, I think I would create a large hollow that tapers down at the apex...slightly to the right of center in the second photo. After carving, Let the branches at the top grow for one more season(to encourage healing around the edge of carved out area)and then begin wire training the next season. The vision is an ancient giant which had its top twisted out in a hurricane many years ago. New branches form a flattop style apex at the break. 5 years you can have a show worthy tree!