Collecting P. sylvestris from the mòine àrdaich.

[Lara_Ericacious]

With my conservation work over the past year I've found myself in raised bogs (gaelic: mòine àrdaich) more than a handful of times. I've worked as part of a team to removing saplings, predominantly birch from the bogs to preserve water levels which maintain these endangered SSSI's.

As the bogs are essentially giant areas of wet sphagnum moss, many things can quickly thrive. Along with the birch in a few sites I've found encroaching growth from coniferous plantations including P. sylvestris, Picea sichensis and Pseudotsuga menszii. All which have to be removed.

This thread will be updated with the P. sylvestris I've collected (only 2 to date) and their progression as bonsai.

If allowed and folk are interested ill also update with other bog related finds and information. I won't be sharing any information about the locations of these bogs nor the organisation/s ive worked with for the sake of conservation and privacy.

Photo of Cladonia sp. A type of Lichen growing on a decomposed birch stump.

E.L.L

 

[Lara_Ericacious]

Bog pine #1

Collected 19th April 2025



Potted the next day, cut back quite a few roots as i had very few pot options and was quite unprepared to take home a tree this day.
I also removed much of the peat it was growing in.




Candle extention may 2025. I kept an eye on other P. sylvestris in my area to compare rates of growth and this tree seems totally unphased.

Because its very top heavy ive tied it into a larger plastic pot as its taken a tumble once or twice.

Its currently nicely developing buds for next year, and other than a little needle blight it seems very healthy. My only concerns are its future styling.

E.L.L

 

[BonsaiEire]

Looking forward to seeing this. I'm planning to collect some Sylvester is from a bog here in Ireland soon too.

 

[Lara_Ericacious]

Looking forward to seeing this. I'm planning to collect some Sylvester is from a bog here in Ireland soon too.

Good luck! I'm no expert but I'm happy to share collection advice/experience.

 

[Betula1]

Lucky you to work in such a beautiful area! Having access to potential bonsai material which by collecting them helps to conserve the wildlife habitats is a great combination as you can cover big areas and be more selective!
I used to collect from similar sites in England which were grazed by deer and livestock, and I often found the most interesting yamadori were those which have been repeatedly browsed or machinery and wind-damaged , so it might pay off to look closely at similar areas, eg alongside game trails and sites which had been repeatedly flailed or driven over etc. Happy hunting!

 

[Lara_Ericacious]

Lucky you to work in such a beautiful area! Having access to potential bonsai material which by collecting them helps to conserve the wildlife habitats is a great combination as you can cover big areas and be more selective!
I used to collect from similar sites in England which were grazed by deer and livestock, and I often found the most interesting yamadori were those which have been repeatedly browsed or machinery and wind-damaged , so it might pay off to look closely at similar areas, eg alongside game trails and sites which had been repeatedly flailed or driven over etc. Happy hunting!

Not so many areas of browsing nor trail damage where ive been so far. But next month I'll be at two bogs ive not yet visited.

 

[Lara_Ericacious]

Bog pine #1 today
Just an update to show the growth and bud development this year post collection.

 

[Lara_Ericacious]

Bog pine #2

So, last weekend (Sunday 10th August 2025) I was back at the bog I collected bog pine #1, once again unprepared to take a tree home and in an area we've not recently removed birch from I find this....


I neglected to take before photos, but I ended up removing the top half of the tree. Had to get it in a mini van with 12 other folk and tools. It was fairly heavy too.
Much larger tree ive ever worked with but there's only way to learn.

Most of the growth is directed to one side. Opposite to the photo ive taken, its pretty hard to photograph from my small balcony.

Had to reduce roots more than I would like and I also sacrificed some deciduous trees ive grown to steal their substrate. As ive ran out of fresh stuff.

Not a great start but hey.

As I view it now. The finished tree is the right hand side. The entire left trunk will be removed in time. Dead wood created to round off the taper.

The apex of the tree will probably be built from the the L shaped branch coming from the top of the ruler.



A close up:




These long dropped worls a very reminiscent of battered old P. sylvestris here. Often as dead snags.
I'll possibly try to pull down the entire branch too.

But for now. After removing dothistroma needles, I'll tie it back onto the bench, and it will likely go untouched for 3 years except from watering and fertilising.




Cheers

E.L.L

 

[Lara_Ericacious]

Here's some photos from the bog that day.

Cladonia cristatella lichen. Growing on a stump along side heathers and mosses.

A mushroom, I don't know my fungus.


A pillow of Cladonia rangiferina


We also found the carcass of a buzzard. I have a photo of the skull, which may be too morbid to post. Though I will if folk want to see. The ranger took it for display at the visitor center they work otherwise it would have also been taken home with me.

Last time I was in this bog I found a fully articulated dear carcass, which I took a photo of, I also took home the skull and cleaned it up. Will also share on request.

Thanks.

E.L.L

 

[Potawatomi13]

Bog pine #1

Collected 19th April 2025
View attachment 610028


Potted the next day, cut back quite a few roots as i had very few pot options and was quite unprepared to take home a tree this day.
I also removed much of the peat it was growing in.
View attachment 610029



Candle extention may 2025. I kept an eye on other P. sylvestris in my area to compare rates of growth and this tree seems totally unphased.
View attachment 610030
Because its very top heavy ive tied it into a larger plastic pot as its taken a tumble once or twice.

Its currently nicely developing buds for next year, and other than a little needle blight it seems very healthy. My only concerns are its future styling.

E.L.L

Consider developing trunk from first left branch(or rear branch) on left fork of trunk and keep one or two leaders for sacrifice on Rt side fork?Reason being to get movement into lower trunk soon as possible.

 

[Lara_Ericacious]

@Potawatomi13 no matter how ive looked at it, I'm struggling to see a tree in there.
I'm certain I have to remove one of the two first divisions but I'm still unsure which:

A. keeping the left will make a small squat tree with taper.



B. Keeping the right will create a tall slender tree (but at a greater scale)




Now I've drawn it out it's obvious A. will be make the better tree.

 

[Milly]

Option A is what I saw immediately after your first post, but then my default is Mame.
Interesting thread with the bog and lichen.

 

[rockm]

Bog pine #2

So, last weekend (Sunday 10th August 2025) I was back at the bog I collected bog pine #1, once again unprepared to take a tree home and in an area we've not recently removed birch from I find this....
View attachment 610367

I neglected to take before photos, but I ended up removing the top half of the tree. Had to get it in a mini van with 12 other folk and tools. It was fairly heavy too.
Much larger tree ive ever worked with but there's only way to learn.

Most of the growth is directed to one side. Opposite to the photo ive taken, its pretty hard to photograph from my small balcony.

Had to reduce roots more than I would like and I also sacrificed some deciduous trees ive grown to steal their substrate. As ive ran out of fresh stuff.

Not a great start but hey.

As I view it now. The finished tree is the right hand side. The entire left trunk will be removed in time. Dead wood created to round off the taper.

The apex of the tree will probably be built from the the L shaped branch coming from the top of the ruler.
View attachment 610372


A close up:

View attachment 610373


These long dropped worls a very reminiscent of battered old P. sylvestris here. Often as dead snags.
I'll possibly try to pull down the entire branch too.

But for now. After removing dothistroma needles, I'll tie it back onto the bench, and it will likely go untouched for 3 years except from watering and fertilising.

View attachment 610374


Cheers

E.L.L

Interesting tree and thread. One the rules of collecting is not to start designing (in your mind or physically) a recently collected tree. In doing so you start counting on things from the tree. For the next two year your aim should only be to get the tree ls to live in a pot. Three days out from removal is waaaaay too soon to assume the trees will survive

 

[Betula1]

Rockm , You took the words out of my mouth! Just keeping it alive will be a major challenge !!

 

[Orion_metalhead]

Interesting tree and thread. One the rules of collecting is not to start designing (in your mind or physically) a recently collected tree. In doing so you start counting on things from the tree. For the next two year your aim should only be to get the tree ls to live in a pot. Three days out from removal is waaaaay too soon to assume the trees will survive

This is great advice. You see a tree in youre collection, then half the tree dies back and you need to adapt - its why when collecting Its good to key in on numerous potential fronts and options.

I also saw option A immediately. I wouldnt even conaider another option for this tree.

 

[Lara_Ericacious]

One the rules of collecting is not to start designing (in your mind or physically) a recently collected tree.

I'll keep this in mind.