Deciduous yamadori in the US

[BonsaiButler]

Really cool sweet gum Vin. I have been thinking about air-layering a few of these, I wonder how well they would root?

Also, as far as good deciduous material in the US, I believe there is plenty (you just have to know where to look).
You have to also keep in mind That the US is still fairly new to bonsai in comparison to the other countries mentioned.

 

[Vin]

Really cool sweet gum Vin. I have been thinking about air-layering a few of these, I wonder how well they would root?

Also, as far as good deciduous material in the US, I believe there is plenty (you just have to know where to look).
You have to also keep in mind That the US is still fairly new to bonsai in comparison to the other countries mentioned.

Based on how the one I'm going to collect has responded, I wouldn't think air layering one would be a problem at all.

 

[Waldo Street Pottery]

I cannot believe it! After 2 years on this Forum someone actually mentioned Cyrilla (Titi). I have a couple in pots now (that I've collected) but I'm trying to find one with a more interesting trunk that has movement. I have plans for this species; in my opinion it's one of the better unknown/unused trees that can make interesting bonsai. We'll see..

I'd like to see yours... Mine is all twisty and hollow and tall. Maybe 4' tall... Looking forward to working it next year...

 

[Steve Kudela]

I'd like to see yours... Mine is all twisty and hollow and tall. Maybe 4' tall... Looking forward to working it next year...

that one's gonna be fun

 

[Vin]

Nothing to get excited about. This has mostly been a test piece to see what can or can't be done. It's going into a grow box in the spring and will suffer from a healthy chop.

January 2014:




January 2015:




Summer 2015:

 

[Waldo Street Pottery]

Nothing to get excited about. This has mostly been a test piece to see what can or can't be done. It's going into a grow box in the spring and will suffer from a healthy chop.

January 2014:

View attachment 88906


January 2015:

View attachment 88907


Summer 2015:

View attachment 88905

Funny, the base of my Titi is much like that one. A lot of the ones in my So GA woods seem to be twisted and hollow. I might collect a few more come spring...

 

[Vin]

There's 40 or 50 or more across the street from me but none are worth digging.

 

[Waldo Street Pottery]

Here's a few collecting pics of native material... 1. a big hornbeam, 2. My buddy Russ collecting a triple trunk pear, 3. Japanese maple from some woos grown from seed, 4. American Beech, 5. Hornbeam raft.

 

[Vin]

Here's a few collecting pics of native material... 1. a big hornbeam, 2. My buddy Russ collecting a triple trunk pear, 3. Japanese maple from some woos grown from seed, 4. American Beech, 5. Hornbeam raft.

Number 1 Hornbeam is a winner!

 

[Giga]

Here's a few collecting pics of native material... 1. a big hornbeam, 2. My buddy Russ collecting a triple trunk pear, 3. Japanese maple from some woos grown from seed, 4. American Beech, 5. Hornbeam raft.

That hornbeam is nice and the beech, I have brad pear, American beech, bald cypress, 3 red maples, and a couple local privets. Local species are really nice and I would love to find a hornbeam as I can't seem to locate one, and I don't want to buy one as I want to dig and find it. Also have 2 sweet gum and 2 red mulberry lined up for spring. I'm hopping this winter I can find a hornbeam

 

[Bunjeh]

I collect Hawthorn (Crataegus) on a regular basis. Here are some from last year.

 

[Atrox]

manzanita

 

[mattspinniken]

Bunjeh those Hawthorns look promising, nice finds.

Today I did a google image search on deciduous yamadori and all of the nice trees that come up are European.

A few people in my club have some really good collected deciduous (Hawthorn, Apple, Birch). Thier trees have been in training for quite a few years, I just think that the nice ones are sadly very rare compared to our collected pines, junipers etc.

 

[Bunjeh]

A few people in my club have some really good collected deciduous (Hawthorn, Apple, Birch). Thier trees have been in training for quite a few years, I just think that the nice ones are sadly very rare compared to our collected pines, junipers etc.

I have to agree. But then, I think most people are more into evergreens so they may overlook the deciduous species when Yamadori hunting. Most of my finds are by accident.

 

[Atrox]

My Manzanita above isn't exactly a "Yamadori" but I have several that fit the name still in situ. I have been preparing for collection since last spring. Photos to follow when I return to the Homestead early spring.

 

[BrianBay9]

I happen to prefer deciduous trees and often collect them, but you have to consider why you collect them. You don't usually get the twisted, stunted tree with lots of dramatic deadwood that you see in alot of yamadori conifers. The qualities are more subtle. The reasons I collect deciduous:

1. Age - reflected in size of trunk and/or mature bark. Can save years on a start, IF there are low branches or taper. If not you may have to carve taper or wait a long time.
2. Base - a good flair to the bottom of the trunk, or (much more rarely) good nebari.
3. Interesting shape - in deciduous trees this might mean a double or triple trunk, a nice start on a clump style.
4. Species - a species that you can't easily find in a nursery, especially a bonsai nursery.
5. Price - nearly free, sometimes. This usually only works out if your digging volunteers on your own land, or at least locally. If you travel to collect you have to include the gas, motel, food, tools, permits, time, etc in the real cost of the collected tree.

 

[wireme]

Have you all seen the Croatian trees posted on Walters travelogues recently?

A few of them look able to compete with the big western conifers with only a time frame of ten yrs or so of development, I think.

Nice stuff on this thread but Im not seeing much in N.A. comparable yet eh? Some of the bald cypress I guess.

Is it the centuries of goat herding or grazing domestic stock that makes the difference?

 

[Steve Kudela]

Hey folks, here is a pair of titi trees collected 7 years ago according to my limited notes. I had said in an earlier post 4 years. They have both developed fairly fast, the first one further along. Still have a year or two of root rearranging on the second one. I'm guessing that they are approximately 60 y.o. The first measures 28 tall, 25 wide, rootage 12 inches at soil level. The second, 33 tall, 22 wide, rootage 9 inches at soil level. That is to say, will be their dimensions after cutback. I've held off any pruning and shaping as we've had almost no cold and I don't want to get them tuned up again. They share the hollow character the same as the ones that hometeamrocker talked about. They will tolerate a lot of abuse as you can see. Another tree fell on these years and years ago, they just kept on moving. I completely agree with Vin, I feel like cyrilla is a really good southern specie to work with along with bunches of others. I think of the bonsaimen of Japan, they didn't run to the local box store to purchase the latest introduction from the U.S., they collected natives and I think that that's the way to go. Certainly my favorites..............just one guys view. thanks again...................SK

 

[Steve Kudela]

There's 40 or 50 or more across the street from me but none are worth digging.

Maybe go out and cut a few back and see what happens over the next couple of years?

 

[Waldo Street Pottery]

Hey folks, here is a pair of titi trees collected 7 years ago according to my limited notes. I had said in an earlier post 4 years. They have both developed fairly fast, the first one further along. Still have a year or two of root rearranging on the second one. I'm guessing that they are approximately 60 y.o. The first measures 28 tall, 25 wide, rootage 12 inches at soil level. The second, 33 tall, 22 wide, rootage 9 inches at soil level. That is to say, will be their dimensions after cutback. I've held off any pruning and shaping as we've had almost no cold and I don't want to get them tuned up again. They share the hollow character the same as the ones that hometeamrocker talked about. They will tolerate a lot of abuse as you can see. Another tree fell on these years and years ago, they just kept on moving. I completely agree with Vin, I feel like cyrilla is a really good southern specie to work with along with bunches of others. I think of the bonsaimen of Japan, they didn't run to the local box store to purchase the latest introduction from the U.S., they collected natives and I think that that's the way to go. Certainly my favorites..............just one guys view. thanks again...................SKView attachment 88969 View attachment 88970

Very nice Steve, thanks for sharing! I've got something to work towards...