Formal upright juniper ''Blue Alps''

[MichaelS]

I did this the other night. I don't have before pics but it was a mass which you could not see into!
This was started as a cutting about 14 years ago. 3 years in a pot, 8 years in the ground, 3 years in a pot. We've been waiting a while for this time to arrive! About 3 1/2 inches at the base. It has had at least 5 leader replacements since it began.

 

[Tycoss]

Love well done formal uprights. Looks like a venerable old west coast conifer. Terribly jealous

 

[silversara]

I love the fluting at the base, it makes it look older than it is and gives it a lot of character.
I have to admire your wiring job as well! Very neat.

 

[sorce]

MichaelS = Dedication.

Sorce

 

[Rob_phillips]

Looks good buddy.

 

[defra]

Nice !
Your patience is rewarded !

 

[Giga]

That looks fantastic, once the branch pads develop it will be fantastic

 

[barrosinc]

tons of dedication paid off! nice

 

[clive bennett]

A definite winner here lovely tree

 

[MichaelS]

second thinning and wiring done...Some nice character developing down the trunk. I'm looking forward to jinning and shari-ing, maybe next winter?? Might repot a bit lower next time as well...

 

[my nellie]

second thinning and wiring done...Some nice character developing down the trunk... ...

Yes, indeed!
It's standing so proud!
Are you perhaps thinking of removing some more branches in the near future?

 

[Mike Corazzi]

Wow! Impressive!
Those limbs sure want to go UP, don't they?
Jealous here too.

 

[MichaelS]

Yes, indeed!
It's standing so proud!
Are you perhaps thinking of removing some more branches in the near future?

Not in the near future mn. I will develop them and later turn them to jin so the have a bit of character and movement instead of just straight sticks. No idea which will be which at the moment.

 

[MichaelS]

[QUOTE="Mike Corazzi,
Those limbs sure want to go UP, don't they?
.[/QUOTE]

Yes they do. This plant normally does not grow like this! It usually spreads out into a wide vase shape with multiple trunks.

 

[my nellie]

Not in the near future mn... ...No idea which will be which at the moment.

Then we will definitely be updated!
Thank you!

 

[Paulpash]

1. I love squamata foliage and bark. I hate having to pluck / cut the old needles. It's a lovely tree @MichaelS . I hope you don't mind me sharing another squamata (Meyeri) that I dug up to style & sell it on - they shari very well mate

Raw plant just dug up and into a pond basket for assessment
2018-08-01_12-00-49 by Paul Pashley, on Flickr

Cleaned up and first styling
2018-08-01_12-01-46 by Paul Pashley, on Flickr

 

[MichaelS]

1 . I hope you don't mind me sharing another squamata (Meyeri)

Not at all but mine is not a squamata, it's a chinensis ''Blue Alps'' Meyeri have a lovely blue colour but I found them a bit coarse.

 

[Paulpash]

Not at all but mine is not a squamata, it's a chinensis ''Blue Alps'' Meyeri have a lovely blue colour but I found them a bit coarse.

My bad - the foliage looked so similar to squamata I presumed wrongly it was one of them. Well, at least I learnt something

 

[Paulpash]

I neglected to say that I think you grew this one to an excellent standard from scratch. Growing your own stuff and then guiding it to fruition is one of the most satisfying things you can do in this hobby, especially a formal upright which presents challenges that few other styles can match.