Found this masterpiece - what should my plan of action be???

[icapture]

While driving I came across this tree which is just begging to become a well cared for bonsai. The deadwood on the back of the tree is what dreams are made of, and the movement in the trunk is just spectacular.

But as you can see the foliage is on the sparse side (probably due to the fact that its neighboring tree's are full size and block most of the afternoon / evening sun.) Its foliage is also located on the ends of very long branches (also due to the fact that it's had to stretch to find light.)

Normally when I find a yamadori specimen I just prune it back and wait till it back buds. But due to the low amount of light this tree probably gets I am afraid it will be harmful to the health of the tree.

So my question to you gentlemen is this. What would your plan of action be with this tree? Collect it, reduce the foliage to be consistent with the rootball that I am able to obtain, keep it in a covered location till it starts to shoot new leaves? Or prune it in it's current location, wait till new growth starts to appear, and then collect it?

IMG_2120 by shrthndmobile, on Flickr

IMG_2115 by shrthndmobile, on Flickr

IMG_2113 by shrthndmobile, on Flickr

IMG_2111 by shrthndmobile, on Flickr

 

[PaulH]

What is it?

 

[edprocoat]

My plan of action? First off I would contqact the utility company and get a permit to dig near the , is that a gas meter or a water meter? , then I would see if a permit to collect the tree or just permission from the landowner is needed. That might just save you a trip to the jail. lol Then before I dug anything I would need to know what it is, research the pros and cons of using it in Bonsai culture. But seeing as how you posted "Normally when I find a yamadori specimen I just prune it back and wait till it back buds. " you probably know all this already ...

ed

 

[jk_lewis]

The chances of you getting permission to dig that are probably between nil and none.

 

[crust]

What is that horrid little bush?

 

[tmmason10]

I'm curious as to what it is as well. Where are you located? I would think you could try and collect as is, with permission of course. It seems to have enough green to survive. I don't think trimming the dead branches after collection will harm the tree but it looks like it will take ages.

 

[pbethune]

Looks like an oriental bittersweet or something along those lines. Very nice....

 

[ianb]

Looks like "California Lilac" Ceanothus from the leaf anyway - assume the berries on the ground are from the surrounding trees?

 

[icapture]

Thanks for the reply's guys. Glad to see there is life in the yamadori section.

My plan of action? First off I would contqact the utility company and get a permit to dig near the , is that a gas meter or a water meter? , then I would see if a permit to collect the tree or just permission from the landowner is needed. That might just save you a trip to the jail. lol Then before I dug anything I would need to know what it is, research the pros and cons of using it in Bonsai culture. But seeing as how you posted "Normally when I find a yamadori specimen I just prune it back and wait till it back buds. " you probably know all this already ...

ed

Yea, that meter kind worries me a bit. But lets be honest here, the utility company would hang up on me if I asked for permission and the HOA that most likely owns the hill that the tree is located on would laugh their asses off...then hang up on me. Because of these realities I take the approach of "its better to ask for forgiveness than permission." If I could ask permission I would, but since I cannot I don't.

The chances of you getting permission to dig that are probably between nil and none.

I agree 100%

What is that horrid little bush?

No idea, but with a trunk like that it could make a spectacular tree one day.

Looks like an oriental bittersweet or something along those lines. Very nice....

Perhaps. I will take some photos of the leaves closer up to try and nail down a species.

Looks like "California Lilac" Ceanothus from the leaf anyway - assume the berries on the ground are from the surrounding trees?

This tree and the surrounding trees are of the same species so the berries on the ground are from both trees.

 

[Dav4]

Thanks for the reply's guys. Glad to see there is life in the yamadori section.




Yea, that meter kind worries me a bit. But lets be honest here, the utility company would hang up on me if I asked for permission and the HOA that most likely owns the hill that the tree is located on would laugh their asses off...then hang up on me. Because of these realities I take the approach of "its better to ask for forgiveness than permission." If I could ask permission I would, but since I cannot I don't.




I agree 100%



No idea, but with a trunk like that it could make a spectacular tree one day.



Perhaps. I will take some photos of the leaves closer up to try and nail down a species.



This tree and the surrounding trees are of the same species so the berries on the ground are from both trees.

Committing theft AND potentially getting electrocuted all in one fell swoop...I commend you for your ambitiousness.

 

[JudyB]

This is what puts collection across the board at risk, people feeling justified in committing theft for their own purposes.
You "could" ask permission, you just don't think you need to, or feel like you will get a negative answer. And of course then what? Do you go ahead anyway?
Property rights are property rights, even if you don't agree with them.

 

[jk_lewis]

I take the approach of "its better to ask for forgiveness than permission." If I could ask permission I would, but since I cannot I don't.

Well, that's a bit on the sleezy side. (It also is stealing.)

 

[Vin]

Hmmm, you're "using" Richard Branson's image as an avatar and now you want to take a tree without permission. Have you ever thought maybe you're giving Bonsai a bad name? Also, the tree is far from a "Masterpiece" so is it really worth it? I along with many others here have seen great material out there that was unobtainable. The answer is not to just go and take it hoping that if you get caught you could just ask for forgiveness and everything will be okay. I'm not trying to slam you but please think about what you're suggesting and chose a better option. And that's all I got to say about that..

 

[cmeg1]

Respect the owner of land

 

[drew33998]

Not trying to validate what the OP is doing by any means and I would never just go did something up without permission. But I just thought about the Japanese collecting trees back in the day. If they collected trees from the mountains that didn't belong to them, but the emperor, wouldn't that be stealing too? I'm sure I am missing something here, because to me the Japanese culture seems highly centered around honor and respect.

 

[Nybonsai12]

if I saw some sucker digging a tree on my property there would be samurai swords swinging and me claiming to be an emperor. Damn right!

 

[Vin]

if I saw some sucker digging a tree on my property there would be samurai swords swinging and me claiming to be an emperor. Damn right!

Bada Bing Bada Boom!

 

[milehigh_7]

if I saw some sucker digging a tree on my property there would be samurai swords swinging and me claiming to be an emperor. Damn right!

If it was my property... well let's just say that's what 45 hollow point is for.

 

[Redwood Ryan]

You don't post a thread asking for what your plan of action should be, then ignore what you're told. You were told to get permission to dig, yet you think you're above the law and want to proceed with collecting a half dead tree while risking electrocution.

 

[milehigh_7]

Because of these realities I take the approach of "its better to ask for forgiveness than permission." If I could ask permission I would, but since I cannot I don't.

This just ain't how we do things hombre... the bonsai community in general values honesty and ethics. We may fuss and fight but most of us don't trespass and steal. The thing is if people carry on like you plan to, none of us well be given permission even when we ask because of the actions of a few like you. Do us all a favor and pick a different hobby.