Great Lakes Bonsai - content thread

[GreatLakesBrad]

You only mentioned taper, but it has a nice elegant shape too. if it never budded back on the trunk and you was able to build a dome with whats up top and tie it in with the basal shoots, it could be a nice tree down the line.
Sometimes when you work with what you have, you can build something thats nice and presentable rather quickly. often people are told to build something that conforms to all the guidlines, where as in nature trees come in all forms, shapes, sizes. You'll give yourself more options this way.

Thanks Bobby for the feedback - I agree - I see this as a tall tree on the edge of, or deep within, a forest reaching up for light, a bit more 'leggy' of an image and more naturalistic. With that said, I am on a bit of a grafting binge the last year or two and think one or two additional spots lower on the trunk might be appropriate. Leaves are finally browning on this one and I will be able to see the structure more clearly in a week or so! Perhaps I'll wait for any wiring and get a dedicated thread for this one.

 

[GreatLakesBrad]

Annual fall update video is posted. Made a little fall color montage this year. Ready for 2023.

 

[GreatLakesBrad]

Been too long… new kiddo and new place - here’s my first video of 2023. Finally putting together my metasequoia forest and would love feedback from folks on here regarding the design. Will have to post photos on a forest thread…

 

[Dogestoevsky]

Great work! The image of you jig sawing dvd-sized plugs out of that mat of roots (and destroying your garage in the process) was deeply relatable

 

[Dogestoevsky]

By the way, what’s on the bottom of your 2x4 grow box? Looked like plywood but not sure…

 

[Tieball]

I like the balance of young thinner trunks along with the more mature thicker trunks. This will be an outstanding forest as it develops maturity. Sort of an odd question…I hope the question makes sense…..Do the inside branches on a Dawn Redwood forest die-back and let the top and outside growth take over as a single canopy? Sparse growth, or no growth, on the inside?

It’s good to see your return to posting.

 

[GreatLakesBrad]

By the way, what’s on the bottom of your 2x4 grow box? Looked like plywood but not sure…

Garage was indeed a mess! From now on it’ll be the new workshop that gets dirty.

Yes it was just a simple layer of plywood as I didn’t have anything else to cover - ended up gradually rotting out over two years. That grow box really allowed for a ton of growth in just two seasons and created some thick trunks!

 

[GreatLakesBrad]

I like the balance of young thinner trunks along with the more mature thicker trunks. This will be an outstanding forest as it develops maturity. Sort of an odd question…I hope the question makes sense…..Do the inside branches on a Dawn Redwood forest die-back and let the top and outside growth take over as a single canopy? Sparse growth, or no growth, on the inside?

It’s good to see your return to posting.

Thanks for the feedback!

In my experience with both landscape planted dawns and developing them as bonsai, they will keep pretty much any foliage even when shaded from upper canopy - however I'd classify it as your second option "sparse growth" - as would be expected those fronds/branches that are shaded out don't put on as much growth.

Dawns are extremely vertical... so you'll have some of those lower branches that decide to have a shoot go straight up and through the canopy to find light, if that makes sense - and you'll only discover it upon inspection that it's poking through the top or side as a thickening branch.

In that 2x4 grow box in the video, I didn't lose any interior foliage and that thing became one giant bush - in the "fall update 2022" video above you can see it around the 6:30 mark - a lot of crowding and the interior foliage stays in place.

 

[Tieball]

Thanks for the feedback!

In my experience with both landscape planted dawns and developing them as bonsai, they will keep pretty much any foliage even when shaded from upper canopy - however I'd classify it as your second option "sparse growth" - as would be expected those fronds/branches that are shaded out don't put on as much growth.

Dawns are extremely vertical... so you'll have some of those lower branches that decide to have a shoot go straight up and through the canopy to find light, if that makes sense - and you'll only discover it upon inspection that it's poking through the top or side as a thickening branch.

In that 2x4 grow box in the video, I didn't lose any interior foliage and that thing became one giant bush - in the "fall update 2022" video above you can see it around the 6:30 mark - a lot of crowding and the interior foliage stays in place.

Thanks for taking the time to reply. I’m surrounded by White Pines. The White Pines in forest circumstances generally lose lower interior branches.

 

[GreatLakesBrad]

Thanks for taking the time to reply. I’m surrounded by White Pines. The White Pines in forest circumstances generally lose lower interior branches.

Pines definitely drop branches as they grow for those that are shaded out. Red pines (pinus resinosa) on the west coast of Michigan do this as well!

Love white pines, our state tree!

 

[canoeguide]

Glad to see an update! I can appreciate the planning (and years) that went into having the variety of trunk sizes ready to go!

One question, or observation about this forest: all of the trees are planted in a perfectly flat soil surface, and I more commonly see forests with some undulation or "hill(s)." Was this a deliberate decision on your part? Neither option is necessarily any better than the other, and I'm sure you have a vision for this. I'm curious to hear your thoughts.

 

[GreatLakesBrad]

Glad to see an update! I can appreciate the planning (and years) that went into having the variety of trunk sizes ready to go!

One question, or observation about this forest: all of the trees are planted in a perfectly flat soil surface, and I more commonly see forests with some undulation or "hill(s)." Was this a deliberate decision on your part? Neither option is necessarily any better than the other, and I'm sure you have a vision for this. I'm curious to hear your thoughts.

My idea for the "where" is a floodplain/along a wetland for the forest - that I "imagine" is relatively flat - it's actually based off the wetland behind our new house. That said, I would like to introduce a little undulation upon the next repot for this forest and am also considering a slab in the long run to add interest - so thank you for this suggestion. Only slight though for this one, I don't really envision it as an environment near rocky hills/alpine.

 

[GreatLakesBrad]

Was a quiet year for content due to most of my free time being allocated to getting the Bonsai shed/barn/refuge/fort/hut/workshop... built! I had a professional builder do the actual build, and just did the grunt work myself, so no credit to me for the structure - I stained all the cedar, used my Dad's Kubota for ground work and slab prep, dug the drainage for downspouts etc. This video outlines the process! Phase 2 is building out the garden, which I am seeking feedback on - it's a blank slate and I'm excited to get the fence in this spring to have an enclosed area for my trees. The shed will be a workshop and also overwintering spot for the more sensitive and delicate trees. Given that it has ridge vents and soffits, it has maintained very similar temperatures to outdoors, which is what I wanted. Only concern would be those very cold nights - I found that on a single digit (F) night it got down to around 16-17 degrees, which is a little low for my liking, so I'll need to sort out a way to keep the temps a smidge higher - with that said, the trees aren't exposed to wind in there so thinking I will be okay. Always appreciate feedback and thoughts! Planning on plenty of content this season with the building in working order now.

 

[Cajunrider]

Was a quiet year for content due to most of my free time being allocated to getting the Bonsai shed/barn/refuge/fort/hut/workshop... built! I had a professional builder do the actual build, and just did the grunt work myself, so no credit to me for the structure - I stained all the cedar, used my Dad's Kubota for ground work and slab prep, dug the drainage for downspouts etc. This video outlines the process! Phase 2 is building out the garden, which I am seeking feedback on - it's a blank slate and I'm excited to get the fence in this spring to have an enclosed area for my trees. The shed will be a workshop and also overwintering spot for the more sensitive and delicate trees. Given that it has ridge vents and soffits, it has maintained very similar temperatures to outdoors, which is what I wanted. Only concern would be those very cold nights - I found that on a single digit (F) night it got down to around 16-17 degrees, which is a little low for my liking, so I'll need to sort out a way to keep the temps a smidge higher - with that said, the trees aren't exposed to wind in there so thinking I will be okay. Always appreciate feedback and thoughts! Planning on plenty of content this season with the building in working order now.

Welcome back! The shed looks great.

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

There will come a time when you're thinking about installing lights in your shed. Do consider the frequency of the light (and the color!) before you buy a heap of them.
I got a bunch of cheap LED flood lights that cause any and all filming to be ruined with bars of flickering light because the frequency of the light is the same as my camera.

 

[Deleted member 47471]

I just consumed most of your content this afternoon, and it was enjoyable. You’re doing excellent work and I’m happy for all your success and new projects. Thanks for sharing

 

[GreatLakesBrad]

There will come a time when you're thinking about installing lights in your shed. Do consider the frequency of the light (and the color!) before you buy a heap of them.
I got a bunch of cheap LED flood lights that cause any and all filming to be ruined with bars of flickering light because the frequency of the light is the same as my camera.

Great tip, thank you!

 

[GreatLakesBrad]

I just consumed most of your content this afternoon, and it was enjoyable. You’re doing excellent work and I’m happy for all your success and new projects. Thanks for sharing

Many thanks for watching and the encouragement!

 

[Tieball]

Looks fabulous! You’re well organized and recognize when experienced hands are needed….makes for a superior finish and well-constructed results. Your project-planning and location-planning are well thought-out. Mighty fine for sure!

I’m guessing….just guessing…..you’ll need an expansion addition and extra room one of these days. It just happens.

 

[canoeguide]

What a lovely backyard and a fun project! I'd recommended picking up a copy of Ishimoto's "The Art of the Japanese Garden" for some inspiration and ideas. I got a used copy on Amazon for a few bucks. Even if you're not looking to create a Japanese garden, per se, I still got a lot of ideas for a space that I'm designing to primarily hold bonsai. I can't wait to see what else you do with your space.