I might need some help.....

[marcosolo]

I'm starting a daily updated thread on this "JOB" I've aquired.......One of Vaughn Banting's students, (no name) ,has asked me to take the role of caretaker to his extensive collection that he has let run into the ground for the last 4 years....and when I say in the ground, I literally mean the trees have grown INTO the ground from the benches where they sit.....A bunch of nice stuff has gone by the wayside and I will start the carcass removal tomorrow, along with weeding...(OH GOD, THE WEEDING!!!!!)...Many of these trees are barely hanging on and the owner hasn't had the will nor time to take the appropriate actions..I'm just thankful I got there before this summer, because I don't think many of these trees would have made it( other then the ones that have grown into the water table)..I will be posting every day that I'm with the collection and would be very appreciative for any input towards any facet of any of the trees I post...

ie; wether or not the tree is worth saving, best plan of action towards recovery, eventual styling options whenever I get these guys back to consistently putting out new growth, or anything else that may cross your mind as constructive....

I really hope this post doesn't get ignored like some of these do...

The collection's about 70 trees strong...Most are over 12" in height, with some topping out at 6-7' in height from the ground, including pot.....Podocarpus, Water Elms, Chines Elms, Tridents, I think one JBP, too many Bald Cypress to count, juniper (feminina, procumbens, san jose, false cedars), boxwoods, hackberries, and some other assorted species included in this collection .........Most of these trees were collected either from wetlands or urban landscaping in and around the greater New Orleans area and trained by the owner over the last twenty years....Not a silly little collection, so please, any input would be appreciated...

I will keep this post updated and encourage others to participate......Thanks guys

 

[small trees]

I don't know enough to contribute but I'll be following the thread.

 

[marcosolo]

I don't know enough to contribute but I'll be following the thread.

Glad to have someone following....Thanks

 

[Dan W.]

I'm sure you will get all the help you want.. .especially once you start posting pictures!...lol
I'll jump in if I feel I can help with anything.

Welcome, and best of luck to you!

Dan

 

[marcosolo]

I'm sure you will get all the help you want.. .especially once you start posting pictures!...lol
I'll jump in if I feel I can help with anything.

Welcome, and best of luck to you!

Dan

Thanks Dan, any input at all would be great...Pics of the carnage will be up tommorow evening.....My hands are already hurting....

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Marcosolo, check your PM...

 

[bonsai barry]

Are you kidding? This is the kind of thread that gets bonsai artist drooling. I'll bet you'll get plenty of responses and advice once you start posting photos.

 

[marcosolo]

Well, the three big boxwoods took me about two hours to actually get to boxwood roots...Craziness.......The picture of the brush on the ground is the weeds from all three large boxwoods..The small boxwood sitting in the larger ones pots is one of Vaughn Banting's...I felt honored to hold it in my hands and know that his hands crafted it...Kind of a powerful experience.....I never met the man, and never will.... but I have heard so much about him from my teacher and others in the art...Anyway, more pics of some Podocarpus coming next post....And when I say big, I mean big....

 

[nathanbs]

It's a little haunting. Like a bonsai ghost town

 

[Jason_mazzy]

staying tuned to this thread!!!!

 

[marcosolo]

By this time in the the day I was overwhelmed with the amount of work needing to be done.....The bench these two guys were on was about collapse due to rot, but, as newly instated groundskeeper, I came with up a solution and removed the rotten wood in question...After learning how to balance a 350 lb. tree in one hand and wedging 45 lb. pavers in the other....lol














After all that it was lunch time and my employer was kind enough to supply me with an entirely vegan meal.....Yes, entirely.....I'm a little exhausted and have to be back to the collection for 8 in in the morning...More pics tomorrow of the final stages of today and pics of me tackling the reed forest tomorrow, which has swallowed some very nice trees.......

 

[marcosolo]

It's a little haunting. Like a bonsai ghost town

It really is.....My employer is getting tired of my shock at the amount of neglect they have suffered....The guilt is apparent on his face when he sees the ghost of what was once a great collection...I'm bringing it back though!!!

 

[namnhi]

I think you have done a wonderful job. They all are beautiful... All of them have really powerful trunk.
NN

 

[Poink88]

By this time in the the day I was overwhelmed with the amount of work needing to be done.....The bench these two guys were on was about collapse due to rot, but, as newly instated groundskeeper, I came with up a solution and removed the rotten wood in question...After learning how to balance a 350 lb. tree in one hand and wedging 45 lb. pavers in the other....lol

Sounds very risky, for you, the trees, and pots. You need a lift like Bonhe has, lift those out and re-build the benches properly.

I am excited seing the trees but man that sure looks overwhelming!!! The only up side is that after you are done...maintenance should be easy and I hope you will be working on these trees.

Good luck!!!

 

[monza]

That is incredible, best of luck. Some of those look like they were once amazing and again will be.

 

[amkhalid]

If you are not going to be taking care of these trees full time, I hope they are going to be sold once they are cleaned up. That is a massive collection for someone who doesn't have the time.

 

[Don Blackmond]

who owns the trees and what will happen to them once you stabilize them?

 

[Beng]

Wow you weren't kidding about it being a big task.

 

[rockm]

If those trees have a link to Vaughn Banting, you might enlist some help from some folks in La. --possibly for free. I know there are many of Vaughn's friends still around that might gladly step in and help repot and rejuvenate those trees for nothing. I know I would if I were in driving distance. I'd do it just to say I helped with one of Vaughn's trees.

 

[tmmason10]

Wow, this might be the most interesting bread I've seen here. Good luck on brining these back to life, keep sharing!