Mixed Louisiana forest bonsai

[Cajunrider]

I've got beaucoup bald cypress and Mayhaw. I can find some sweet gum for sure. I am thinking about doing a mixed forest just for the fun of it. I've seen them exist together in the wild. What do you think?

 

[Michael P]

Try it! The aethetics will be tricky and you will need a BIG tray.

 

[HorseloverFat]

I'd watch with interest...

I really like liquidambar.

 

[SteelDriver]

Bald cypress are my favorite. I dig sweet gum trees, too. I'd love to see some pictures of it when you're done.

 

[Eric Group]

I've got beaucoup bald cypress and Mayhaw. I can find some sweet gum for sure. I am thinking about doing a mixed forest just for the fun of it. I've seen them exist together in the wild. What do you think?

We use Baldys around her for Bonsai… BIG Bonsai. They won’t do well in real small pots.
So as Michael said- you’d need a HUGE tray…

Do you get Water Elm down there? (planera Aquatica)- we get them in the swamps where BC grow around here and they make nice trees. They are Related to Elms so similar in growth habit and leaves.. But they grow with their roots fully submerged like BC do… I think John Geanangel has mixed some Water Elm with BC before but IDK if he put any pictures up here..

 

[VAFisher]

I tried a mixed forest one time with sweetgum and red maple. It worked well enough I guess but the leaves were similar enough that it didn't really come off as mixed. I got bored with it and just planted the trees in the woods.



Second the suggestion for water elm with bald cypress. This is a water elm forest I'm working on.



Also check out the arboretum in Asheville for some inspiration on mixed forests. He has some nice ones.

 

[Cajunrider]

I've got beaucoup bald cypress and Mayhaw. I can find some sweet gum for sure. I am thinking about doing a mixed forest just for the fun of it. I've seen them exist together in the wild. What do you think?

4 bald cypress, 2 sweet gums, and the rest are Mayhaw.

This should work. There is a big overlap in water requirement and soil among these 3 species. They are packed pretty tight with 13 trees.

Stocks were collected in a swampy area this afternoon. Two big cypress grew side by side with roots already started to bind. Same with some of the Mayhaws.




Front


Back


Sides

 

[Cajunrider]

There is a sizable height gap between the two big cypress but the plan is for the tall one to flatten out while the short one will grow a few inches more to tighten the gap to where I want.

 

[Cajunrider]

We use Baldys around her for Bonsai… BIG Bonsai. They won’t do well in real small pots.
So as Michael said- you’d need a HUGE tray…

Do you get Water Elm down there? (planera Aquatica)- we get them in the swamps where BC grow around here and they make nice trees. They are Related to Elms so similar in growth habit and leaves.. But they grow with their roots fully submerged like BC do… I think John Geanangel has mixed some Water Elm with BC before but IDK if he put any pictures up here..

So far I have not found any water elm.

 

[Cajunrider]

I didn’t take any pictures of the root work but the root balls were extensively flattened. I should have no problem putting this on a slab or shallow pot.

Temperature was 93 F when I dig them out. Good thing I got two 30 gallon tub filled with water on the truck. As each tree was pulled out they were immediately dunked in water. Some of the leaves were wind damaged on the drive home but they sure weren’t wilted.

 

[namnhi]

4 bald cypress, 2 sweet gums, and the rest are Mayhaw.

This should work. There is a big overlap in water requirement and soil among these 3 species. They are packed pretty tight with 13 trees.

Stocks were collected in a swampy area this afternoon. Two big cypress grew side by side with roots already started to bind. Same with some of the Mayhaws.
View attachment 435321
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Front
View attachment 435327

Back
View attachment 435328

Sides
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Uncle C, you still able to lift this huge tub with all that things in it? Be careful with your back. Nice forests, trees you been hauling lately.

 

[Cajunrider]

Uncle C, you still able to lift this huge tub with all that things in it? Be careful with your back. Nice forests, trees you been hauling lately.

I just drag it. When I need to lift it, I will get help.

 

[namnhi]

I just drag it. When I need to lift it, I will get help.

Definitely want to schedule in a collection trip next Spring with uncle C.

 

[HorseloverFat]

Definitely want to schedule in a collection trip next Spring with uncle C.

I'd lose myself in Louisiana culture... Drop my "r"s.... start sayin' stuff like "Lawd Awl-mahtty! This heat!" *fanning myself"

Then I'd wanna go gator hunting... to eat.. I LOVE gator.



Go "noodling" also...

Wade through the swamps!

I have swamps too... but THIS cold... their called "wetlands".

Bring various instruments and "jam" with the street jazz and Zydeco Folk...

Use grape soda to make my BBQ...

Damn I love the South!

 

[HorseloverFat]

I just drag it. When I need to lift it, I will get help.

That's what she said!


(Uuuhg... THIS is my 9,000th post)

 

[Shogun610]

If you need to let some of those cumbersome Bald Cypress once up in PA lmk

 

[Cajunrider]

Definitely want to schedule in a collection trip next Spring with uncle C.

Make it happen

 

[Cajunrider]

3 weeks later the Mayhaws are all budding. 2 small BCs are growing well. 2 bigger BCs and the sweet gums are not showing anything.

 

[Cajunrider]

3 weeks later the Mayhaws are all budding. 2 small BCs are growing well. 2 bigger BCs and the sweet gums are not showing anything.

A tiny bit of good news - one of the bigger BC sports a new bud! The rest are still sleeping. The bark scratch test show live tissue on the other big BC and the sweet gums. There's hope.

 

[Cajunrider]