Stewartia Pseudocamellia

[dick benbow]

The tucker oak came thru winter just fine and is out on display. I remember you liked that bonsai.....As of the first of the year the collection left the hands of Weyerhaeuser. Bottom line is it will remain on the same grounds . Currently a marketing firm is being sought to carry the message forward to the public about the change. My job as a volunteer, will advance to include
grounds keeping as well as bonsai care.

 

[JudyB]

Wow, I do hope that the change at the collection doesn't lead to its eventual dispersal, or anything worse. It's a magnificent collection, one that everyone should make an effort to see. Please keep us posted Dick.

(If the tucker oak ever needs a new home....)

 

[dick benbow]

I need to get a copy of the initial news release and post potions of it. Rest assured everything has been done to keep the collection in tact. private funding will be the life blood that keeps it going and an individual will be brought on staff to do just that. So don't worry, your favorite oak will be well cared for

 

[dick benbow]

you heard it first of BN....
https://www.gtcf.org/news/?id=211

The URL above will get you into the official release regarding the collection's future......

 

[JudyB]

Here are the pics of the pruned and wired for this year tree. There are 3 potential fronts, and I have not ruled out a triple trunk using one or more of the small low branch. It's an unusual tree, so why not? Input more than welcome, on that and anything else you care to comment on.
First viable side. I didn't turn the tree quite to the right angle, the last pic shows a slight overhead view, and that is the correct angle, the 4th pic shows the overhead at the slight wrong angle.

 

[JudyB]

Here is the second possibility.

 

[JudyB]

Third and last possible front.

 

[Poink88]

Here is the second possibility.

I like this...esp once the wiring is adjusted for this front.

 

[iant]

Cool tree Judy! I like the look of Stewartia a lot. I have two tall stewartia I'm working on now.
If you don't mind a suggestion I'd consider taking the daughter back a little. I think it's too straight for too long. I'd consider taking it back to half it's current length and regrowing the 2nd half with a shoot that you can wire to give it more movement. Just a thought. It's a beautiful tree either way. The daughter doesn't need more girth than it has already so I don't think it would hurt to slow it down and redirect it a little.
Just my two cents,
Ian
p.s. I like the 2nd front as well

 

[discusmike]

I like that virt to Poink.

 

[discusmike]

There branches have a tendancy to grow up on a angle in nature, maybe leave some angle to the branches.

 

[JudyB]

I'll have some time to stare, glad I had a round trainer LOL.
Thanks for the thoughts, I have thought of different planting angles in the future Dario. The reason I'm leaning towards #1 is that the base is so good from there. What made you pick the third side?
Ian, I have thought about taking the smaller trunk back, but want to be sure first, I would take it to the lowest branch, but I don't mind the trunk for now at some angles being a bit long and straight. But it'll probably bug me at some point...
Mike, that's my thoughts too about the branching being more upright. I made a point to not do any large scale downward bending.

 

[Poink88]

What made you pick the third side?

I chose the 2nd. It is a good compromise that shows a good (enough) base, trunk, and branch structure. It is consistent in a way.

The first have the best base but the top is not shown well. if you can rearrange the branches maybe it will work...I just cannot see it yet.

 

[JudyB]

I chose the 2nd.

Ah, so you did. The branching for me is just beginning. I may take a lot of the thicker branches back more once I get used to growth habits on this tree, and know how to work it. There may be more bending to be done as well.

If I went with #2, I would most def. cut that smaller trunk to the lower long branch.

 

[Cadillactaste]

That bark on the close ups...WOW! I can see why you chose this tree. It is stunning all around. A photo never does things justice...I can only imagine this in person. Just...WOW!

 

[JudyB]

Here are some updated photos.
I cut off the large secondary branch trunk, as it was just too straight coming off the primary trunk, and too big to move. I've got a couple contenders for other trunklines, I think that I may do a multi trunk tree with this one. As the bark on the trunk is the focal interest on this specie, the more the merrier. So we will see how it goes, it does grow fast, so I'll see what happens next year before I decide on what gets to stay. Maybe more will pop!
Ideas welcome.

 

[grouper52]

Here are some updated photos.
I cut off the large secondary branch trunk, as it was just too straight coming off the primary trunk, and too big to move. I've got a couple contenders for other trunklines, I think that I may do a multi trunk tree with this one. As the bark on the trunk is the focal interest on this specie, the more the merrier. So we will see how it goes, it does grow fast, so I'll see what happens next year before I decide on what gets to stay. Maybe more will pop!
Ideas welcome.

Great thread, Judy! Great tree!

Your initial work on this tree is really quite fine. In my thread, though, you said you had had good luck bending the branches of a Stewartia down, which I'd heard they would not tolerate - these branches are bent downward, yes, but not bent down. Do you have another Stewartia where you did actually bend the branches down (i.e. below the horizontal), or was there there just a misunderstanding about the terms we were using? Anyway, great tree, as always.

 

[JudyB]

Guess I misunderstood what you were saying, you mean down as in weeping or cascading. No I have not tried that. But with the vigor that this tree has, I bet it wouldn't care. Maybe I'll experiment with a branch just to see this year! Thanks Will.

 

[Pattik]

Beautiful Tree Judy, and you continue to inspire me to do more an to do better. So glad we've become friends.

 

[A Random User]

I would at least suggest removal of one of top two heavy branches coming out of the reverse taper issue up top...

I am quite surprised no one has brought this up. This area is already a problem, and will only get worse as you develop the canopy. To many pats on the back around here, which does nothing to help Judy progress and learn.
As far as the woman issue, people are only limited to the limits they place upon themselves.
Nice start to what I am sure will become an awesome tree!