Very small yamadori

[wireme]

Hi, I have a few yamadori that I think have unusually good age and yamadori features for their size, I hope you enjoy seeing them. They were all planted into a grow bed from the mountains and have been there for 2 seasons, just now planted into pots.

First up a little englemann spruce.

 

[wireme]

A small RMJ.

 

[wireme]

Potentilla, a great candidate for a sweet dr suess style There's more coolness to be exposed in the soil later and new buds to replace the top.

mp

 

[october]

Nice little trees. I would plant the spruce and the juniper into larger containers for a couple/few years to let them thicken a bit more. Especially the spruce because of the foliage size. With the others, the the foliage is small so it can be made to look in scale with the trunks. However, the spruce's foliage will look quite large in comparison to the trunk.

Rob

 

[wireme]

Hmm, you're probably right about the needle/ foliage size. Nevertheless I plan on establishing them in the pots long enough to wire and style them at least once, then we'll see, they can be grown out any time.

thanks,

mp

 

[amkhalid]

Keep in mind if you let the spruce thicken, you will lose most of the bark detail which is where most of the charm of the tree is. It's something to consider, although I don't have much experience with the species so can't say much more. The one you sent me a few years back is dead due to my overworking it in the same year it was repotted. But the foliage stayed quite small during the time I had it.

Potentilla looks to have some exciting curvature.

 

[wireme]

Hi Aaron, I think that was a balsam (sup-alpine) fir no? At least I don't recall sending a spruce your way. Spruce stunted in the wild def have the ability to reduce needles well, the guy above had a needle size about 1/4 of what it is now when collected. I think you'd only have to not re-pot it for ten yrs or so then put it in full sun, barely water and fertilize yearly with an eyedropper, if it stays alive the needles will be nice and small, easy eh?

The smallest needles I see on spruce are usually trees growing in dry gravely soils and full sun. I believe they are tougher than given credit for regarding sun and heat exposure. I was once planting on a reclaimed coal mine site. They had planted spruce into what was basically coal dust. Full sun and black soil that heats up and sets like asphalt went dry. Some trees had been there baking in the sun like that for 10 yrs and still growing, slowly yes but decent green colour.

 

[wireme]

I took a few pics of these today, I find that looking at a photo brings out design ideas that I might not see in person. So, figured I may as well update.

The spruce has grown a few options and is backbudding well now. It will probably get repotted next year, maybe reduced a bit and styled the following year. Deadwood preservation measures are most definitely needed. I'm not sure of foliage placement yet but I think the front will be one of the pics shown.

The little rmj is pretty darn leggy for a small tree but I'll see what I can do. Probably a bit of styling next year and repot the following year for that one.

 

[wireme]

A bit of pondering and now I'm thinking I may work the spruce down to the first branch on the right. If so will reasses the repot plan for next year.

 

[wireme]

Preliminary work on the wee rmj today. I've got half a plan now... at least... 3/4 even probably.

Progress thus far from the same front.

 

[wireme]

Update for the little spruce, this is where it was at sometime this past summer. The plan is still to take it down to the first branch. I've been working it down very slowly, the branch has gained enough that I probably could take the rest off in one go next spring but I'll probably still take a couple more years to get there.
It will theoritically be built from this, but repositioned and with more to work with by then. Providing of course that I don't change my mind in the meantime.
The little guy was collected in 2011 and maybe I'll get the first styled image by 2019 at the earliest. Ridiculous hobby eh?... But fun.

I came very close to killing the little juniper. Mulched it too deeply last winter. Juniper foliage does not enjoy being in contact with mulch during the soggy spring snowmelt period. The foliage went brown, slimy and died but it was repotted and bounced back. Setback but still potential. Unlikely potential with its own foliage maybe but I'm not giving up yet.
The wee potentilla in this thread is also still with us, no pics, maybe next spring it will be something worth posting with flowers.

 

[sorce]

I feel like it will be "forced" there.

I like where it is nowish.

Sorce

 

[wireme]

I feel like it will be "forced" there.

I like where it is nowish.

Sorce

I hear ya and you may be right. That's a good part of the reason I'm reducing so slowly. I saw the reducing option as the best last time I updated in 2014. I do try to switch up the lenses in the old future goggles every now and then but I keep seeing the same thing.
I might find the right lens before I get'er chopped right down or I may not, we'll have to wait and see.

I agree that nowish is nice but I haven't found a way past the ish that satisfies just yet.

 

[sorce]

future goggles

Funny you mention that...

I was stuck by a train earlier and then it started moving when I "forced" that reply.

The long version.....

I don't know if it's because that kind of reminds me of the lil spruce on B4Me.....

But to me...

It seems like you have someone else's goggles on trying to make that work.

Of course...
There could be a lot I am not visualizing yet.

But something about where it is now...
Reminds me greatly of the very dope Full size trees like that you post!

I'm biased...I love your goggles....
I think you should always wear yours!

If your work is getting "stale" to you because you do it all the time....
Just let me be the guy that says...
Keep going...you are on the right track.

That is a cool Ass spruce no matter what!

Sorce

 

[MACH5]

Lovely tree wireme! It is not everyday that you see such small yamadori with good character. I'd love to have this tree.

If it were mine I'd probably design it using the existing branch as is (or most of it) and compacting it in the process.

 

[wireme]

Funny you mention that...

I was stuck by a train earlier and then it started moving when I "forced" that reply.

The long version.....

I don't know if it's because that kind of reminds me of the lil spruce on B4Me.....

But to me...

It seems like you have someone else's goggles on trying to make that work.

Of course...
There could be a lot I am not visualizing yet.

But something about where it is now...
Reminds me greatly of the very dope Full size trees like that you post!

I'm biased...I love your goggles....
I think you should always wear yours!

If your work is getting "stale" to you because you do it all the time....
Just let me be the guy that says...
Keep going...you are on the right track.

That is a cool Ass spruce no matter what!

Sorce

Hmm, I do try to wear other people's googles on occasion. I try to be conscious of it, I don't recall thinking that with my plans for this one but I'll have a look think to see if it's snuck in unknowing. Thanks for the reminder!

 

[wireme]

Lovely tree wireme! It is not everyday that you see such small yamadori with good character. I'd love to have this tree.

If it were mine I'd probably design it using the existing branch as is (or most of it) and compacting it in the process.

Thanks, I'm growing more and more fond of these very small types.

I've got to commit fully to something sooner or later but will give it careful consideration first. Now, I'm really looking forward to spring so I can pull this out and ponder some more, I thought I'd pretty much decided on this one....

 

[Potawatomi13]

Amazing how can be so aged when so small. Happy New Year and hopes for their happy survival.

 

[Wilson]

I love picking up these mini yamadori! I find up in krummholtz zones there is a wealth of tiny well aged spruce and fir. They have all the details of age and struggle, but can be carried out in multiples just in a day pack! Enjoy your minis!

 

[wireme]

Amazing how can be so aged when so small. Happy New Year and hopes for their happy survival.

Thanks, happy new year back.