Well, there’s nothing like Bald cypress collecting season, and there’s certainly nothing like a collected Bald cypress featuring a naturally occurring knee. This is a very substantial specimen, as I’m sure you can tell (the tub is 24″ long). Something ran over this tree decades ago, so it just grew the best it could. The trunk has rooted all along its length, so my plan is to attempt to create a raft BC from it. I don’t recall ever seeing one, though I’m sure someone somewhere has done so.
But check out that knee! That’s what sold me on this specimen. It sits right on the recumbent trunk, and I’m confident that once I get some new trunks going it’ll make for quite a composition.
The small tree to the left may or may not be part of the recumbent trunk. It appeared to have fused at some point, but as I worked on the tree it seemed to want to pull away. Regardless, it’s kind of cool for now and I may leave it even after I get the new trunks going. It’s got a fat root crossing over the main trunk, which I like.
So today I really scored. This specimen has two knees growing right on the trunk near the base. I wasn’t expecting them to be connected, but they are. So for my first time ever, today I collected two BC’s with knees. And that’s the bee’s knees!
The trunk on this one is 5″ 5″ above the soil, with a terrific flare. Very nice tree.
This is one heck of a BC specimen. The trunk is 5.5″ about 5″ above the soil, and that fluting and slight twist to the trunk just do it for me. An outstanding piece of material.
I really love the elegant “feminine” BC specimens I often bring home. I’m thinking a flat-top is in the cards for this one. The base is 4″ 4″ above the soil and it’s chopped at 29″. So the tall slender model is what I have in mind.
And lastly, this is a smaller specimen, with a base of 2.5″. But isn’t the taper and movement just awesome? I’m also thinking flat-top for this one, but it could just as easily be trained in the more traditional informal upright style.
So that’s it for my first BC collecting trip of 2020. Let me know what you think, and stay tuned for more posts over the next few weeks.
You must have eaten your black-eyed peas and cabbage this year. You’re going to have lots of fun with these trees.
It’s a family tradition, Shirley!
Will any with knees be avaialble for sale Zach ? Please let me know as I am very interested. Thanks, Tommy
Sent you an email, Tommy.
You got some winners, Zach! pk
Thank you, Pierre.
WOW Zach, those are some awesome specimens, I’ve always wondered if you could collect a BC with a knee, question answered. I managed to collect 4 from the site being cleared last month, hoping they make it with all the rain we have been getting there really staying wet. Can’t wait to see how yours progress this summer. Awesome job good luck with the rest of the season.
Thanks, Kyle.