So the best thing to do after posting a blog about not acquiring any more really big bonsai is to go out and collect some. There are two extenuating circumstances, however: one, I did say I would continue to collect big trees for artists out there who love the big ones; and two, I used a 34-year old son who is much stronger than I was when I was his age to help me lift them. Boy, did that help!
Here’s the group we brought home today. I think you can see we did really well. And if you look closely at the tree on the left, you’ll see something really cool.
But first, check out this specimen. Great buttressing, and can you believe the taper on this guy? The tree will end up only 25″ to the chop from the soil. The natural shari on that buttressing root in front doesn’t hurt, either.
Here it is potted up. The roots are buried, of course, to keep them from drying out.
This tree made the trip worthwhile, all by itself. I collected it in an area that has been routinely inundated each year I’ve gone to this particular spot. But the water’s really low this year, so it was easy to get to it.
It’s much easier to see what this tree is all about in this photo. There are four knees on four of the buttressing roots. The two roots in the front of the tree are what I call “flying buttresses.” They really add drama to this specimen. But it’s just amazing to me how those knees have emerged, most likely as a result of this tree being under so much water. Regardless of how it happened, though, there’s no doubt this tree is going to make quite a statement once it’s trained.
The trunk is about 5″ across about 6″ above the soil surface, and it’s chopped at 28″. It’ll make either a great informal upright or flat-top. All depends on the desires of the future owner.
I’ll know in two or three weeks if I lifted these trees successfully. Now that they’re home and potted up, I’ve done all I can.
Let me know what you think of these cypresses. Leave us a comment below.
Those are top shelf trees. Makes me think about trying a tree like that.
Thank you, Randy. They are top-shelf. I don’t see a lot of really nice BC pre-bonsai out there, at least not online. Plenty of non-tapering specimens with weird roots, but not the classic BC shapes.
You must be a great fisherman to make a catch like that I love Bald Cypress and have some nice ones but nothing like those, I am going to re-pot several into smaller better looking pots this spring cant wait to get at it.
I do my best, Clem. What’s also interesting about the “tree with knees” is that it was the only specimen in the area I found it that I considered collecting. Just a one-off.
Holy cow Zach. I couldn’t be more jealous. No BC up here to hunt for. Do you fasten them into the tubs at all? My blueberry clump blew right over last week. It has a nice flat base but jersey shore wind can be crazy.
No, they’re on their own in the tubs. The good news is, there’s no foliage or top-heaviness to catch the wind so I’ve never really had any issue. I do tie down bonsai in pots, except for that big cypress. If that blows over, my house is a goner so I won’t care much about the trees at that point.
Definitely a fine tree. Just hope I have as good of luck if it comes up for sale. That one with the knees is exactly what I’m looking for.