Refining the Swamp Monster
Further development on a large collected bald cypress.
Looking back on a decision I made on a tree that could set me back years in development.
First part of an article covering this year’s yamadori collecting trip.
The early beginnings of a great informal upright bald cypress that was collected from the wild.
I started this Chinese elm, Ulmus parvifolia, from cutting stock we had at the nursery. I wish I had taken photos of this tree when I first chopped it as it was repotted during a workshop that was all about repotting and developing proper nebari on elms. It just so happens that the little tree …
There’s a saying out there that says every dog gets it’s day and today just might be this tree’s dog day. You see, my tree is just plain too ugly to really be made into something desirable. It has a lot of character flaws when it comes to aesthetics. For one, the root flare is …