Joanie

Thinking about the upcoming cuttings season, I'm actually going to plan ahead this year and concentrate on specific cuttings. Otherwise, time is spent on things that I don't really want... I just don't like throwing them away.

My efforts this year will be directed toward:

Twisted pomegranates --They strike really easily! Last year I wired the cuttings first, and I am pleased with the result. I now have nine really nice cuttings with movement right off. 100% success with these! Good shohin and larger material. Not sure that their signature twist would show up in small trees.

Lonicera Nitidas (dwarf honeysuckle) -- These strike even easier than the poms. I will also be wiring them, because they are pretty brittle and break easily when they get older. Excellent for mame.

Cork Bark Oaks-- Such a great tree, but very few reflect a good nebari and movement. The opportunity to take cuttings this year will show whether they can be successful or not. Will wire a few with a eye to a larger tree, not mame or shohin.

Olea Europa "nana-nana"-- that's what I call the one little cutting that I received from Hal Sachs a year ago, which I planted out in the beds along with the other olive cuttings. This one has very short internodes and very small leaves, even with unrestrained growth, compared with the others. Again, looking to wire the cuttings and achieve movement early, particularly with mame and shohin in mind.

Cork bark elms-- Always excellent for mame and shohin, easy to do.

Varigated elm (Geisha Girl?)-- leaves come out in pink/white/green. This tree is small and slow growing, so the cuttings will be limited, but I look forward to having some planted out in the growing bed for later. Nice interesting bark, too.

Acer palmatum (not Lions mane, but like it) I can't remember what this maple ended up being, but it has tiny leaves with extremely close internodes, arranged densely on the branch. Also very obvious striped bark, where the clusters of leaves originate. I'm going to let this one go wild and keep it just for cuttings, with an eye to shohin and mame also. (edit: it's "kotohime" I think)

That sounds like a lot, but it excludes a whole range of other interesting trees that I have planted out into growing beds for the future. There is a definite lack of shohin material in our area, and future Shohin Conventions will be looking for well thought out, carefully grown material for future workshops. All of these trees do well in our area, all take well to shohin methods (except for the cork oaks) In five years, some of them will be really worthwhile if I do them right.

So, what cuttings are you planning, and what goals do you have in mind when you take them?

Joanie

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