jhill

Clay,
I know what you mean, its just that straight part of the trunk that kinda draws my eye to it when I look at it. I guess when I style and wire it and place some branches it will take the eye to different part of the tree. Right now my eye goes to that straight part of the trunk.
This tree caught my eye from clear across the nursery though and I had to have it. It looked like it was styled somewhat at that distance. Got it home and you know, stared at it to much I guess.
Gary
I do not believe that it is a graft but if it is it was a darn good one. I went out tonight and squirrels kinda help me uncover little more of the trunk. I explored a little deeper and it does seem that it was planted a bit deeper then needed to be and the first large root is a couple inches further down. I estimate this tree to be around 20-30 years old. This species usually grows horizontally and used in rock gardens as a type of ground cover. I couldn't believe this but I did a search and found that to be fact.
Tofino: Thanks for having fun with photoshop I have got to give this virtual thing a go. My wife went out and got me paintshop pro
last year and been to busy to mess around with it, maybe this winter in between pot making.
John