2nd Collection Effort, Hemlocks In Rocky Soil

Happy Gilmore

I recently received access to a 4000' elevation area with acid rich rocky soil containing many conifers, including hemlocks. One area that's been undisturbed for years (not sure how many decades) is already being buried with rockfill and the filling will shortly cover the area of interest to myself. I spotted some rather compact and interesting IMO trees (similar to my western hemlock some, others with denser foliage, will post pics later) I'd like to collect very shortly or they'll just be buried forever (so no choice on time for collection).

What's best for digging in rocky angular rock 'fill'? Prior tree I collected I had no choice in how far to dig, I pried/broke rock until only massive unfractured rock remained and that was the limit of roots I was able to rescue. In this 'unconfined' scenario I'll have to judge what root extent is adequate.

At least two I may collect from this area about to be covered over, what is optimum time of year for me to collect other specimens outside this filling region? Their is a mountainous ridge adjacent which I intend to hike and explore along and beyond. Area receives a LOT of snow each year so I expect to see some rather interesting trees, hopefully the bears are all down at low altitudes eating right now! (saw 3 by 8:30 am at the base of the mountains the one day last week I checked the site out).

How important is it to try and collect the rootball/base intact with it's rocky soil with minimal disturbance? Be far easier and lighter to transport if rock is mostly cleaned out and roots packed in sphagnum moss, but obvsiously I'll do what's optimum for the tree and physically possible for myself to provide best odds.

I'll get some pics up later today of the candidates.

Thanks in advance,

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Happy Gilmore

This one was already partially buried by rock fairly recently, to me the taper and compact growth at the base and near the trunk impressed me. Let me know if I'm off base here but I believe it's hard to make hemlocks backbud etc (is it a hemlock?). At the time I wasn't thinking of posting so don't have a full picture of this tree in particular but it's probably about 18-24" in height and you can see trunk scale from my thumb in the picture. Appeared to have a lot of potential IMO.

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tapered hemlock.jpg (71.4 KB, 229 views)

Happy Gilmore

Here's two pics, of hemlock foliage I believe (please confirm), some plants looked VERY similar to the hemlock but with notably denser foliage on sides and tops but still with minimal foliage on underside of the branches??

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Happy Gilmore

and the underside of same branch

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hemlocksp2bottom.jpg (70.1 KB, 149 views)

Happy Gilmore

and this compact one has a real S shape to the trunk with two splits in the trunk, lower split not so obvious, but upper split still has healthy growth from both sides of split. Appears to be a good potensai in my rookie opinion? (picture is from above, trunk comes out of rocky soil on left)

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compact hemlock.jpg (69.9 KB, 186 views)

Happy Gilmore

Here's a picture of one area of this zone of interest, you can see the brown 'rocks/rockfill' that were placed within the last few weeks (older fills ligther brown/grey) on an area that was previously undisturbed for some time. I always like knowing the overall picture and thought this might be of interest.

Some trees already altered by rocks on them etc, literally rolling over some rocks not knowing what's underneath.

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rockfill expansion.jpg (69.2 KB, 203 views)

toyota4wd94

You are correct, it is Hemlock. They will put out new growth as long as you don't cut past where your needles are,don't cut to bare wood.

Regards,

Dave

__________________
"You can fight without ever winning,
but never ever win without a fight"
RUSH (resist)

Happy Gilmore

OK, so the planets aligned early today and I got in a full afternoon of collecting. Absolutely wiped from the work at that altitidue, man am I out of shape!! (well in one shape/and not quite the toothpick shape!).

Is it OK for me to keep the potted (yes, 4.5 hours collecting onsite, then 5hrs min. potting 7 up tonight, 3 are very small, <8", rest are <16") western hemlocks in my garage (attached to our townhouse but not heated, we're an end unit) during any sunny days in the next few weeks while they adjust? We truly don't have any purely shady locations and with strata landscapers coming by weekly I don't want to build a tent and attract excessive attention (YES I had 2 bonsai, real bonsai we'd purchased and really like/nothing I'd worked on, stolen about 2 months back).

Right now I have all of them potted up, and sitting on top shelf of a big plastic 'stock-cart' with some water for humidity in that shelf/tray. Garage door cracked open an inch for some circulation so at least it will cool down somewhat at night.......(my main concern is lack of 'fresh air circulation')

Other option is storing them in a shady corner across the street at the bonsai neighbour's (who's typically travelling) place where he has lots of shade.......

In my garage though I can monitor more actively and I'd move them outside for any 'overcast or rainy' days until I'm comfortable they've got a good start and will likely pull through this fall at least.

All thoughts welcome.

CD one

Hey Ross, its Colin from the Fish BC board, didn't know you were into Bonsai. I've just moved over to Parksville, drop me an e-mail next time you come over, I've been doing a little scouting around here as well and have come across some great potensai pines and firs (as well as hemlocks) oh yea and the fishing isn't that bad either.

Colin