Old Blaauw's juniper

Grant Bowie · Post by **Grant Bowie** » July 27th, 2015, 1:02 pm

Hi all,

Here is a Blaauw's juniper that i first purchased in 1988. Back then It was old, starved nursery stock that had been abandoned on an old tennis court at Mount Wilson. The property was still a functioning production nursery at the time but only for a few conifers and cuttings and seedlings etc.

When I first saw it it was bright orange/purple/brown from the cold and lack of food and had not been repotted for many years. I bought one and then bought the lot; about 20 in total.

Anyhow I trained this one as a reasonably formal upright for many years but sold it about 9 years ago, along with all the remaining others. I saw the tree a few months ago and was very disappointed in the condition and treatment of the tree; so I bought it back.

A number of branches had been removed and left un-jinned, and all the branches were overgrown and all compactness lost. Luckily the apex had been left alone and there are plenty of branches to form a decent, temporary apex. One small front branch had been removed which was a real pity but I will be able to compensate for it.

It is OK health wise but needs lots of fertiliser, compacting and eventually a re pot. I have a very old, unglazed grey, oval with Obi, Tokoname pot for it. I bought the pot in 1989 or so at the auction of Lennie Webbers remaining pots and trees after his death.

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It is approx 1.15 metres tall and will need to be reduced in height but with no branches removed at all.

It will take a few years before it is showable but this is a first step on the recovery of this tree.

Grant

Grant Bowie · Post by **Grant Bowie** » July 27th, 2015, 1:08 pm

First glimpse inside.

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There are lots of tie down points!!!

They are very dry and will not be jinned until the wire comes off.

Grant

Jarad · Post by **Jarad** » July 27th, 2015, 1:22 pm

Now that's a nice Juni! I will definitely be keeping an eye on this thread to see your work on it.

I'm assuming this is a prime example of why you shouldn't get more trees than you can maintain?

Grant Bowie · Post by **Grant Bowie** » July 27th, 2015, 1:57 pm

IMG_7452.jpg

Yes, only keep what you can maintain.

Next instalment above. The lowest right hand branch had a large deadwood patch near the trunk and I had to crank it down slowly. I used a sash clamp to get it started down but can now move it easily.

Grant

kez · Post by **kez** » July 27th, 2015, 2:41 pm

I can already tell this one will be a stunner Grant, very much looking forward to the finished product!

Grant Bowie · Post by **Grant Bowie** » July 27th, 2015, 3:21 pm

Me too.

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The left hand branch is almost a bar branch but I will never remove it. I will manipulate the foliage into varying positions and bring the right hand branch down lower when possible to separate the layers.

I will leave the left hand side branches longer; the right hand side branches will be shorter and more steeply raked.

Pity about the missing front branch!

Grant

Raymond · Post by **Raymond** » July 27th, 2015, 4:16 pm

Thanks for the updates Grant. Im really enjoying watching this tree progress whilst I'm at work...

Grant Bowie · Post by **Grant Bowie** » July 27th, 2015, 5:09 pm

Part way up the tree now.

A number of branches pulled down with minor wiring still to complete.

The only true front branch is about 80% up the tree and can be separated into 2 separate pads and at 2 levels to fill out the front.

No branches have been removed.

IMG_7454.jpg

Grant

Jarad · Post by **Jarad** » July 27th, 2015, 6:01 pm

I second that Raymond.

What I don't understand is how someone didn't have enough time to do the work you've done in a day... 9 years is a long time.

MOGGINATOR · Post by **MOGGINATOR** » July 27th, 2015, 6:26 pm

grant

that is an amazing tree great progress so glad you got this tree back to it can be properly cared for

get up with the progression pics cant wait to see more

Josh · Post by **Josh** » July 27th, 2015, 9:55 pm

Looking better already Grant. Will be interesting to see this one progress. It's a shame it was left so long before you got it back. A bit of work to go to get it back into shape but will be worth it.

Josh

Grant Bowie · Post by **Grant Bowie** » July 29th, 2015, 4:25 pm

Finished for now.

I wired just about everything and roughly placed the branches.

I then restarted at the bottom and tightened up everything as I went up the tree. The left hand branch up high that was poking out was lowered below the lower branch to fill a gap and shorten the branch as well.

The apex took a while to twist and tighten to imitate a mature apex.

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The pot was probably made in the 1960s. I spoke with the current owner of the kiln that made it and he said his father would have made this pot. He commented that it is an old fashion style so from that I would gather they hadn't been made for a while. it is a green grey clay that I LOVE.

I may be able to repot it in March next year if everything goes to plan. New growth will allow me to really perfect the branches and pads. One major gap still exists at the front and I will fill it either with a graft or an implanted jin.

Still a way to go but happy with the result.

Grant

Grant Bowie · Post by **Grant Bowie** » July 29th, 2015, 4:30 pm

Finished height is now 80cm tall.

The grey pot measures 51cm x 39cm x 8.5cm.

Grant

PeterH · Post by **PeterH** » July 29th, 2015, 4:38 pm

Very nice Grant

Reece · Post by **Reece** » July 29th, 2015, 5:03 pm

AusBonsai

Old Blaauw's juniper

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