AusBonsai

This is the last trunk .Unfortunately no Shimp' foliage on this one . From the 5 trunks collected I now have 7 to work with . Here's hoping they all survive the root pruning process .

Cheers . Alpineart

Hi ian, how are you? Send me one of those juni hehe.. Amazing stock as usual

Hi pjames , mate I'm as well as can be expected under the circumstances , kinda out of the frying pan into the fire .

These buggers are a bit too big to post , won't fit in the car but a ute would transport them . In your hands I'm sure one would come up a treat .

I plan to graft a heap of Shimpaku foliage again this season when I locate a good supply . then I might just part with a trunk or two to the right blokes

Cheers . Alpine

Well the best layed plans of mice and men don't always work out . None of these had Shimpaku foliage grafted onto them this year but their still alive .

I worded Noah up yesterday and he has decided to start pulling his weight around here .These are set for the chain saw , just to lighten them up a bit . Got the young bloke chomping at the bit for a carve them up tonight .The twin trunk on the right will be split using a scissor jack

This is one of the smallest trunks in need a basic design to get it heading in the right direction , Running on insanity at the moment but it better than depression and boredom . Got the stock so I might as well do something with it .

Cheers . Alpineart

The purpose of this exercise was to give it a rough carve , then place a bit of movement into the lanky trunks . Contorted and compressed and re-poted at a different angle for a possible wind swept Juniper , not worried about the foliage as Shimpaku will be grafted onto the surviving contorted trunks next Spring . There is one graft that was set before which is wired for similar movement to the rest of the trunks .

Cheers Alpineart

I tackled the split with ease , just cranked the jack and it fell apart Well thanks to Noah these are in their slightly smaller new homes . Plenty of roots so no issues with re-potting them now thats an extra trunk to look after . The chain saw might get fired up tomorrow just to trim some dead wood off .

Cheers Alpine

Great effort bud. Hope all is well with your project. Cheers Steve

Wow didn’t see that coming. Very inspiring. Think I’ll have to look around for a big a..e junipers
Cheers RodM

HI Steve, It's a bit easier when the Wifes not on my case . I know she means well but things have to keep rolling along , its all progress in my book .

If I'm not playing with these there is plenty of serious work to be done , rock laying , plastering , painting and rendering and that adds up to some serious pain .

Cheers Alpine

Hi rodm , mate if you cant find them , make them . You wount find too many contorted Junipers in this country . When the oportunity comes knocking grab a shovel , pick , jack , saw and your in for a bloody good journey .

I need these like another hole in the head but If I finish there transformation someone might get excited and take them off my hands .

Cheers . Alpine

Patience is something I'm lacking around here , I sharpened the electric chainsaw and carved a rough impression in this trunk . There is 2 live veins on the trunk hence the extent of the carving . This will get a tidy up with the die grinder later on , I would prefer to carve the others while I can hang onto the saw but it wont happen today .

The little saw works 10 times faster than a die grind and with a lot less effort to hang onto . It took less than 1 hour to rough this out , a bit daggy but its only the start .

Cheers . Alpine

electric chainsaw, you say? i've never used one, but have seen them around..... is it quite a small one that you use? or just standard sort of size for a chainsaw? i would assume they'd be quite a lot lighter and easier than 2 stroke, unless by electric you mean cordless with a big heavy battery?

Hi Juan , mate its small compared to the smallest petrol powered chainsaw and around 1/4 of the weight . It does however pack a punch and will severe a limb be it a leg or an arm if you dont know how to use them correctly .

You can be very nimble with them and get caught out or cut up very quickly if you think their a toy .Always wear safety gear , it slows the impact down

The tip which is used for carving is the most dangerous it will climb up the stump and smack you in the forehead before you know what happened .

These or any chainsaw for that matter are not for novice use , the chain rips timber , but it minces meat a hell of a lot easier

I have nicked my trouser a couple of times over the 45 plus years of operating one , the smaller lighter saw is more dangerous because it kicks back all too quick compared to a big heavy saw .

The most dangerous tool in the shed is usually the operator .

Cheers Alpineart

Another big trunk split into 2 , With plenty of grafted Shimpaku foliage surviving on both trunks they can only get better . .

Cheers . Alpine

Some great transformations underway there!
They look so different to when you first dug them.