100 Year old Azalea's

[Chris Sirre]

More Azaleas have been dug up. Come and check them out.

Some pics of the wonderful Azaleas I took today. There are some real treasures.

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[Amanda]

[kcpoole]

Some one is verry lucky boy
an all the rest are verry Jealoius

Nice stock

Ken

[Chris Sirre]

Some one is verry lucky boy
an all the rest are verry Jealoius

Nice stock

Ken

Hi Ken,

Yes we are very lucky but so is the rest of bonsai minded Australia. We saved those Azaleas from the death. We still in the process of cleaning them up. After that we will grade and price them. So you could be lucky too.

Cheers,

Chris

[Leigh Taafe]

While I was down at BTIT I took a few piccies.

Here is a pic of one of the smaller azaleas, I shoved my size 9 in there for a size comparison!

[Amanda]

While I was down at BTIT I took a few piccies.

Here is a pic of one of the smaller azaleas, I shoved my size 9 in there for a size comparison!

Crazy, crazy stuff. Can you imagine that covered in flowers?!

[Chris Sirre]

While I was down at BTIT I took a few piccies.

Here is a pic of one of the smaller azaleas, I shoved my size 9 in there for a size comparison!

Hi Leigh, we cleaned up a few more today, 2 1/2 times bigger that the one in your pic and they came up nicely.

[lindsay farr]

These azaleas must be admired by all that view them. Some of the woody basal areas are fantastic.
I grew up working in Azalea production nurseries in the Dandenongs during the early sixties. I can say with authority that stock of this unique character is rare.
I consider this to be the most inspiring and challenging azalea material that I have seen in Australia.
For all their basal character, the trunks of the specimens shown are uninspiring by way of their thinness and lack of taper.

When I was over west with Pup a few weeks ago, we stopped by John Coles wonderful Nursery. John has for sale 8 yo azaleas with trunks of 3 or 4cm plus basal flare.

These dimensions are rarely achieved in the Dandenongs.

Does anyone have thoughts as to why Perth conditions promote heavier trunks than the seemingly more suitable dandenongs??

Cheers

Lindsay

[nealweb]

Quote...

When I was over west with Pup a few weeks ago, we stopped by John Coles wonderful Nursery. John has for sale 8 yo azaleas with trunks of 3 or 4cm plus basal flare.

These dimensions are rarely achieved in the Dandenongs.

Does anyone have thoughts as to why Perth conditions promote heavier trunks than the seemingly more suitable dandenongs??

Cheers

Lindsay[/quote]

Don't know really. Certainly you went to THE spot to see azalea's, it is hard to find similar ones in any other nursery, not sure what John does to them but he has the best (maybe others just sell them younger?). We do have a looong growing season here and the right varieties, ones that handle the heat can really boom along. Especially under nursery conditions with shadecloth, plenty of feeding and alot of water. As always though, with nursery stock, the problem is trying to find one with less than 20 trunks
Here's one i grabbed from out there a week ago, just made a few cuts but still considering how to start styling him...

[Glenda]

My mum has an azalea growing in her garden that has to be 10 years old. Might have to convince her it is dying and needs to be replaced

Glenda

[lindsay farr]

Thanks for posting the pics nealweb, they are worth a thousand words.
Glenda, you should never fib to your mum.
Cheers
Lindsay

[Pup]

G,day Lindsay, you forgot to mention how cheap they were for 8 year old stock trees. I wont, but I bet some one asks.

Cheers Pup

[Glenda]

OK, Lindsay, I'll ask. How much were they? You tell me and I won't fib to my mum (which I wouldn't do anyway, I was just musing.... )

Glenda

[lindsay farr]

$8.95

[craigw60]

I would guess that the secret is nothing more than growing technique.
Craig