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Watto's 2020 Dig Trees

Posted: July 25th, 2020, 1:35 pm
by Watto
I thought just for fun I would post a photo of the trees I dig this year.
There has been a bit of rain (more is needed) and that should be helpful. I have a couple of secret spots that have a few trees and the Goulburn Bonsai Society has a spot or two scouted out for possible digs too so that should give plenty of opportunity.
To kick off proceedings is an English Oak. When I first spotted this tree I'm sure it had more movement in it (twists and turns) and has straightened up during the trip to the backyard. Honest, trust me. The little one was a bonus.

Re: Watto's 2020 Dig Trees

Posted: July 25th, 2020, 3:56 pm
by Ryceman3
Look forward to seeing the rest Watto. I don't really do much yamadori collection so it's nice/interesting to see what other people dig up.

Re: Watto's 2020 Dig Trees

Posted: July 25th, 2020, 4:28 pm
by MJL
Looking forward to seeing the haul Watto. And R3 - Inner city Yamadori.... I can just see you crossing rooftops - picking seedlings out of poorly maintained gutters - negotiating with council workers who are removing mis-shapen trees for another tram-stop ... all while maintaining a polite Melboure-COVID distance ....


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Re: Watto's 2020 Dig Trees

Posted: July 25th, 2020, 6:06 pm
by shibui
You are absolutely correct about trees straightening up on the trip home. Those who have not collected won't really understand but this very same thing has happened many times to trees I have dug.
Some that had real potential in the field end up quite plain by the time you get home. Even those that look good after potting can begin to look less than attractive a few weeks later.
Have you also noticed that they expand after digging? A relatively small tree in the field just will not fit into the pot you had prepared and that means scurrying round to find a larger temporary container after getting it home.

I have been rescuing some plums and hawthorns from roadsides in my area. Some have potential (at least they did before I dug them up :shake: )

Re: Watto's 2020 Dig Trees

Posted: July 25th, 2020, 7:08 pm
by Jake fowler
shibui wrote: July 25th, 2020, 6:06 pm You are absolutely correct about trees straightening up on the trip home. Those who have not collected won't really understand but this very same thing has happened many times to trees I have dug.
Some that had real potential in the field end up quite plain by the time you get home. Even those that look good after potting can begin to look less than attractive a few weeks later.
Have you also noticed that they expand after digging? A relatively small tree in the field just will not fit into the pot you had prepared and that means scurrying round to find a larger temporary container after getting it home.

I have been rescuing some plums and hawthorns from roadsides in my area. Some have potential (at least they did before I dug them up :shake: )
I have dug plenty of olives and once I get home thought to myself why did I dig this?? Hahaha

Re: Watto's 2020 Dig Trees

Posted: July 25th, 2020, 9:25 pm
by Keels
Crickey :o i thought you retired from digging watto :lol:

Keen to see what you come up with mate. I've got my eye on a large firethorn and a big ass Irish Strawberry. I've managed to score a pretty interesting hawthorn the other weekend i reckon you'd be into ;) keep us posted

Re: Watto's 2020 Dig Trees

Posted: July 26th, 2020, 7:38 am
by Watto
Here is the second tree for the year. Again an English Oak dug from the same area as the first tree. These two were the only reasonably Oaks in the area so onto the next place now. It has one sided growth so I must speak to Mother Nature about that.

Re: Watto's 2020 Dig Trees

Posted: July 27th, 2020, 4:00 pm
by Watto
A bit of rain recently has certainly softened the ground.
Another day another dig tree to show. This tree looked better when surrounded/covered by grass but I think it still has potential, hopefully for a broom like bonsai in a couple of years.
All I said about Mother Nature I take back now for she has given me two potential sacrifice branches, one on each side of the trunk. I think they will help thicken the lower portion and take away the "power pole" look, fingers crossed.
A difficult dig because of the number and size of the thorns, in the future I may need to remove some of the thorns, just so I don't bleed so much.

Re: Watto's 2020 Dig Trees

Posted: July 27th, 2020, 9:57 pm
by Andrew E
Now where was the call Watto, I'm sure you said you would ...... :shake: ;)

Re: Watto's 2020 Dig Trees

Posted: July 27th, 2020, 9:58 pm
by Andrew E
Nice hawthorn BTW

Re: Watto's 2020 Dig Trees

Posted: July 28th, 2020, 10:53 am
by boom64
Good looking tree Watto ,nice way to keep warm out your way...Slim pickings down my way, several properties i collect from have been severely burnt out. At least some are starting to show a bit of regrowth. Cheers John.

Re: Watto's 2020 Dig Trees

Posted: July 28th, 2020, 11:32 am
by KIRKY
What a beaut! :cool:
I’ll take those thorns off your hands Watto, you’ve got too many there to care for, just send it down south what a great find. Love Hawthorn’s, whats the size of this one?
Cheers
Kirky

Re: Watto's 2020 Dig Trees

Posted: July 28th, 2020, 11:35 am
by KIRKY
Time to do a post on your dig Neal, Plums n Hawthorns what a treat!
Cheers
Kirky

Re: Watto's 2020 Dig Trees

Posted: July 28th, 2020, 5:45 pm
by Watto
A couple of apologies.
Firstly I neglected to say that the last tree is a Prunus, a wild plum of some sort, thus the rather large thorns.
Honest Andrew I was going to call but there was only one plum in that area.
Sorry to hear about your surrounding area John. Last year I only dug one tree because the drought had ruined any potential, but this year things are off to a good start so fingers crossed for a few more.

Re: Watto's 2020 Dig Trees

Posted: July 28th, 2020, 6:50 pm
by KIRKY
A Plum :o look forward to seeing it develop. Never enough Plums :tu:
Cheers
Kirky