Yamadori Hunting

[alpineart]

This is the ultimate way to search for those tree's we all desire .With 2 wheels its the quickest and best way to locate the items in the hard to get places .Today my son Noah decided to join in and test his skills on his bike and enjoy the scenery .We covered around 50 klms through the plantations and found some nice specimens .To my surprise he didn't back off any hills where i took my bike .

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A well earned rest and a chance to check for tree's

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This is Mount Buffalo in the background a mere 8 klms away

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Some of the clear felled areas and the county we ride in

[bodhidharma]

Now there is a nice way to spend a Saturday Alpine. And taking the boy along would have been good quality time.

[alpineart]

Hers is a few Yamadori Pinus Nigra Maratima

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note the little group plantings of Melalueca's , forests everywhere, shohin for the taking .

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this is a Nigra next to a plantation seedling , the logs on the ground are typical bark of all the Nigra species up here . The bark is in large plates silver/white with a blackish outline . Needles are typical on the Maratima and Austriaca .Usually between 60 and 120mm in lenth with a spiral twist .This seems to only occur in the field as the red clay in quite heavy .In a pot they tend to straighten out somewhat and reduce very well .

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This is typical of the damage done by the wildlife {Bambi and Skippy } tend to chew and strip the side of the Nigra's leaving nice natural jin and shari's for the future .If the nigra's are scarce the will eat the top of the Montereys .

[Dario]

I am jealous what a backyard you have there! Good to see Noah is decked out in the correct riding atire...until you come off yo just don't fully appreciate it...round here some people ride bikes and scooters in thongs, shorts and t-shirts...just asking for trouble!!
To me it always looks strange when I see naked portions of land like that...the pines look great, thanks for posting!
Cheers, Dario.

[alpineart]

On our way home i purshed the limit only to find my little man has as much guts or no brains like the old man

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What a top day out with my little bloke . Cheers and happy Yamadori hunting .Alpineart

[alpineart]

Hi Bodhi , makes for a top day with Noah along for the ride .He has been on bikes for 6 years and for an 8 yo he certainly has the right attitude to make a very good rider .Cheers Alpine

[alpineart]

Hi Dario , mate ive got the best back yard in the world .Noah had his casual gear on just for a gentle ride , he overheats with his full kit , have to go like a cut cat to stay cool .The safety gear is essentual with any activity even in my back yard when he chooses to ride a skate board , scooter or his pushy . Cheers Alpine

[Luke308]

Hi Alpine, what a selection you have to choose from! Just thought I'd ask how you can tell the different species and variations of pines? Is there any links you could help me out with? I am going to Mt Crawford Forest (South Australia) for a dig on Sunday and I would like to have some idea of what I'm collecting. Also there are quite a few pine trees (on pine drive ) near my house which have darker bark in big "scales" ( I don't know if that is the right term). but they are certainly a darker brown than the ones in your pics on this thread. Hope you can point me in the right direction
Cheers,
Luke

[alpineart]

Hi Luke , post a pic if you get a chance , make a topic of it and i'm sure some of us here will no doubt be able to help .As for sites mate i spend thousands of hours per year trying to get good info , plenty profess to know but a closer look tells a different story .If the plantation is privately own try to seek out the owners .

As for looking , do a google on Pinus Pinaster - Maratime pine , Pinus Willichiana - Himalayan White Pine , Pinus Canariensis - Canary island Pine or the Pinus Nigra var' cosican - Corsican Pine , all of these have reddish brown plates/ scales , some large and small . If you google 1-2-3-5 needle pines individually it will give you a massive headache trying to determine who is right and who is wrong as a lot of the info is loaded by very ordinary individuals .

A couple of decades of research helps me in this area , however i need some type of detail to basically research the specimens in question . Again you need -- needle , count , type and length cone size and shape , bark colour and type tree type and growth habit , then there is the climate and altitude . All these factors determine the typical growth of the tree in that area .Botanical gardens are a good source of reference , however i have seen pines mis-labelled in them .It is one of the most difficult Genus to research and the 2 needles pine group is by far almost impossible without Science to help out .

Hope this Helps .Cheers Alpineart .

[Luke308]

Hi Luke , post a pic if you get a chance , make a topic of it and i'm sure some of us here will no doubt be able to help .As for sites mate i spend thousands of hours per year trying to get good info , plenty profess to know but a closer look tells a different story .If the plantation is privately own try to seek out the owners .

As for looking , do a google on Pinus Pinaster - Maratime pine , Pinus Willichiana - Himalayan White Pine , Pinus Canariensis - Canary island Pine or the Pinus Nigra var' cosican - Corsican Pine , all of these have reddish brown plates/ scales , some large and small . If you google 1-2-3-5 needle pines individually it will give you a massive headache trying to determine who is right and who is wrong as a lot of the info is loaded by very ordinary individuals .

A couple of decades of research helps me in this area , however i need some type of detail to basically research the specimens in question . Again you need -- needle , count , type and length cone size and shape , bark colour and type tree type and growth habit , then there is the climate and altitude . All these factors determine the typical growth of the tree in that area .Botanical gardens are a good source of reference , however i have seen pines mis-labelled in them .It is one of the most difficult Genus to research and the 2 needles pine group is by far almost impossible without Science to help out .

Hope this Helps .Cheers Alpineart .

Thanks, thats a big help!!!

The dig I went on, the trees were all labelled in the areas they were in. I ended up with 1 maritime, and 2 radiatas. I had the opportunity to get Canary Island, but the other people I was with said they dont make good bonsai so we went to the Radiata area (witha few maritime pines in the mix). I thought the Canary's had fantastic bark on them though (Im tempted to go back and get some and try anyway)
You can view what I collected here viewtopic.php?f=131&t=9543
Thanks for taking the time to help, I appreciate it. I will try and get pics and details of the local pines and post a thread. Although, I have a embarrassing question to ask....how do you tell how many needle pine it is?

[alpineart]

Hi Luke , mate thats easy , just count the needles per bundle . Mate if someone says its no good for Bonsai try a few anyway , humans aren't always right maybe its an old wives tale or they cant see the tree within .

Cheers Alpineart