Real Yamadori - Best Dig Site Ever?

Watto · Post by **Watto** » June 14th, 2013, 5:42 pm

I was at home this morning and a friend dropped around and said, why are you standing in the freezing cold doing bonsai? Come with me to a place that is really freezing and check out this possible dig site. I downed tools, grabbed another jumper and off we went. About 30, 40 or 50 minutes out of Goulburn we arrived at Mt ########## and I could not believe my eyes. After shooing the deer away the quality of the trees was the best I had seen in the ground. After of bit of investigation it was decided they were prunus, most probably plums, but they had the smallest leaf size I had seen on plums. Now we are on a mountain, it was very rocky and not a lot of trees around, the wind was ripping up one side and then down the other, it was raining on and off - did I mention it was freezing, but here were these fantastic trees.
Anything that the deer could chew were ramified beyond belief, as if a master had been there trimming them, and anything that was high was - well, normal.
There were trees that were from 150mm to about 300mm everywhere (well probably 60 to 80 of them) and then probably another 40 or so that were up to 1200mm tall, and all with great natural ramification.
I'll post a few progressive photos.

Watto · Post by **Watto** » June 14th, 2013, 5:52 pm

A couple more photos. Some of the best trees were growing in and around the rocks.

Kyushu Danji · Post by **Kyushu Danji** » June 14th, 2013, 5:59 pm

Looks pretty awesome! You should let us know if you ever need a hand

Watto · Post by **Watto** » June 14th, 2013, 6:03 pm

Thanks for the offer but I think we can cope.
The lichen on the trees, and the moss on the rocks was also most interesting.

Ray M · Post by **Ray M** » June 14th, 2013, 6:05 pm

Hi Wato,
What a find mate. Please post some photos as you pot them up.

Regards Ray

Watto · Post by **Watto** » June 14th, 2013, 7:48 pm

We weren't really organised for a dig so just got a couple of smaller ones, but we are going back, this time with all the gear. Currently soaking Ray, but I will post after potting.

Jester · Post by **Jester** » June 14th, 2013, 8:07 pm

Good on you Greg, hope you get some good results with those trees!!! Looks like a lot of digging and lots of exercise!!!!

Isitangus · Post by **Isitangus** » June 14th, 2013, 8:13 pm

Good score-always nice to have a secret yamadori spot!!! Me = jealous!

Jan · Post by **Jan** » June 14th, 2013, 8:42 pm

Wow! What a find! Good thing it is so cold, (the rocks look a bit snakey to mess about with in the hot weather) - excellent weather to warm up digging. I look forward to seeing them potted.

Jan.

Watto · Post by **Watto** » June 14th, 2013, 9:35 pm

I've never had a secret Yamadori spot before so I'm a bit excited. Don't worry Jan, digging will only be in the winter.

Post by **kcpoole** » June 14th, 2013, 11:13 pm

Lovely Find Watto

Nice trees will result from that lot.

Ken

Watto · Post by **Watto** » June 15th, 2013, 11:33 am

First little one potted. About 20cm tall with a nice lower movement in the trunk. Also has good natural shari which is a bonus.

Watto · Post by **Watto** » June 15th, 2013, 11:40 am

Second one now in the pot. There is a little bit of reverse taper but that will be fixed with a bit of carving. But check out the ramification - whos looking at the reverse taper?
These are the only ones to surface so far and certainly not the best ones so looking forward to future outings.

Isitangus · Post by **Isitangus** » June 15th, 2013, 11:52 am

Not bad for free!!!!

bodhidharma · Post by **bodhidharma** » June 15th, 2013, 1:21 pm

I have a secret spot so i can relate.

AusBonsai