Pinus pinea.. Botanical name..pain in buttus.

[bodhidharma]

I have been playing with this guy for a while now and an article by Andy Kuo has inspired me to hang in there. You can pretty much do what you like with these pines except let them go. Apparently the trick is to promote juvenile foliage on the tree and keep cutting the mature foliage. They do everything well and make a great learning tree as they are hard to kill, bud back very readily and can be manipulated into ridiculous positions. I know Pup has a fairly decent one. I have a lot of these and this tree has had some very, " not nice " things done to it. A great tree for a person who wants to really experiment. I have yet to see a GREAT looking tree from these pines but you never know. The first picture is its third styling after i had undercut and manipulated the leader quite severely. the second piccy is where its at now and i will add its next styling when i am finished next week, maybe.

[MoGanic]

Very interesting Bodhi. Look forward to the update.

Regards,
Mo

[bodhidharma]

I have now restyled this tree a little and cut off some major branches to minimise the look of the tree. I am not concerned whether the styling is traditional or radical but want to know how these things perform and what can be done with them. As stated before, there is very little info on these guys so lets see what it does.

Very interesting Bodhi. Look forward to the update.

This tree will change a lot if it survives Mo, but, yes, interesting. Playing with styles and seeing what happens.

[MoGanic]

Perhaps something like this?

Please excuse the horrible drawing.



Using the current leader/top right branch to create the apex and the lower branches to fill out and create the lowest pads.

What do you think?

[Bebbas]

Lovely clear pics Bodhidharma. I will certainly be watching with interest on this one.

[Pup]

[]Yes Bohdi I have two one I am at the moment giving a rest but I do have a picture of it.
So here it is they do need a little work but I find them pleasing to work with. Ernie Kuo reckons they are good as you can get them cheap around Christmas time as the sell them as living Christmas trees.

P1160261.JPG

[MoGanic]

[]Yes Bohdi I have two one I am at the moment giving a rest but I do have a picture of it.
So here it is they do need a little work but I find them pleasing to work with. Ernie Kuo reckons they are good as you can get them cheap around Christmas time as the sell them as living Christmas trees.

P1160261.JPG

Nice tree Pup! Very well developed.

Regards,
Mo

[bodhidharma]

Perhaps something like this?

Please excuse the horrible drawing.

The trunk might be to thick for that sort off styling. Like the idea though.

[MoGanic]

Perhaps something like this?

Please excuse the horrible drawing.

The trunk might be to thick for that sort off styling. Like the idea though.

Thanks Bodhi.

I'll be watching for the next update!

Regards,
Mo

[GavinG]

Dramatic and powerful Bodhi. Your trees make me think, which is never good. The very acute angle at the top that gives the tree its character makes me wonder whether you'd consider cranking the angles in the branches more sharply to harmonise with the top, before they all trail off to leeward? If you get my drift.

Please keep posting as the tree develops.

Gavin

[bodhidharma]

The very acute angle at the top that gives the tree its character makes me wonder whether you'd consider cranking the angles in the branches more sharply to harmonise with the top, before they all trail off to leeward? If you get my drift.

A great suggestion and wished i got it earlier. i Get your drift and, yes, it would look a lot better that way and i will go for it. Also got your p.m and i am not ignoring your kind offer. i am trying to get myself up there and my wife is going up in April so hopefully i will accompany her. keep you updated gavin

[ric]

[]Yes Bohdi I have two one I am at the moment giving a rest but I do have a picture of it.
So here it is they do need a little work but I find them pleasing to work with. Ernie Kuo reckons they are good as you can get them cheap around Christmas time as the sell them as living Christmas trees.

P1160261.JPG

Nice one Pup, I love that you have paid attention to the 'natural habit of the pine' in your design, allowing for the needles to be up.
ric

[GavinG]

Hope to see you in April. Coffee and cakes.

Gavin

[bodhidharma]

Taking Mr "G"s advice i have cranked the branches down to harmonise the tree a little more and rewired. The tree responds well but takes an infinity to set into place. Even if you let the wire bite in hard (see pic's) they dont set well. A crazy looking tree but it is giving me a lot of pleasure as it develops. A great tree for a beginner as you can pretty much do anything you like with them. I will style one after the pic Moganic sent me next.

[bodhidharma]

A little update on this Pine. It made an appearance at our show this year and was a bit of a talking point with its crazy styling.
I will follow with a more professional picture soon.