Boulevard Cypress Group Planting Progression

[MJL]

Thanks R3 - appreciated. A slight correction to the record from my earlier post today. These had been in that pot 18 months (not two years) before today's repotting - incredibly vigourous growth for 18th months. Indeed, I just look at some historical shots when I picked up these sickly plants in 2016. They have come a long way, I reckon.

Here's a few photos from 2016 before I pulled them together.

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And then pulling them together in march 2017

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As it was in March 2017

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And then today's repot again below

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Interesting ... at least they are reasonable healthy now!

[TimS]

Well done getting them recovered back to health, there i something rewarding about getting a sick tree to recover and become healthy again. Even if we should have left them there in the first place and got healthy trees instead!

Your groups are a real credit to your creative eye mate, they have a really good feel about them, not artificial like so many do seem.

[MJL]

Well done getting them recovered back to health, there i something rewarding about getting a sick tree to recover and become healthy again. Even if we should have left them there in the first place and got healthy trees instead!

Your groups are a real credit to your creative eye mate, they have a really good feel about them, not artificial like so many do seem.

Thanks Tim - funny, your note about leaving dud trees in the nursery is sooo true! Buying crud is a mistake I have made too many times, still do now and then. Even these trees will never back bud on old wood and thus are not ideal and will never be great but they are pleasing to the eye nonetheless.

[TimS]

All part of the learning process and elevating the quality of the trees we grow. At some point we must leave the crud behind and move on!

I still am drawn to the discount benches out of habit, but I’m getting good at walking away now.

[MJL]

After re-potting these on the 12th September, the trees settled well. Growing vigorously. These are a constant battle to make look ok because they don't bud back. A coffee in hand and walk into the courtyard this morning - I decided a trim was in order. It's amazing how much can be taken off with little change in the overall feel. Here's where it started ...

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First, I trimmed down to here ...

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Then I brewed another another coffee - decided there was more to do .... and went at it again.

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(Also - I confused myself by posting historical photos of this group recently. Prior to this post, the photos are of a historical re-pot 2016/17; prior to that post are the photos of the most recent repot 8 weeks ago. I am writing this clarification for my fading memory as much as anything else. ) )

It's also worth noting the new moss is struggling after the repot. I am learning more about moss and it seems to work best if collected and placed in a similar environment. This was not case here and hence, its is not taking to its new home. Bumma - but no disaster.

And then .... couldn't resist ... took another handful off. Stopping now!

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A couple of side views too.

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Many problems but enjoying trying to fix them over the years.

[boom64]

I like a lot Mark .looks like its starting to put on a bit of weight as well. The many problems you see now will turn out to be many assets in the future .
Cheers John.

[Raging Bull]

Very nice group. I can imagine seeing something like that while taking a walk in a park.
Cheers, Frank.

[MJL]

Very nice group. I can imagine seeing something like that while taking a walk in a park.
Cheers, Frank.

I like a lot Mark .looks like its starting to put on a bit of weight as well. The many problems you see now will turn out to be many assets in the future .
Cheers John.

Thanks gents, appreciate the encouragement.

[MJL]

It's a sodden day in Melbourne, just got back from a run (alone) and because I was drenched, decided to take a few photos of some drenched trees too. You can see that the Boulevard has put on a heap of foliage weight over summer and after the repot. I'll give this a big hair cut in early spring. The last shot shows the "pom poms"... not ideal but as I have said before - fun and satisfying look after.

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It is rarely this deep green colour. The foliage is soaked and it has lost its silver blue tinge. It's got to be very, very wet to do this - for example, my daily water does not change the colour much but today's steady rain has. Interesting.

[Keels]

wow Mark. Its looking really green and a lot more fuller then when i saw it in December.

[Alex_B]

Mark that is a really beautiful grouping you have made I really love the thick dense foliage that has grown over summer it makes it look like the opening of a thick forest. Also nice choice of figures they really add some extra details to the grouping.

[MJL]

Two steps forward - one step back... these grow so fast if I don't keep on top of them they become even more leggy and we don't want that! A pity they don't bud back but they continue to go in the right direction - high-maintenance though they are!
Before and after below and ready for spring growth.

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[boom64]

Hi Mark ,found this picture in a pretty old bonsai book by Peter Chan. Not far of yours...Funny he says it is a seven tree group yet one of the trees is hidden by another. Hope you enjoy. Cheers John.

[MJL]

Hey John,
Thank you for this! Makes me feel immediately better about my group .... it’s intriguing that it is mounded and in a similar’ish pot. I am finding that while the twice annual trimming quite labour intensive ... the nature of the verdant and droopy growth means it is not immediately obvious how to cut spots that are going up or down or even where to trim at the ends of branches to keep growth short ... I am getting better at seeing it but it is still tricky. That’s said, the fast regrowth and the ongoing positive progression is making it all worthwhile. Cheers again for the picture.


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[MJL]

These are incredible you fast growers .... see what I took off in August, same again about a month ago! Yet a month later looks like I hardly took the trimmer’s to it! Interesting - this started as nothing much and truly -not great bonsai still- all the growth away from trunks and at top of branches no matter how hard I try to make it more compact... but ... friends and visitors love it?!



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