Always say yes to the free tree

 Always say yes to the free tree! This was a free hand out promotional item given away by a vendor set up at the recent International Tree Climbing Completion recently held in Columbus, Ohio. You didnt know there was such a thing? Neither did I until I walked out of Franklin Park Conservatory, having taught a class about a much smaller tree -based activity, and took a look at the various vendors. I cam away with a nice tote bag, filled with other fine "swag"-work gloves, magnifying lenses,temporary tattoos and a bumper sticker.
And of course, trees! This is a variety of Rocky Mountain Juniper (J. scopulorum) called 'Moonglow'. New growth is such a light blue green it is almost grey and seems to glow, hence the name.
Rocky Mountain Junipers are most famous in bonsai for the amazing deadwood that ancient collected specimens can develop. This little fellow is a LONG way from dead wood glory, but you got to start some where.
Top photo is the cutting pulled out if its plastic pot. it was growing a in a loose fairly sandy soil which is a pretty good sign for a juniper. Its what they prefer. The attached label told me this was produced by Musser Forests, a nursery company in Western Pennsylvania that you may have heard of. They grow good stuff. They are located in Indiana , PA, the home town of Jimmy Stewart.










Second photo is the same viewing angle, with loose soil removed. Another inch or two of trunk is exposed and the start of a root base is revealed












In the third photo we see the tree in a training container. Steel recycles! I did this work in Mid-August, which is not time to do root work on a Juniper, so this was basically a "pot-hop" working what had been a tight, upright root ball into a flatter, less deep shape. A few root high up the trunk were removed, as well as some dead tip, but no real trimming of the roots was done. All the active root tips were left intact. Getting this into the pot simply involved some chop-stick action, working good bonsai soil into the roots.

Some wire adds much needed  shape. The photo at right is from the Musser website and shows the strong upright growth pattern of this variety. Wire is needed for curves, and this will be left on till it really starts to cut in. All foliage was shortened, and the tree given a dose of "repotting tonic": some liquid kelp, a crushed aspirin and some fish emulsion. The aspirin is not for any aches and pains, but because the chemical in the drug is the same stuff in willows that acts like rooting hormone. The other tonic ingredients, used at low strength will help give a jump start to the last flush of summer growth.

Ten years from now, this may look like a decent bonsai!