AusBonsai

This is a change from the tridents i have been wrapping , needed a break from the mundane task. These were collected several years ago and potted .No trianing has been done on them they are as collected and trimmed back then .These will settle then some basic wire will be applied .Know by many names such as N.Z Oregon , Red Fir , B.C Pine , False Hemlock and numerous other name they are hardy once established , these has been browsed on by Deer and Roo's hence the natural shari on the trunks .Cheers Alpine

These have improved to the point where they need a good work out . I basically thinned out all the unwanted foliage and dead-wood then applied some wire to establish the basic shape .New apexes were wired into position and its back to the benches . The pinch and grow method will now be used to build the canopies and maintain the shape .Cheers Alpineart

You managed a fair bit of movement in your group, I think it looks interesting now and will look very good in a few years' time. I've had two trees of this specie for about 10 years, that I don't know what the heck to do with; they are tall, straight and stiff. Both remain in big pots till I get some inspiration. One of them presented me with a nice surprise, however. See attached!
Lisa

Hi LLK , been so busy i missed your post .I haven't had the pleasure of producing cones on my Bonsai trainers . Douglas fir usually produce cones from about 5-6 years if ground grown , i have several 15 yo trees here in the terraces that produce huge amounts of cones . These trainers are naturally collected , trimmed by the wildlife hence the movement in the trunks . .Cheers Alpine

Thanks for the post. I noticed in the first two photos there are small white "dots" on the foliage. Would you be able to tell me what that is? If its a pest, what is your treatment.
Thanks
Watto

Hi Watto , pests what pest , where are they ? .No mate they are sap crystals , these would have to be the most resinous trees i have ever worked with .They shimmer in summer if the are trimmed .When i walk in the plantations you come out quite sticky .Wiring is difficult as the dimples on the younger trunks bleed as become very messy .Cheers Alpine

Nice little group you have there Alpine

Will you be looking to repot them too at some point? It may be an illusion of the photo but they look a little evenly spaced, they may benefit from a shuffle round, maybe the two bigger ones slightly closer together, with the smaller one slightly further away, to give a sense of depth? Not sure if that made any sense Nice yamadori material though!

Hi Lewis , its the slack photographer thats done the damage .The trees are set at various spacings and depths but to show the outlines the group is pictured slightly off centre from the pot .Good pickup i must say .Middle tree is is 120mm back 2nd tree is 190mm and the smallest is 200mm back from a straight line front .They are spaced 120mm between the 2 bigger and 160mm between the middle and smaller tree . To move them closer the foliage will become a closed canopy rather than an individual canopy on each tree . The tray measures 600mm x 420mm , trees are 450mm , 400mm ans 300mm high .Cheers Alpineart

I thought it may just be an illusion! Very nice work mate