‘Stampede’ Ponderosa Pine Styling…

There’s a story about the name ‘Stampede’. The Backcountry Bonsai guys enjoy naming the trees they collect, and having received several with memorable names I asked if this Ponderosa Pine had one. I only got an abbreviated version by text and maybe not the full story, but I gather it involved some galloping extraterrestrials or horned animals that were shooed away by Steve Varland, saving the pine’s life. Dust cloud from retreating herd of mysterious animals…mountain peaks…a man bent over, worrying over an old tree…you can sort of see the ageless moment there. And the name Stampede was born.

Here’s a photo essay of last Saturday’s monkeying around in the first styling. Thanks to Andrew Robson, Alan Thompson, and Lincoln Proud for the extra hands and sharing some sushi-

Prepping the Ponderosa Pine for wiring

Alan asking a question of which I have no clear memory—‘Shall we move it closer to the extraterrestrial or further away?’—perhaps…

Our inclination idea for a cascade—the next three photos show the sequenced removal of unnecessary branches

Continuation of tree prep with needle removal

The wiring begins

The wiring continues

The trunk again

And fully wired but before setting the branches—when working as a team this is often the easier method; when working alone I set as I go, which can improve the decision of what gets pruned and what gets wired—

Andrew-kun and Alan-san with an ornery guy wire

Trunk closeups

And this was where we left it for the day. I would like the lowest branch raised and compacted more next time, it is too low as it is. But first, next spring, 2019, the tree will be potted. The tree is evidently an elk-trampled tree—oops, gave that away—and has borer / elk shari to prove its past battles with both vertebrates and invertebrates, although this was only its second battle (including collecting) with the two-legged vertebrate kind and it’s now in the greenhouse being coaxed back from ill-humor.

Everyone at the National Show in Rochester, NY, hello, sorry to miss you all but my apprentice Andrew was airlifted over there by extraterrestrials and I’m home watering. Not sure who got the better end of that one. Let me know if he’s ok. Enjoy the show~