"Ice-T" bonsai

Here's what happens when you get old and forgetful on a cold wither evening.

Don't know whether to chuckle or be concerned. I like to laugh at myself when I get a little bone-headed, but was there any damage to branches? Hope all came out well.

sheeeee-it man !

dont kick yourself too hard...
like david said, we all pull a boner now and then...

Oh, it is no problem. No leaves to speak of. All trees are small, so no heavy weight on branches. They'll be fine. I just thot it was funny -- and pretty.

Actually, in Florida when there;'s a freeze in the offing, farmers turn on the sprinklers. The ice acts as an insulator. I've done it purposfully for my trees on several occasions when I lived back there:

A flowering quince cascade after one such cold night:



The same tree later that winter:

JimLewis wrote:Actually, in Florida when there;'s a freeze in the offing, farmers turn on the sprinklers.  The ice acts as an insulator.   I've done it purposfully for my trees on several occasions when I lived back there

i will be damned... a couple weeks ago i collected a couple young pines from the base of a cliff that ends just a few feet from the shore of lake michigan, so i know for a fact that these have been completely buried in lake shelf ice every single winter of their existence and i wondered how they could possible survive that... but they obviously have.

Now that is really, all of them ----- a thing/s of beauty, is a joy forever.
Thanks Jim. makes my winter.
Until.
Khaimraj

That's really a nice image you captured. I'd also love to have a yard like that - the views you have must be amazing.

Steve

beer city snake wrote:

JimLewis wrote:Actually, in Florida when there;'s a freeze in the offing, farmers turn on the sprinklers.  The ice acts as an insulator.   I've done it purposfully for my trees on several occasions when I lived back there

i will be damned... a couple weeks ago i collected a couple young pines from the base of a cliff that ends just a few feet from the shore of lake michigan, so i know for a fact that these have been completely buried in lake shelf ice every single winter of their existence and i wondered how they could possible survive that... but they obviously have.

There are a couple places here that have ice trees. Spruces. They pipe water up next to the trunk to a shower. As the water freezes it slowly encases the whole tree in a block of ice. With wind and sub zero temperatures they take on fantastic shapes. In the spring when the tree thaws they carry on as usual. And these are 30 or 40 foot trees.

M. Frary wrote:

There are a couple places here that have ice trees. Spruces. They pipe water up next to the trunk to a shower. As the water freezes it slowly encases the whole tree in a block of ice. With wind and sub zero temperatures they take on fantastic shapes. In the spring when the tree thaws they carry on as usual. And these are 30 or 40 foot trees.

Why is this done? Art?

I'd also love to have a yard like that - the views you have must be amazing.

Very nice -- until it s time to mow the pasture.

Precarious wrote:

M. Frary wrote:

There are a couple places here that have ice trees. Spruces. They pipe water up next to the trunk to a shower. As the water freezes it slowly encases the whole tree in a block of ice. With wind and sub zero temperatures they take on fantastic shapes. In the spring when the tree thaws they carry on as usual. And these are 30 or 40 foot trees.

Why is this done?  Art?

I imagine so. Not sure but there are a few towns that have them. It's Michigan in winter. We have to come up with things to get us out of the house. They do look cool no like trees sometimes. Later this year when I see one is all iced up I'll go take a picture. A couple usually make the local news every year. High entertainment!

beer city snake wrote:i will be damned... a couple weeks ago i collected a couple young pines from the base of a cliff that ends just a few feet from the shore of lake michigan, so i know for a fact that these have been completely buried in lake shelf ice every single winter of their existence and i wondered how they could possible survive that... but they obviously have.

These pines sound like they might have some awesome character! Have you posted pictures of the trees you collected?

sorry dan, but no i havent... as i ran out of room at my house, they are wintering at a friends, so maybe come spring (but they really arent much to look at... yet  )