A Special and Unexpected Yamadori Experience

Hi Folks,
I wanted to share with you a very special day I had last week…….where my profession (work day), my joy of Bonsai and love of mother nature all came together.

I know, I know….you’ll give me a hard time about “cheating” and I missed out on the wonderful experience it would be to pack them out on my back lol….but what’s a guy gonna do when it all falls into place.

Around this time of year we spend 3-4 full days in a helicopter exploring our Tree Farm License (large area of public forest land) looking for any tree/forest health issues, patches of wind-throw/slides, ensuring our ecosystems are functioning as planned…etc.
Well after 3-4 hours of reading maps, writing, taking photos, recording info., vertigo usually sets in on one of the crew so we ask the pilot to head to a location for lunch to clear our heads.
Luckily for me it was at 5500’ and a sub-alpine area with stunning views and vista’s. After a quick bite to eat…. I explored the area and had 3 small mountain hemlock wrapped and ready to go (using only a small trowel and pruners). The rooting mass and zone on them is very shallow as the soil mantles are very thin so they came away with almost all of the roots.
They wont be show stoppers but I have always been drawn to trees with curves which are fun to work with….definitely not classic bonsai (#1 branch on first curve on one side, second branch etc), or yamadori but what a special day.
Photo includes a shot of the Alpine lake, our transport/pilot, the 3 specimens and the most interesting (with a nice natural dead top).
Cheers
Graham

I think they're exquisite.

They have a ton of individual character and style; just what I would want if the opportunity to collect were to arise.

Good luck with them and keep us updates on the progress.

Thanks for sharing. Looks like a fun day at work. 

Hi Gman

Thanks for sharing...I am sure when you have a second look at the trees whey make good bonsai in the future.

Kind regards Yvonne

Gman. you number one VIP

Thank you all for your comments, they are appreciated.  
I actually have three Mt Hemlocks from the same time last year (same kind of trip) which have grown very well this summer, I'll take them out of the grow bed this spring and pot them into a training pot.
Cheers Graham

the one in the middle looks like an interesting challenge. have you seen any curly spruce?

That's a beautiful workplace.

Thanks Peter, Barry,
Peter, the one in the middle leans towards a bunjin so hopefully I'll take it in that direction.  These mtn. Hemlocks have taught me patience.... so it will be a while before I can get it into a pot  .  My co-worker (who doesn't know Bonsai) spotted it and told me that it had "simple elegance" - with its gentle curves and minor amounts of foliage...... so I saw that as a good sign:D .  
The spruce we have on Vancouver Island are Sitka Spruce and grow at low elevations so I haven't found any "curly spruce".
Cheers
Graham

An update on one of these three trees.........all have grown very well and adjusted nicely coming down from 5500" to sea level.  This is the one in the middle in the photo where I show all 3.

Cheers G.

Here is an update on another one of this group of 3 which were collected in late summer/fall of 2013......Since this summer photo I've further positioned/established the main branching and will do some more work (arrange and refine the finer branches) this winter.  
Cheers G.

That last one I really like the first 5 inches or so. Really nice. Will definitely become a nice bonsai.

graham... no-one should call your collection method "cheating"...
opportunistic, yes, cheating, no.

i too really like the last one... is there any way of not hiding that first major turn at the base ?
or is there something unsightly behind the foliage ?

Thanks Leo/Kevin,
This one will never be a show stopper, nor much of a classic Bonsai as it is very young, (not a teenager much more middle aged ) it also has a poor base (many yamadori do)...etc It may been seen as something of interest by the general public but not from the mainstream bonsai scene.  

There isn't a lot written on this species so it's these types of trees that I learn from......and they've taught me not to rush them.  That's why I have left many branches on it......... to provide ample vigor and health for future operations.   I try to set up a main framework of branches and on many of my "Mtn Hemi's" I encourage the smaller branches to grow strong (they have foliage closer to the trunk i.e. on this one the foliage is at the ends of large branches)...these smaller ones (yes younger) really help with proportion ...to the rest of the future image.  Some of the larger branches may get removed but on most I'll leave them long and jinned. Next year I'll lower the finer branchlets spreading them on more or less the same plane.
Here are a couple more photos showing the base and other angles......as you can see the tree has a lot of movement.......see the one big main root (base) that comes very close to the edge of the pot and then trunk almost does a full turn through its length as the tops moves back towards the front - thus providing a smaller image.
Many thanks for your interest. Graham
BASE:

Current front

Current back:

nice progression any update or pictures?