The Lizard

The beauty of yamadori which few people get to see is the story of that day,there is always a story,a laugh,triumph or tradgedy which lets you remember the tree far more than planting a seed or going to the local nursery,the day i collected this blackthorn 3 yrs ago is just such a day,as me and tony were rumaging through the undergrowth(as only yamadori hunters will) there was a sudden whoop of glory from me,now this makes every yamadori hunters mate very unhappy,maybe even sick to the stomache for a split second because they know there former mate has just found a future gingko/kokufu winner!
So Tony picked up his spirits(and jaw)and began to help me get this beast from out of the rocks it had lived in for a long time,and luckily for me there was soil under the rocks,always a good sign.As i was busy beavering away looking for main roots i got a very loud STOP DONT MOVE from Tony,life flashing before me,i was seeing Yamadori hunter blown up by ww2 bomb headlines,but as i looked down spotted two lizards we'd disturbed removing rocks,bit of a relief(unless you live in australia prob kill you there!)
I have been heavily influenced of late by master kobayahi's book,and kokufu books of course,the tree's i keep coming back to are the prunus ume,very similar to my spinosa.These tree's grow at a awesome rate(as seen here)and are very hardy,have lovely white flowers before leaves, build up a great twig structure and have a lovely leaf colour,so all in i declare this species the best decidous species in europe,so then here's the lizards,and the tree now what would that lovely yellow Peter krebs pot in the auction look like with this in it???

the lizards


november 2007 1st growing season


march 2009 1st repotting an 2nd major styling

march 2009 pre cut back


dec 2009 end of season's growth


dec 2009 front height 22 inches width 30 inches


dec 2009 left


dec 2009 right


dec 2009 back


future virtual maybe 20010-11

Wonderful Sloe Lee. How about, best "flowering" deciduous tree in Europe? I just wish there were more good quality Sloes to be had. Cant wait to see this in a couple of years!

great find lee and excellent work!!! please keep posted when it flowers. and lizards in australia dont kill you.

Looks like thats going to be a cracker.
I really miss the 2 sloes i had, which i sold when i relocated a couple of years ago. As a species they have loads going for them and i too am surprised to not see more developed as bonsai, especially with some of us here loving the sloe gin!
The Yamadori is out there just got to look!
Did you manage to get the lizards to root in a grow box by the way?
Regards Nick

Actually, there are only two know poisonous lizards in the world, and both are in North America. The Gila monster (Heloderma suspectum) of the southwestern United States and the beaded lizard (Heloderma horridum) of Mexico.

@anttal63
Nice blue tongued skink.

Hi Lee. Great progression.

I like a tale with a happy ending. You've got a happy ending with a tail (or two).

Keep us posted with ongoing pics and I want to see this one when I'm down at The Wirral next Spring.

Actually I believe that the Komodo Dragon was recently discovered to employ venom as well.

what a beautiful tree
are you going to lose the first branch/shari?
i think the tree will flow right through to the canopy better
wish it was my tree
steve

I'm not sure it is actually a poison. I believe it is more correctly identified as a blood thinner, causing the wound to keep bleeding and causing the victim to go into shock.

But, I could be wrong!

@Velodog2
I did not know that. Very interesting news.

@Jay
Yes, it does seem to be a blood thinning venom, but it is a venom nonetheless.

I thought the komodo dragon, relied on a mouth, full of really nasty bacteria that slowly kill their victim?

That's what I understood from the fascinating documentary on recently, Will.

Excellent Sloe, Lee.

Both appear to be correct, the following page from the Smithsonian identifies the recent discovery of the Komodo Dragon's venom.

[url=Smithsonian]http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/ReptilesAmphibians/Facts/FactSheets/Komododragon.cfm[/url]

Although, I believe the effects of "rotten mouth" would not have as acute effect as the presence of an anticoagulant in the wound. The ripping effect of the Komodo's attack leaves a rather nasty wound. Profuse bleeding would tend to have a more speedy effect than mass infection, even a severe one.

If my cat toilet cum blackthorne is a patch on that one I'll be a happy camper.

Lee

Fantastic tree mate. It's got me thinking of pot styles already Look forward to seeing "The Lizards" progress

All the best

Andy

Here is a green anole in my Brazilian raintree.

Yeah I think the bacteria laden mouth was the old explanation for the effect the bite seemed to have. The venom is the new discovery.

Regardless, I will bet that this tree is even more stunning in 3d based on that picture of the other angle.

I love the Lizard. (The tree - the other ones are nice too, but more diffucult to keep staying)

Best regards
Morten

Lazaro Quintino wrote:Here is a green anole in my Brazilian raintree.

Very nice anole, I had them some pets many years ago, they get so tame, Know I start to mis them
Morten its easy to get them to stay, but its a protected species, your not allowerd to move them from theyre natural habitat

I agree the lizard (tree) is very nice indeed, I would like to see the future progress of this tree.

Peter

will baddeley wrote:Wonderful Sloe Lee. How about, best "flowering" deciduous tree in Europe? I just wish there were more good quality Sloes to be had. Cant wait to see this in a couple of years!

I find these hard to beat as a allrounder,i normally have a few for sale/trade,see me on my stall at the joy of bonsai there may be 2-3 there

bigsteve wrote:what a beautiful tree
are you going to lose the first branch/shari?
i think the tree will flow right through to the canopy better
wish it was my tree
steve

i'm leaving the shari for now,the tree is a while off showing and there will be every chance of the bark falling off naturally by then,which i'm hoping with a bit ofsand blasting my bring out a slightly twisting vein

Lee - in case it's not showing on your systme, I just PMed you .

anttal63 wrote:great find lee and excellent work!!! please keep posted when it flowers. and lizards in australia dont kill you.

Nice to find out there is a creature in oz which doesnt want to kill you!

Lee I hope we dont have to wait till 20010 to see the tree as it said over one of the photos

Two more recent pics of the lizard,forgot to get a flowering picture this year There is also a pre pruning picture on Steve harleyriders photobucket offering of the recent burrs festival,just opened my emails and found some very nice pot virtuals from the stonemonkey,now that will be my eye candy for a few days.