New pot for giant hornbeam forest

European hornbeam forest, Carpinus betulus. Old pot by Dieter Schunta from Germany. New pot also by Dieter Schunta. The new pot is made of styrofoam on a metal construction. It is very light and very strong. The forest can easily be carried by two men.

Today the forest was repotted. What seemed to be a difficult task ended in 90 minutes without any problem. Alex and Walter were of great help.

This is one of the most amazing forests i have ever seen. Walter, do you have sizes for us?

Neil

I have asked Dieter to make a pot that looks like a huge granite rok that was smoothened during the ice ages. The ice melted and the sea level rose and the rock became an island. Now a deciduous forest grows on it untouched by man.

European hornbeam, Carpinus betulus, most trees were collected in Germany twenty years ago, some come from a nursery. Height 65 cm, length 120 cm, pot 160 cm.

Walter, the 'Pot' works really well. And looks natural giving the whole image a satisfying appearance.... love it!

In very simple words, due to my poor english vocabulary not allowing me intellectual and poetical ones, I AM FLABERGASTED,
it never cesses to amaze me the superb specimens you have in your collection, and the innovative solutions you find to make your life easy-er at the same time as making it all look so natural and balanced, thank you for this great post, warm regards from Portugal...

Fantastic Walter, maybe a good image for Noelanders next year?

Regards Chris

chris wrote:Fantastic Walter, maybe a good image for Noelanders next year?

Chris,

well, they might need a bigger venue just for that forest. But yes, I might consider showing it next time.

Fantastic forest Walter. Thank you for showing the progression of the "pot mechanics".
Best, Todd

Do you happen to know what he painted it with? I am working on an extremely similar project and am struggling to find a paint that won't damage the tree or wash off.

It's looking very good Walter - definitely a spooky old forest feeling to it

I like:
1. the buds on the trees
2. Your friend's choice in baseball teams, Go Yankees
3. How one guy is wearing shirtsleeves and the rest jackets - oorooga

The metal frame is impressive - looks like welded stainless steel. Was the styrofoam covered in fiberglass resin?

Fantastic....

Walter, thanks for sharing the progression of re-potting. When you look back at old pot it did nothing to demonstration the change in land elevation when looking thru forest. The repot gives a harmony of stone and soil line and a sense of distance(vista?). I particularly like the 2 main trees in the front rather than back or to extreme sides. The variation in trunk sizes gives a three dimension field. I don't care for foreszts with a ton of trees with focal point the canopy. Your forest gives a lot of negative space between trees. Just beautiful!!!! Dustin Mann

It's encouraging to see new materials and thought processes applied to such an old art form, while still maintaining a high quality standard.

I am sorry not to comment on the material and construction of the pot. I just don't knwo much myself. Dieter is a professional who does not easily share all his secrets. He is not a potter. He is an engineer who makes stuff for advertising agencies, large companies out of all sorts of materials. When I asked him how much such a pot would cost he said something along the lines 'from my company more than 10,000, for you two nice pieces of material'. So I gave him two very nice trees and we are all happy.
See other pots made by Dieter. They are very hardy btw, standig on the bench all winter.

First forest European spruce, Picea abies.
Second forest cembra pine, Pinus cembra.

Excellent trees!
Nice and "smart" pot!
Fantastic result!
Detailed "photo-narrative", Mr. Pall Sir!

May I ask an explanation for those photos that you beat the substrate down with the handle of the hammer? Apparently tacking down the roots.... but I mean isn't this a "harsh" procedure for the roots or is it? (....beginner's questions, you see)
Thank you!

The new pot was designed so that the forest could be tranplanted without disturbing the roots. But this little tree just did not want to sneak into the new pot. So I hammered it in. Not as rude as it seems. Trees survive much worse. Like being collected form wilderness.

Dear Walter

AMAZING....look forward to see the forrest(s) at The Noelanders Stophy.....thanks for sharing.

kind regards Yvonne

A beautiful pot/slab for an amazing forest!!
Thanks for sharing.

Are we actully looking at an "mini me"??

An excellent solution to the problem of moving large forest arrangements and a huge improvement in its appearance. Well done to the engineer/potter and to the team of transplanters.

I'm guessing that the surface is covered in glass reinforced plastic with am embedded stain, such as mortar colourant. This has long been used in colouring hypertufa and other similar slab structures, with no harmful effects on the trees. Very artfully used in this case and that is not an easy thing to do.

Walter, please share the story of that huge shallow oval pot you are standing behind! That is one large pot! Where was it made and who made it?
Thanks.

Todd,

the full stroy is here: http://walter-pall.de/spruceeuropean_spruce_nr__55.jpg.dir/index.html