Something Different - "Atlantis Lost"

Well different for me, took a break from JBP to work on this Australian Pine today - trying to see if if would be worthy to show later in the year.
It got its name as I was working on it earlier this year when the last space Shuttle, Atlantis, took off. If you note, the Space Shuttle had 4 main components - the orbiter, main tank, and two external solid boosters. As the shuttle program faded away, on this Aussy Pine the solid boosters (living two trunks) stood tall while the former main tank and Orbiter (two dead and rotten trunks) started also to fade away. The orbiter is already gone and only a remnant of the main tank exists - at least that is how I viewed it and hence gave it this somewhat melancholy name. Atlantis Lost!

As for the remnants of the main tank, like typical with Aussy pine, the dead wood turned punky and fell off in chunks. This summer I intervened with a high tech wood preservative that seems to have stopped the decay and made the wood rather solid.



If you'll note on the lower left there are two very low branches wired straight down into the soil. I am trying an experiment to see if I can get the new branches to root and in effect make aerial roots out of them to help rebuild the lower side of the trunk. There is a heavy root already there that happened naturally.

With its name sake.


What I started with in June 2008.



And a virtual from then.

Nice progression, Rob. What wood preservative did you use?

Nice Rob. I would also be interested in what preservative you are using. I've got a 9 tree casuarina raft that is rotting away. Seems "ironwood" is not a very accurate description of this tree. It rots pretty quickly !!

Ed

John Quinn wrote:Nice progression, Rob. What wood preservative did you use?

Ed Trout wrote:Nice Rob. I would also be interested in what preservative you are using. I've got a 9 tree casuarina raft that is rotting away. Seems "ironwood" is not a very accurate description of this tree. It rots pretty quickly !!

Ed

I couldn't remember the name so I had to go out to the garage to look at the label.
It's CPES - Clear Penetrating Epoxy Sealer.

here's the web page http://www.rotdoctor.com/products/cpes.html

Let me say this is not kids' stuff. It has pretty much every nasty chemical known to mankind in it (other than plutonium). You 'll need a respirator, long sleeves and pants, and high quality gloves and do it outdoors. Try to dry the dead wood as thoroughly as possible - I use a hair dryer and let the deadwood stay away from water for a few days prior to brushing on the chemical. Cover and mask the areas you don't want hit by the chemical.
Good luck.


OK some disclaimers:
It may hurt some living tree tissue so be careful and think about where the chemical could go before you use it.
Experiment before using it on your best tree.
Mix only what you'll need.
Don't breathe it. Don't drink it.
Don't try at home until your spouse is away shopping.
Professional drivers on a closed course.
This does not cover misuse, accident, lightning, flood, tornado, tsunami, volcanic eruption, earthquake, hurricanes and other Acts of God, neglect, damage from improper reading, incorrect line voltage, improper or unauthorized use, broken antenna or marred cabinet, missing or altered serial numbers, removal of tag, electromagnetic radiation from nuclear blasts, sonic boom, crash, ship sinking or taking on water, motor vehicle crashing, dropping the item, falling rocks, leaky roof, broken glass, mud slides, forest fire, or projectile (which can include, but not be limited to, arrows, bullets, shot, BB’s, paintball, shrapnel, lasers, napalm, torpedoes, or emissions of X-rays, Alpha, Beta and Gamma rays, knives, stones, etc.).

OK, my neighbors already think I'm a little strange ! If they see me out there in a respirator suit I may be taken away in one of those shirts with the connecting sleeves ! Maybe a little rot is not that bad

Really like this tree. Great development in 3 years!

Chris

Appropriate...the list of ingredients sounds like a recipe for rocket fuel!

Nice tree Rob. Is this a collected specimen? I know in the Keys aussie pines are a problem esp. in Big Pine. Maybe a group should go down and have a scavenger hunt for some nice specimen.

Kurt

kmeng wrote:Nice tree Rob. Is this a collected specimen? I know in the Keys aussie pines are a problem esp. in Big Pine. Maybe a group should go down and have a scavenger hunt for some nice specimen.

Kurt

Yes it was collected from South Florida. They are glad to get rid of them as it is considered an invasive tree in Florida. Not the easiest tree to collect however.
So far, I have not seen any insect that bothers them in Floirda. I'd be curious if any of the folk from its native area know of insects that attack Casuarina.

Dear Rob,

Very good job on your Casuarina. Congratulations.

Kurt [/quote]
Yes it was collected from South Florida. They are glad to get rid of them as it is considered an invasive tree in Florida. Not the easiest tree to collect however.
So far, I have not seen any insect that bothers them in Floirda. I'd be curious if any of the folk from its native area know of insects that attack Casuarina. [/quote]

There are some insects attacking casuarina like: grasshopper, caterpillar, white bugs

Budi