Finally got around to the first real styling session on this bald cypress I collected last spring from a drainage ditch near Denham Springs.
The Material
When I pulled it, the trunk had good movement but the nebari was one-sided — typical for trees that grow on slopes. The root system was healthy though, and it recovered quickly in a grow box.
What I Did Today
The main goals for this session:
- Established the primary branch structure — removed several branches that were crossing or growing straight up
- Set the initial angle — tilted about 15° to the left to emphasize the trunk movement
- Wired the first branch — just the lowest one for now, bringing it down and slightly forward
What’s Next
I’m leaving it alone for the rest of the growing season. These cypresses push hard in Louisiana’s humidity, so I expect good back-budding by fall. Then I’ll address the secondary branches and start building ramification.
The apex needs work too, but that’s a problem for next year.
Time spent: ~2 hours. Now we wait.