I bought this valley oak at Anderson’s Costa Nursery in San Diego on April 28, 2013, for $19.99. I later bought a second valley oak from another nursery in 2018, whose development I have already posted on this website (see https://beginbonsai.net/2023/10/05/oak-under-construction-valley-oak-quercus-lobata/ for the latest description of that tree).
The tree now, with a sacrifice branch developing at the top. The current front is at a different angle than shown here (see below for current front), but I am probably going to change the front of the tree to the view shown in this photo the next time I repot it.
The tree being repotted a week after purchase.
The tree in its new pot, ready to grow.
First winter.
Growing in the sun.
Branches extending.
Branches pruned.
Roots during repotting.
Repotting. I should have pruned the roots shorter at this point, but I was worried having read that oaks are very sensitive to root-pruning. I also didn’t notice that a ball was forming at the base. I should have addressed that by cutting thin wedges between the roots.
Leafing out.
Some wiring.
Long branch growth.
Branch-pruned.
New growth.
Continuing development using mostly clip and grow cycles.
Some wiring.
Repotted. Horrible root base. Again, I should have worked more on the roots, at least cutting off the largest ones. I probably could have cut off all the roots at the top layer.
The tree is awkward.
Major trunk cut.
The tree is rebuilding its trunk in a zigzag pattern.
Some wiring.
Continuing development.
Roots.
Repotted.
Tree with a long sacrifice branch. The hole drilled into the base is to create a story of trunk loss supporting the bulbous nebari.
The tree with the long sacrifice branch at the start of this year.
Repotted into a new pot with trunk cavity facing forward.
The current front, which I plan to replace with the new angle for the tree on the next repotting.
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