Judas tree - Redbud

The Judas tree is a type of redbud tree that is native to Asian countries.
It is a deciduous tree, which means that it loses it leaves in the fall and re-grows them in the spring.
During late winter or early spring, this tree produces bright pink or magenta-colored blossoms
that occasionally even grow on the trunk.

This tree can grow to anywhere from 12 to 15 feet (3.6 to 4.7 m) in height.
It might also spread anywhere from 15 to 20 feet (4.7 to 6 m) in width.
It usually prefers full sunlight, but may also grow in areas of partial shade.
The Judas tree is somewhat drought-resistant and usually needs only minimal watering.

The flowers of a Judas tree are typically heart-shaped.
They normally begin to appear the second year after the tree is planted.
An ancient legend proclaims that the flowers of this tree were originally white,
but later turned dark with shame after Judas hung himself.


The leaves of this tree are also heart-shaped.
They may be medium to light green in color and positioned on dark brown stems.
Leaves do not normally appear on the tree until after the flowers have begun to bloom.

From my experiences Cercis siliquastrum wood cracks easily,

for that reason it should be worked as soon as possible..

and its fragant sap attracts greedy xilofogi insects...

it's easy wood to turn, and get a great finish if its cut and not scraped.

I found intriguing the shade of green characterizes of Judas tree.

Natural edge - 15 x 12 cm

Thickness its around 4 mm, some points less...
I made it with a small flat base and that's allow the piece to find its own balance too...
intresting is where is the center of gravity??

In this last piece i pay attenction to keep some colors connection between the green hearthwood, when i reached the white sapwood in the botton of the natural edge bowl.
i mean i tring to have that kind of waterfull effect that usually i saw in Ambrosia Maple pot or Hollow form...

I still have two piece of trunk to work with,
as you can see, i cut small section of it and put on top like cup,
i believe that in this way the big trunks will cracks less deep, and this helps to develop some spalted too...

Sun light oxidise Redbud wood from green to orange-brown tone...

Cheers
Paolo

Cupressus Arizonica Root

                                                                 

                                                           

This is the work made with the other half cupressus root showed above:
it's 35 cm D x 19 cm h
Finish it with linseed oil and turpentine mixed, and few beeswax dust melt on that..
The inside is terrible, i mean i wasn't able to clean smooth the surface..
The fibers goes everywhere, hard to have a clean cut but not a scrape..

I used a 5/8 long and strong Henry Tylor bowl gouge for all the job,
and a nose screaper lasting passage. The fibers goes everywhere, and i found too difficoult have a clean cut.






Cheers
Paolo

Pomegranate Wood - Punica Granatum

Originally Pomegranate is from Iran and northern India, but pomegranates (Punica granatum) appear in Egyptian mythology, the Old Testament and in the Babylonian Talmud.
Pomegranates are not particular about their soil, but they do need full sun and regular water -- once a week or more during extremely hot weather.
In Morocco, the bark of the pomegranate tree, with its high tannin level, was traditionally used for curing leather. In Japan, the bark is used as an insecticide. Both the rind and the flowers from pomegranates can be used for making dyes for fabric. And while production is limited, some producers make walking sticks and small wood implements from the hard pomegranate wood.

The amministration of my town has bought some years ago an old pomegranate tree and planted in the middle of a roundabout road, as an ornament. I heard that they have spent 3.000 euro for that old plant!
however, last summer was really intractable hot and the town gardener forgot to watering the old tree, and becouse of that it has deadly dry.

Shots taken are really terrible, I was not able to eliminate the reflection of the flash on the surface..
I took a pictures with a really old digital camera, a toy called Kodak C743.

Paolo

Cocobolo - Dalgerba Retusa Wood

Cocobolo Wood is also known as: Black rosewood, cocobola, cocobolo nambar, cocobolo negro, cocobolo prieto, cocoboloholz,foseholz, funera, granadillo, granadillo de chontales, manarizoby, namba, nambar, nambar de agui,nambar legitimo, Nicaraguan cocobolo, Nicaraguan rosewood, nambar,
palisandro, palissandre cocobolo, palo negro, prieto, red foxwood, rosewood, yellow rosewood

Dalgerba . retusa is a small to medium-sized tree native to Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Panama.
Cocobolo’s distinctive characteristic is its production of natural oils,
which provides the wood with a natural waterproof polish.

True Rosewoods in the dalbergia family have colors as widely diverse as a rainbow.
An incredibly figured wood, cocobolo is very hard with brilliant colors and amazing black stripes.
 Oranges, reds, browns and blacks all swirled uniquely together.

Advice:Woods with an oily content, such as cocobolo,
can achieve better gluing strength by wiping the surface of both pieces being glued with acetone first.
After the acetone has dried, the piece is glued as normal.

Have a look at this Wood Database:
http://www.hobbithouseinc.com/personal/woodpics/index.htm


The Wood Block was 15 cm and 7,6 cm thick

Cheers
Paolo