Well, considering the weather we have been having the last 6 weeks or so, I never did receive the saplings. As soon as night-time frost leaves for more than a few days I should be getting my order. Meanwhile, as I have not seen much activity on this competition, here an example of some work I did today, just to get your attention, and get going on your submissions.
I decided to grab some Tilia cordata seedlings (2-3yrs old) which I had sitting in my garden, unsure what to do with. So I went out today, grabbed them from my garden and put them together.
As they sit in the garden:
Sitting in a tub of water to keep the fine roots moist
I tied them together with very fine wire, and alternating between saplings. This way I created little batches of saplings wired together; Just keeping them small for comfortable wiring.
And finally I inserted the lump of tied-together saplings in a pond-pot; This I will in spring plant in the garden.