Japanese Beech Forest

[MACH5]

This is a bonsai I acquired back in March of this year at the Kennett Collection sale hosted by the Gateway Nursery in Delaware. Thanks to the help of friend and BNut member James (CHUCHIN), I was able to get it. I am enjoying this bonsai greatly since I have always loved Japanese beech but difficult to locate them domestically.

It is originally a Japanese import but unsure as to when Doug Paul (owner Kennett Collection) actually brought it over to the US. It is planted on a slab of granite and is comprised of 17 trees. Two were already dead upon purchase and subsequently cut off. It grew very well this year putting an aggressive second flush of growth in July.

Next year I am planning to possibly air layer two trees in the front in an effort to open up the composition. The layered trees will then be used elsewhere in the planting. I am still carefully thinking about it though. The combination of the white trunks with the rich bronze leaves is quite unique and beautiful. I may remove the leaves later on since the image of the white bare trunks is equally striking!

The forest rests on a 32" long by 18" wide slab. It is definitely a two man tree!



Here is couple of pics of it from tonight.

 

[thumblessprimate1]

Can't wait to see it without leaves.

 

[fredtruck]

That's really a beautiful forest, Sergio. Just fantastic.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Wow, that is an impressive and beautiful composition! Thanks for sharing.

 

[jk_lewis]

Think HARD before you "open it up."

 

[Don Blackmond]

Looks familiar

 

[Dav4]

Handsome composition...we need to see more good forest plantings like this. Hopefully, we might see a leafless shot sometime this winter?

 

[MACH5]

Think HARD before you "open it up."

Yes agree. Certainly something I will not do casually.

Looks familiar

Ahhh, nice to see! I knew you had to be behind this one Don!! I was wondering whether it came from Japan in the slab but now I know better!

Handsome composition...we need to see more good forest plantings like this. Hopefully, we might see a leafless shot sometime this winter?

Thanks Dave, yes I will update when leaves are taken off in a month or so. As you may know, they persist on the tree until spring if you don't do anything about it.

 

[Don Blackmond]

Ahhh, nice to see! I knew you had to be behind this one Don!! I was wondering whether it came from Japan in the slab but now I know better!

Actually, I'm not behind it. Never mine. I just know some of its history. It came from Japan in a container with a bunch of other beech. Spent 2 years in quarantine at Brussel's. Then to Pennsylvania. I considered acquiring it in late 2008 or 2009. Didn't. Should have.

 

[MACH5]

Actually, I'm not behind it. Never mine. I just know some of its history. It came from Japan in a container with a bunch of other beech. Spent 2 years in quarantine at Brussel's. Then to Pennsylvania. I considered acquiring it in late 2008 or 2009. Didn't. Should have.

Thanks Don for the background and the pic. Always nice to know a little history on what we're growing.

Whoever decided to place it on a slab made a very good choice!

 

[Don Blackmond]

Thanks Don for the background and the pic. Always nice to know a little history on what we're growing.

Whoever decided to place it on a slab made a very good choice!

I'm not sure about who did the slab planting, or when it was done. I'd guess it was Spring 2010 or 2011. I have more photos of it. I'll try to find and post them.

 

[MACH5]

Thanks Don please do share!


Here is a pic from the Kennett Collection sale catalogue that was posted several weeks before the actual sale event.

 

[Don Blackmond]

Photos from December 2008

 

[MACH5]

WOW! These are so cool to see! Were these taken when it was at Brussel's to still in Japan? The forest now is way more massive and ramified all around and its appearance completely changed. There are two trees in particular that have gained a lot more girth compared to these "early" pics.

I do appreciate you sharing these Don. Thank you!

 

[Don Blackmond]

WOW! These are so cool to see! Were these taken when it was at Brussel's to still in Japan? The forest now is way more massive and ramified all around and its appearance completely changed. There are two trees in particular that have gained a lot more girth compared to these "early" pics.

I do appreciate you sharing these Don. Thank you!

Those photos were all taken at Doug's place in December 2008. I know I have a few more somewhere. It was in a shallow tray before it was repotted into that big rectangle pot. I'll post the other photos if I find them.

 

[JudyB]

Very cool

This grouping is going to be such a joy to you when the buds swell and unfurl in the spring. Amazing historical pictures, thanks Don for digging these up, it's cool to see it progress. And the difference between the pot and the slab, makes it look like a whole different tree.

You must keep sharing this beauty with us M.

 

[MACH5]

Juds I know what you mean. This past spring seeing this forest come alive was a real treat since the unfurling leaves have such a fresh look to them. Mostly green with some red as well. Beautiful! My heart did stop for a bit since a few of the smaller trees woke up much later than some others. I thought that perhaps something was wrong even though they seemed fine to the eye. I am just getting to know this bonsai as well as the species. Tonight is going down to 27 in my area so I'll throw something over it for protection. Don't want to take too many chances since I know they are not quite as hardy as say Japanese maples.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Looking at the composition from before you acquired it to now, the canopy has developed such a nice feel to it, and works really well with the movement of trunks and shape of the slab.

On hardiness, I believe J. Beech are actually hardier than J. Maples. I read somewhere that white pines and j. beeches grow in higher elevations than J. Maples...I'll start looking for the article and get back to you. it may have been on Jonas' site. Mine has taken 7f and many frosts, never had any dieback.

Edit, here is the article:
http://bonsaitonight.com/2012/10/26/beech-on-top-of-the-mountain/

 

[MACH5]

Looking at the composition from before you acquired it to now, the canopy has developed such a nice feel to it, and works really well with the movement of trunks and shape of the slab.

On hardiness, I believe J. Beech are actually hardier than J. Maples. I read somewhere that white pines and j. beeches grow in higher elevations than J. Maples...I'll start looking for the article and get back to you. it may have been on Jonas' site. Mine has taken 7f and many frosts, never had any dieback.

Edit, here is the article:
http://bonsaitonight.com/2012/10/26/beech-on-top-of-the-mountain/

Thanks Brian! I will take a look tonight. Apparently I had it all backwards! Not sure where but I had heard from a couple of different sources that they were actually not as hardy and even a bit touchy. This is good to know! BTW... WOW 7F!!


As far as how this forest has progressed I agree it is going in a good direction I think. This year I have tried to bring some of the outer branches down and out and up again. You can see some of the guy wires on the left and the right side was wired. When all leaves are off, I want to take a careful look because I believe it will need some further editing, wiring and possibly opening up the front by taking a couple of trees out. As I mentioned previously I will weigh this carefully and I will later ask you guys for thoughts on that idea.



EDIT: Yes I am familiar with this article. I did not correlate this to their hardiness. But it does make perfect sense when you think about it.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Take a look and let me know what you think. Brent lists them as hardy down to -20f, and A. Palmatums as hardy down to 0f. I'm sure they won't mind being coddled!

Check your email too, I sent you and Don a (bad) photo that may be your forest when it was still at Brussels when I bought mine in '04.