Yamadori - Ulmus minor
- Thread starter barrosinc
- Start date
Vin
Imperial Masterpiece
That is indeed a super sweet elm! Did you collect it?
KennedyMarx
Omono
That's a great find! Is this from a regular nursery or bonsai nursery? The bark looks good and it has branches in the right places.
barrosinc
Masterpiece
sadly... no.
My teacher did, and she worked a bit of the branches. But I think I can improve this!
She collected it two years ago. In winter she is taking me on a yamadori trip.
My teacher did, and she worked a bit of the branches. But I think I can improve this!
She collected it two years ago. In winter she is taking me on a yamadori trip.
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Smoke
Ignore-Amus
Really nice elm. This has the look of age. I like the look of old trees that are natural. I get that feeling from my elm like this as well. Can't beat that bark.
barrosinc
Masterpiece
the bark and lower hollow trunk called my attention when I saw it!
I will wait untill winter to put in a bonsai pot and check the nebari.
Does this tree look too tall for the trunk size?
I will wait untill winter to put in a bonsai pot and check the nebari.
Does this tree look too tall for the trunk size?
tmpgh
Shohin
I don't think it's too tall. I always think that a yamadori with lots of character doesn't need to follow any of the rules.
M. Frary
Bonsai Godzilla
Even if it seems like it is tall for the trunk size it once wasnt. Meanin in its struggle to stay alive it lost some girth to a misfortune. The kind that hollowed and rotted it's once mighty trunk. That's the way I read the story of a tree like this.
It's easy to get it more leafy. Its an elm. Leave it alone for a month and a half and you'll have more than you want.
It's a cool tree. If you're thinking of cutting it down think hard.
It's easy to get it more leafy. Its an elm. Leave it alone for a month and a half and you'll have more than you want.
It's a cool tree. If you're thinking of cutting it down think hard.
Poink88
Imperial Masterpiece
For me it is. If this is mine, I will chop it just above the 2nd branch and use that as the new apex.
0soyoung
Imperial Masterpiece
I like curvaceous feminine trunks, even with gnarly bark (e.g., mume). For me, however, this tree's curves are an all too predictable 'S' shape. In this context (of a feminine style), the hollow at the base seems troublesome.
On the other hand, your interest is in the hollow. I think it might be chopped just above the lowest or next higher branch, with the aim of a masculine, maybe even story-book style tree that emphasizes this feature. Again, since this is your interest in this tree, I think you should do whatever it takes to make it the focal point of your design.
It does make me pucker, though, to think of loosing all that nice trunk if you were to do this. So, why not start by air-layering what would be lost in chopping? Then you could also make a curvaceous babe with the top part (a princess to go with the ogre). This would slow down the development of the bottom part in any way.
-- just a suggestion, of course
barrosinc
Masterpiece
I see where you guys are going... I asked i it was too long at the start thinking about chopping it to first or second branch.
I wrote some options for airlayering:
1A+1B
2B+1B
2B+1A
if 1B + 2A would have been possible, it would have already been airlayered by now.
Some people here are awesome with virts... these would be very welcome!!
I wrote some options for airlayering:
1A+1B
2B+1B
2B+1A
if 1B + 2A would have been possible, it would have already been airlayered by now.
Some people here are awesome with virts... these would be very welcome!!
Attachments
JudyB
Queen of the Nuts
I like this tree, I especially like the hollow. I'm not sure I'd chop or air layer either. Have you tried looking at other angles and rotations, to make sure you're getting the most of the tree? It has reasonable taper, and nice movement. The "s" curves that everyone is seeing may not be as apparent if you try a different angle. Also once you get more branching that will likely not be an issue anyway.
Giga
Masterpiece
+1 with everything Judy said
barrosinc
Masterpiece
I might do a 360 of the tree so you get to see it like me.
It could be rotated a bit to the right... I will get some pics.
It could be rotated a bit to the right... I will get some pics.
Poink88
Imperial Masterpiece
I still prefer 1B. I wont airlayer, just chop then develop the apex/canopy to go to the right...to the point of mostly covering (more than 50%) the lower right branch.
While it is nice to see other angles, I think the current "front" works really well.
BTW, the chop between the two branches need to be carved to tie the story w/ the lower deadwood and also an opportunity to correct a minor problem (reverse taper) at that point. Attempting to heal it over is a mistake IMHO.
While it is nice to see other angles, I think the current "front" works really well.
BTW, the chop between the two branches need to be carved to tie the story w/ the lower deadwood and also an opportunity to correct a minor problem (reverse taper) at that point. Attempting to heal it over is a mistake IMHO.
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Vin
Imperial Masterpiece
Max, if you chop this tree I will not respond to any of your threads ever again.. (just joking!) Look, you just got the tree. Chill out and stare at it a bit before you start talking about chopping. First thing it needs is cleaned up with some pruning and then wiring the branches. Maybe after cleaning it up and really looking at for a while you can start the chop talk. This tree has so much going for it; don't be hasty. But, that's just my opinion.
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Brian Van Fleet
Pretty Fly for a Bonsai Guy
I believe in trying to accentuate the best features of a tree, minimizing the worst, and utilizing as much of the tree as possible. This tree has an old trunk, graceful movement, and some taper. If it was mine, here is what I would do:
1. Rotate, tilt, and test as many different planting angles as possible until the front shows a trunk with pleasing taper and movement. From the photo, I might tilt it to the right a bit to soften the straight upper section that has little taper.
2. Grow some foliage to partly obscure portions of the trunk. This will minimize faults, and still show a barked trunk higher in the tree; a good sign of age.
3. Reduce the height a little, and grow a round canopy.
4. Allow the lower branches to lengthen.
5. Maybe add a piece of dead wood to extend the Jin at the base...screw a piece in
6. Enjoy a nice bonsai.
1. Rotate, tilt, and test as many different planting angles as possible until the front shows a trunk with pleasing taper and movement. From the photo, I might tilt it to the right a bit to soften the straight upper section that has little taper.
2. Grow some foliage to partly obscure portions of the trunk. This will minimize faults, and still show a barked trunk higher in the tree; a good sign of age.
3. Reduce the height a little, and grow a round canopy.
4. Allow the lower branches to lengthen.
5. Maybe add a piece of dead wood to extend the Jin at the base...screw a piece in
6. Enjoy a nice bonsai.
Attachments
thumblessprimate1
Masterpiece
Definitely wouldn't chop this piece. I would like to see more deadwood in this tree's future based on this one image, I'm tempted to say that I'd like to see the deadwood at the base be extended a little beyond the scar midway up the tree. However, I think more pictures would be helpful in determining the design of the tree.
Poink88
Imperial Masterpiece
BVF's virt is a bit taller but close to what I described/envisioned, the problem with it IF YOU DO NOT CHOP is that it will create a better silhouette (with foliage) but a very poor branch structure. To attain that silhouette with PROPER branching, YOU HAVE TO CHOP IT LOWER.
Think about it.
Think about it.
barrosinc
Masterpiece
Thanks all! And Vin please don't leave!!! LOL
On my first post I kinda implied that I wanted the tree to be shorter, I don't know how much shorter, but I will cut a bit off... don't know how much, nor when.
But thanks for the comments, I think I will sit and look at this tree all weekend.
On my first post I kinda implied that I wanted the tree to be shorter, I don't know how much shorter, but I will cut a bit off... don't know how much, nor when.
But thanks for the comments, I think I will sit and look at this tree all weekend.
