Acer palmatum sharp's pygmy [#07]

[MACH5]

Have not updated this thread in well over a year. This maple went through some big edits last year which included a larger branch in the apex. I also air layered another large branch that was not needed anymore. The air layer took a long time but ultimately it was successful. I will use it as future graft stock.

Below is the maple today as it looked entering the new decade. 2020 marks the 10th year I've had this tree. I have learned much caring and working with it and has become an iconic tree in my garden. Looking forward to the next ten years!


















Due to the heavier than usual pruning, I got a profusion of back budding which included the trunk. I am leaving many of these to develop into small branches to add additional detail to the overall design. They also could be used in future years to replace thicker branches.

 

[Vance Wood]

Have not updated this thread in well over a year. This maple went through some big edits last year which included a larger branch in the apex. I also air layered another large branch that was not needed anymore. The air layer took a long time but ultimately it was successful. I will use it as future graft stock.

Below is the maple today as it looked entering the new decade. 2020 marks the 10th year I've had this tree. I have learned much caring and working with it and has become an iconic tree in my garden. Looking forward to the next ten years!


















Due to the heavier than usual pruning, I got a profusion of back budding which included the trunk. I am leaving many of these to develop into small branches to add additional detail to the overall design. They also could be used in future years to replace thicker branches.

Beautiful tree well cared for and detailed.

 

[M. Frary]

Beautiful tree well cared for and detailed.

It's one of my all time favorites.
Right up there just behind your dragon.
In front of Walter's famous Japanese maple.

 

[M. Frary]

Have not updated this thread in well over a year. This maple went through some big edits last year which included a larger branch in the apex. I also air layered another large branch that was not needed anymore. The air layer took a long time but ultimately it was successful. I will use it as future graft stock.

Below is the maple today as it looked entering the new decade. 2020 marks the 10th year I've had this tree. I have learned much caring and working with it and has become an iconic tree in my garden. Looking forward to the next ten years!


















Due to the heavier than usual pruning, I got a profusion of back budding which included the trunk. I am leaving many of these to develop into small branches to add additional detail to the overall design. They also could be used in future years to replace thicker branches.

What a tree!

 

[MACH5]

Beautiful tree well cared for and detailed.

Thanks Vance!

It's one of my all time favorites.
Right up there just behind your dragon.
In front of Walter's famous Japanese maple.

You're too kind Mr. Frary.

 

[cmeg1]

Really nice root base.Super cool

 

[sorce]

Do you think that little x-over branch has what it takes to become a better version of that apical branch?



The swelling there is strike one for me.
The naked left side strike 2.

I think strike 3 is knowing you could make it better. There is something not very Mach5 about that apical branch.

The base looks way better in this photo where there is not such heavy shadowing causing the horizontal running lines on the base to break it up as before.

I also think your work is finer than that blue pot. The texture seems plasticy.

Sorce

 

[Vance Wood]

Do you think that little x-over branch has what it takes to become a better version of that apical branch?

View attachment 277409

The swelling there is strike one for me.
The naked left side strike 2.

I think strike 3 is knowing you could make it better. There is something not very Mach5 about that apical branch.

The base looks way better in this photo where there is not such heavy shadowing causing the horizontal running lines on the base to break it up as before.

I also think your work is finer than that blue pot. The texture seems plasticy.

Sorce

Not meaning to be harsh in pointing out an opinion contrary to a friends point of view but; This tree and your brutal assessment of it, shows the problems of developing material into a finished bonsai, as opposed to purchasing it straight from an artist. People will always point out the flaws, but their resolutions to those flaws are often worse than leaving it alone, especially the apex in this case. Problems with the base take much more time to deal with. There is the old metaphor that states; she is so beauiful I would not kick her out of bed for eating crackers.

 

[sorce]

brutal

Why not use the adjective "friendly" to describe my assessment?

I believe there is a difference between pointing out flaws, and questioning wether or not it deserves to be taken to that next level.

How else do we make the decision to make a tree better?

I haven't really presented any resolutions.

The resolution is in the minds eye.

Sorce

 

[sorce]

I think strike 3 is knowing you could make it better

Strike three is actually that x-over branch, it's perfect.

Three reasons to make the change.

Sorce

 

[MACH5]

Really nice root base.Super cool

Thanks Curtis. The base as of late, has gotten visibly larger and wider all around. Always a good thing!

 

[MACH5]

Do you think that little x-over branch has what it takes to become a better version of that apical branch?

View attachment 277409

The swelling there is strike one for me.
The naked left side strike 2.

I think strike 3 is knowing you could make it better. There is something not very Mach5 about that apical branch.

The base looks way better in this photo where there is not such heavy shadowing causing the horizontal running lines on the base to break it up as before.

I also think your work is finer than that blue pot. The texture seems plasticy.

Sorce

Wow good thing I am not a baseball player. Lotta strikes!!

Thanks for the assessment sorce. I am afraid your proposed virt would take away much of this tree's value and gracefulness. So we may have to agree to disagree here.

As far as the pot, I bought at the Taikan-Ten directly from Reiho. It was a brand new pot at the time. So in years to come it will become better as it ages and gains patina. In any case, in the spring when I repot this tree, I will likely to try another container I have of the same exact style but of a more muted blue color. We'll see.

On thing I'd like to point out. Alhtough we should all remain open to feedback in an effort to make our tree's better, we also need to avoid over analyzing something to death. The result often tends to be a lifeless piece of work. You start with a horse and by the time we're all done we are riding a camel. We can all take a tree apart until beaten to a pulp, but let's also remember that "imperfections" are the spice of life. NOTE: This is not to be taken as a catchall for bad design. There is a difference!

 

[cmeg1]

Thanks Curtis. The base as of late, has gotten visibly larger and wider all around. Always a good thing!

There is a Bonsai guy I visited more than 15 years ago.I hope he is still alive.Howard McNeil from Old Mill Bonsai Studio in Honeybrook pa. He was affilliated with Brandywin Bonsai Society in Chadds Ford. He had vert incredible collction of maples. Although they all looked very similiar, they were huge just kind of like domes almost slightly less flame style that h created himself I believe. Absolutely massive butresse bases. I really should go see if he is still around.Maybe he willsell.He told me he would let one go for about $600 at the time.Then that was an incredible anount of money to me.
Have you heard of him...He probably pushing 80 yrs old. i am going to see if his website is still up.

I just looked I’m gonna go to the old fashion way and just drive out there on Wednesday and see if he still around or if his son took over the studio or what

 

[MACH5]

There is a Bonsai guy I visited more than 15 years ago.I hope he is still alive.Howard McNeil from Old Mill Bonsai Studio in Honeybrook pa. He was affilliated with Brandywin Bonsai Society in Chadds Ford. He had vert incredible collction of maples. Although they all looked very similiar, they were huge just kind of like domes almost slightly less flame style that h created himself I believe. Absolutely massive butresse bases. I really should go see if he is still around.Maybe he willsell.He told me he would let one go for about $600 at the time.Then that was an incredible anount of money to me.
Have you heard of him...He probably pushing 80 yrs old. i am going to see if his website is still up.

I just looked I’m gonna go to the old fashion way and just drive out there on Wednesday and see if he still around or if his son took over the studio or what

Sounds amazing! I have not heard of him. I will PM you

 

[sorce]

Lotta strikes

Not strikes like negative, just reasons, some happen to be strikes.

More of the reason for wanting to see the Apex changed is looking at the time, by 2030, I reckon you can have an Apex you'll be happier with.

What's another 10 years?

proposed virt

Isn't really a proposed virt.

I do propose that branch could readily be made to occupy the same space as the current one, with a couple more branches on the left, maybe plus points taper.

Whatever may actually work to make the tree better. Perhaps.

I don't understand how a bunch of text praise could be more satisfying then glancing at an award, so I don't find it necessary to add another post of praise.

Besides, the great don't get greater by listening to applause.

As far as the pot, I bought at the Taikan-Ten directly from Reiho. It was a brand new

I may remember that?

It is striking with the colors for sure, but honestly, even a thousand years old, something about the delicate nature of this graceful tree seems to need something better than even this pot with patina.

It looks too thick and it's the lips fault.

Too masculine for me for this tree.

This pot is nearing the edge of, as feminine a pot as Piglet could use, which, we should understand is way too masculine for this one.

Of the top, perhaps I am trying to compensate for the pot?

We should never make decisions without also considering what the pot is doing to our thought process.

That's how new learning comes about.

Thanks!

Sorce

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Sergio, it’s looking great. I like the pot and the full composition is aging gracefully. Do you have to repot it annually?

@sorce as bonsai hobbyists advance into trees of this caliber, they don’t usually make rash cuts like the ones you suggest. It’s no longer in that early development, aggressive-pruning phase, and has in fact won a national award as designed. Instead, heavy branches are replaced with finer ones, a few at a time. For example, I would suppose a cut like this will happen eventually, replacing it with a finer branch already growing. Minimally disruptive, subtle improvements, not a cannonball off the high board.

 

[MACH5]

Sergio, it’s looking great. I like the pot and the full composition is aging gracefully. Do you have to repot it annually?

@sorce as bonsai hobbyists advance into trees of this caliber, they don’t usually make rash cuts like the ones you suggest. It’s no longer in that early development, aggressive-pruning phase, and has in fact won a national award as designed. Instead, heavy branches are replaced with finer ones, a few at a time. For example, I would suppose a cut like this will happen eventually, replacing it with a finer branch already growing. Minimally disruptive, subtle improvements, not a cannonball off the high board.
View attachment 277448

Hi Bri. I do not. I have moved away from repotting my trees too often. This one was repotted three years ago.


Here is an interesting look back.

2013





2016





2020

 

[M. Frary]

Thanks Vance!





You're too kind Mr. Frary.

I call them as I see them Sergio.
It's simply beautiful and completely captures a lot of maples I see in nature.

 

[Paulpash]

Sergio, it’s looking great. I like the pot and the full composition is aging gracefully. Do you have to repot it annually?

@sorce as bonsai hobbyists advance into trees of this caliber, they don’t usually make rash cuts like the ones you suggest. It’s no longer in that early development, aggressive-pruning phase, and has in fact won a national award as designed. Instead, heavy branches are replaced with finer ones, a few at a time. For example, I would suppose a cut like this will happen eventually, replacing it with a finer branch already growing. Minimally disruptive, subtle improvements, not a cannonball off the high board.
View attachment 277448

I saw the same too, Brian and I'm sure @MACH5 will transition to finer branching in that area when the time is right. I look at this tree often - it's on the lock screen of my phone. I've got a small Sharp's Pygmy and they are a wonderful maple. Buds pop all over it and it's not really that vigorous yet. Can I ask you Serge what is the healing capacity of this species? Have you had to remove pinkie sized branches at all?

 

[Johnnyd]

That is a beautiful tree Serg! . I like the photo and lightning used. Any plans on an updated 360 thing you did before.?
I'm also interested in the healing of large scars. Planning on removing an inch and half branch on my Sharp's.