leatherback
The Treedeemer
You just HAD TO steal my line, did you?
2017 Last purchase tree(s)
- Thread starter namnhi
- Start date
JudyB
Queen of the Nuts
@Brian Van Fleet-
Good to see that Beech is getting on the radar more and more. They are beautiful trees, and if they are a little bit more demanding in culture they are certainly worth it.
Here is my Kurume Azalea, last tree of the year for me...
et
Good to see that Beech is getting on the radar more and more. They are beautiful trees, and if they are a little bit more demanding in culture they are certainly worth it.
Here is my Kurume Azalea, last tree of the year for me...
et
namnhi
Masterpiece
With this caliber, I don't think one can have too many trees in a year!
kyle8734
Seedling
Last purchase of 2017 for me, Shimpaku and two San Jose juniper. Dont mind the bit of snow/ice on them
defra
Masterpiece
Posted it elswere already but we gotta get to 500.000 posts!
Last purchase would be this celtis sinensis
Last purchase would be this celtis sinensis
thomas22
Chumono
I found this 7' Duranta at a local landscape nursery. I'm looking forward to developing this tree.
PeaceLoveBonsai
Chumono
molivella
Seedling
Found this dwarf black olive to replace the one I lost this past summer when the idiot pool guy chummed our filter and shut the wrong gang valve off (the one to my bonsai drip irrigation system) after he used the hose. Trees went without water for 10 days in 95 degree sun while we were on vacation and I lost 35 of my 40 trees.....
Anyway, I have 4 options to use as a top branch. The branch to the far left in the 2nd photo will likely get lopped off regardless of which of the 4 branches to the right I ultimately select for the top. I’m leaning towards using the branch furthest to the right, 1/2 thick now and I think will create a nice ultimate trunk taper from the base to the top. The two branches on the left (both are 1” thick - One is kind of dark in the photo) seem too thick to create a good taper and/or a treecthst is too tall; the thin branch is too thin to my way of thinking. All branches except the thin one have many offshoots that can be wired downward into side branches for a nice beginning to a top canopy.
Which branch would you use for the top? Thoughts?
JudyB
Queen of the Nuts
Wow that's a horrible story, hard to imagine coming home to that!
Well since you asked... I would chop the tree just above the lower sets of branches. There is little taper and movement above that, and a long blank spot as well. I know that's not what you're looking for, but would be a better tree in the long term if you did.
Well since you asked... I would chop the tree just above the lower sets of branches. There is little taper and movement above that, and a long blank spot as well. I know that's not what you're looking for, but would be a better tree in the long term if you did.
molivella
Seedling
Thanks for your input Judy. Not sure that cutting it below the top branches would solve the obvious problem that there is an absence of branching midway up on the left side. However, there is a branch on the back side that I can wire to the left so as to fill in that void in the middle plus there are two buds that have sprouted above the bottom left branch, about 2" up, that will hopefully develop into a suitable side branch to fill that void. As for movement, the trunk is fairly upright and straight so I am leaning strongly towards styling this as a formal upright. the 1/2" branch that I am thinking of using continues that trunk direction. Does this change your opinion?
I ordered my last tree in December but it won't be shipped tell tomorrow 1/2/18. The ever seemingly unpopular incense cedar. The tree/shrub I got right after Christmas is a total experiment, Rhamnus Frangula
I don't know if I'll be able to turn it into anything but who cares I'll love them just the same.
I don't know if I'll be able to turn it into anything but who cares I'll love them just the same.
JudyB
Queen of the Nuts
I was actually talking about going just above the lowest set of branches to do the chop. But if you want informal or formal upright that won't work so well, I was thinking of a broom from that cut. Take a quick look at my olive thread and you can see how I went from something similar to yours to where it is now. Not saying that you should do this, merely pointing out an optional route. Formal uprights are generally stick straight, so this may not work for that style if you use a side branch for continuation of the trunk. You could go for informal upright and do that.
https://bonsainut.com/threads/help-needed-with-eu-olive-styling.7016/
CasAH
Chumono
The best treatment for Rhamnus franglais is to chop and treat with 20% gallon 3A. It is considered an invasive species in Illinois, I have been killing them for close to 30 years now.
A
Awesome!
Yeah, they are an invasive species but because of that they are extremely hardy and cheap
technically Junipers are an invasive species around here and people love them as Bonsai haha (yes not necessarily the same species of Juniper)
miker
Chumono
Agreed.^^^ I really enjoyed working with this species in Florida, it is a natural choice for bonsai.
As you probably know, Molivella, this species is tropical and is sensitive to freezing temperatures, so it will need a setup indoors for a while in North Florida.
molivella
Seedling
OK, I now understand what you suggested. Never crossed my mind to chop that low. You’ve given me something else to consider. Thank you.
Last but not least, while I said formal upright in reality you’re right, it would be more of an informal upright if I go with one of the top branches as a top.
molivella
Seedling
I have several tropicals - several ficus, a schefflera, a few bougainvilleas, etc. As soon as we have weather (like now) that even begins to approach 40 degrees, they all go in the greenhouse until April.
@JudyB The two ficus on the left (one is cut off) are survivors of the Pool Filter Massacre and have gradually started to come back from almost no foliation after the idiot pool guy killed 35 of my 40+ trees. The ficus on the right is a recent acquisition that I picked up from Jim Smith's son in Vero Beach FL. If you know tropical bonsai, you may have heard of Jim Smith as a renowned bonsai master who specialized in tropicals. He passed away a year or so ago and I was thrilled to be able to nab a tree from his pre-bonsai stock for future styling/work.
The bougainvillea below is another victim of the Pool Filter Massacre but has also begun to show signs of life after having lost virtually all of its leaves.
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