Acer palmatum sharp's pygmy [#07]

I cold stare at this tree all day :)

A newbie question on the problem area: Would it be more forgiving to work on this area since it's essentially the apex of the tree? Would that help alleviate your concern about this species not backbudding? This is more for my own education, so please don't take it as my having a specific opinion either way ;)

Also, do you have an updated picture?

Thanks,
Scott
 
pweifan said:
Lance, what is that plant growing around the base of the tree? Looks great.
Click to expand...
I think it is called Irish Moss?? In SC we jokingly call it Bill weed...as in Bill V. ...evidently it was rampant in his garden at some point in the past. This is an extremely invasive weed...you do not want it in your garden!! I eliminate it as soon as I see it my garden...I think it may be a futile effort.
 
pweifan said:
I cold stare at this tree all day :)

A newbie question on the problem area: Would it be more forgiving to work on this area since it's essentially the apex of the tree? Would that help alleviate your concern about this species not backbudding? This is more for my own education, so please don't take it as my having a specific opinion either way ;)

Also, do you have an updated picture?

Thanks,
Scott
Click to expand...


Hi Scott. The answer is yes. Unlike a few other dwarf maples like Kiyohime which are basally dominant, Pygmies are apically dominant. So in this case it is fortunate since it will be easier to address any design concerns. At the moment nothing much will be done since I may try and show this tree at the MidAtlantic bonsai exhibition next April. Thereafter, this tree will go into grow out mode for a couple of years and address the apex area at that point in time.

Sorry no recent pics of it. Will probably do some sort of update in the fall ;)
 
johng said:
I think it is called Irish Moss?? In SC we jokingly call it Bill weed...as in Bill V. ...evidently it was rampant in his garden at some point in the past. This is an extremely invasive weed...you do not want it in your garden!! I eliminate it as soon as I see it my garden...I think it may be a futile effort.
Click to expand...
Ditto. DO NOT let that stuff get in your pots. It forms thick mats of vegetation that can cause issues for the tree. Pull it out whenever you see it.
 
Annoyingly persistent and not welcome in anybodies garden.....

Irish moss and an inveterate "mic" like me seem a bit alike!

I guess I missed a few at repot!!:oops::eek:
 
johng said:
I think it is called Irish Moss?? In SC we jokingly call it Bill weed...as in Bill V. ...evidently it was rampant in his garden at some point in the past. This is an extremely invasive weed...you do not want it in your garden!! I eliminate it as soon as I see it my garden...I think it may be a futile effort.
Click to expand...

Just looked this stuff up. It looked nice and manageable in Lance's pot, but I can see how it would easily get out of hand. thanks for the info!
 
MACH5 said:
Hi Scott. The answer is yes. Unlike a few other dwarf maples like Kiyohime which are basally dominant, Pygmies are apically dominant. So in this case it is fortunate since it will be easier to address any design concerns. At the moment nothing much will be done since I may try and show this tree at the MidAtlantic bonsai exhibition next April. Thereafter, this tree will go into grow out mode for a couple of years and address the apex area at that point in time.

Sorry no recent pics of it. Will probably do some sort of update in the fall ;)
Click to expand...

Thank you for the response. I'm doing my best to absorb as much information as possible. I'm in the nursery phase with most of my plants now, so (thankfully) I still have lots of time to learn before trying anything drastic.
 
I am preparing this maple for a possible exhibit in the spring. Some wire applied later in the season will be removed prior to the exhibit. The tree will be transferred to a larger pot since the present one has become just too small. I have a Reiho sky blue pot of about the same depth but wider that may look good.






Earlier this year in the spring, I made a root graft at the back of the tree to fill in a gap in the nebari. I cut it back recently and will be left as is for now. Right before the exhibit, it will be cut off completely.

 
Beautiful silhouette on this guy. Only one thing bothers my eye, the wired branch mid tree going back across the trunk. (and the lower one as well to a lesser extent) I understand probably why you are doing this, to fill in the area where there isn't anything. Will likely be nice in foliage, but for a winter look it just stands out too much. Is there any more natural looking way to fill this area? Could also be the photo image is totally different than in person...
 
Thanks Juds! I think perhaps part of the issue is that the branches in question are wired. The wire makes them look darker than the rest of the image and it tends to highlight them more than necessary. In photos, no mater how good, the image is flattened so they look a bit like the go left to right but in reality they go forward and gently cut across. I think these brakes are needed to add interest as the eye goes up the trunk line.
 
On the photo i'm not sure about those 2 branches too. But its a photo so...
 
Yes, I'll bet it's the photo, and the wire. I agree that it's nicer to have a bit of branching so it's not so trench coat full frontal! ;)
The tree is so unforced looking, love that about it.
 
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