Acer palmatum sharp's pygmy [#07]
- Thread starter MACH5
- Start date
MACH5
Imperial Masterpiece
Fantastic tree and very cool pot...that subtle crackle is wonderful! Just so you know, I layered the 'Sharps Pygmy' planted in my yard Easter Sunday because of this tree.
Good luck with it Dave. I hope you get a nice one!
Indeed it does! I hope by the time I exhibit it the stink will have subsided. Maybe that's what the esteemed judges will write on their scorecards: "THIS TREE STINKS! NO... REALLY"
Perhaps a vinegar wash will help kill the smell?Yes Chris leaves are pretty much all green with a bit of the usual reddish edge. However as they mature they turn a bright chartreuse green that's very distinctive and different than regular palmatums. Striking tree in all seasons but I find it more labor intensive than other maples. I would not want to have more than a couple.
MACH5
Imperial Masterpiece
Hahaha! Well Oso even the most stubborn among us can change from time to time you know
MACH5
Imperial Masterpiece
Thanks Bri. I was thinking of you when I was repotting it because as you well know, last time I took it out of the pot was a week before the US National when I changed its position in the pot based on your suggestion. It was crazy but it worked out in the end!
Brian Van Fleet
Pretty Fly for a Bonsai Guy
Indeed! Already making plans for this year's show, looking forward to catching up.Thanks Bri. I was thinking of you when I was repotting it because as you well know, last time I took it out of the pot was a week before the US National when I changed its position in the pot based on your suggestion. It was crazy but it worked out in the end!
MACH5
Imperial Masterpiece
Fresh off the MABS exhibit and now flowering like crazy! Other than shishigashira, I have never had a Japanese maple flower as a bonsai. Just wanted to share a few pics. In the next few days I will remove all of them in order to not have the tree's energy spent in producing seed. They sure are pretty though!
JudyB
Queen of the Nuts
Wow that is super cool. I've always wondered why maple bonsai don't flower. This is really nice, any idea why this happened?
whfarro
Chumono
Amazing tree that never ceases to amaze!
Don Blackmond
Omono
I'm actually surprised you have not had other maples flower Sergio. Many of my maple bonsai do. I don't keep track, but I cannot recall them turning to seed and I do not remove the flowers.
LanceMac10
Imperial Masterpiece
My "sticks in containers" flowered like crazy this year. Pruning in Feb. will wipe flowers out, what I didn't prune and left long flowered profusely.
You have actual "bonsai" trees! I have been posting them in "Post your photos" as have some others.
My Sharps finally opened some buds as I recall you mentioned yours is last in your yard as well.
You have actual "bonsai" trees! I have been posting them in "Post your photos" as have some others.
My Sharps finally opened some buds as I recall you mentioned yours is last in your yard as well.
MACH5
Imperial Masterpiece
No I don't Judy. Not sure why all of a sudden it decided to flower. Maybe it was shy and now it came out of its shell... er leaves??
MACH5
Imperial Masterpiece
Interesting Don. I have never had any maple flower with the exception of shishigashira which did every spring.
MACH5
Imperial Masterpiece
My "sticks in containers" flowered like crazy this year. Pruning in Feb. will wipe flowers out, what I didn't prune and left long flowered profusely.
You have actual "bonsai" trees! I have been posting them in "Post your photos" as have some others.
My Sharps finally opened some buds as I recall you mentioned yours is last in your yard as well.
Yes, the very last one to leaf out at least in my area. I finally had a chance to show the tree leafless although the extending green pointy buds made the tree look a bit "spiky".
MACH5
Imperial Masterpiece
There is a discussion happening over at the "EVENTS & EXHIBITS" forum about the recent MABS exhibit. Dan W. had asked me on that thread if I wouldn't mind sharing what was said about this tree. There were three critiques each conducted by Kunio Kobayashi, Bjorn and Walter Pall who co-judged with Jim Doyle. I attended Kobayashi's critique. Will Farro went to the WP/Jim Doyle one and another friend covered the Bjorn critique.
Overall I was very pleased with the outcome of all three critiques. Here are their remarks:
KOBAYASHI CRITIQUE:
He thought it was a beautiful maple with good movement. Liked the overall feeling very much. He said negative space in bonsai is just as critical and thus he would removed the lowest left branch. Liked the stand and overall display.
BJORN CRITIQUE:
Loved the tree. He spent a great deal of time talking about this maple which I am guessing was a good thing. He said that even in Japan, this tree would be considered as a good tree. He also mentioned that in about 15 years this will be an outstanding maple. By then the trunk will have thickened to the point of making it look like a true multi-trunk tree. No real changes anywhere with the exception of shifting the front slightly so that one of the front branches does not come straight out into the viewer.
WALTER PALL/JIM DOYLE CRITIQUE:
I will let Will Farro (whfarro) fill in here since he was there. But I was told that Jim said he would not change one thing about this tree. Another thing they mentioned was that you will not see a maple like this in Japan since it brakes the rules of being a true multi-trunk tree. The trunks come out too high. This it seemed was a compliment coming from them as going a bit against the Japanese bonsai establishment.
Below is the tree one day before the exhibit in my studio getting some final adjustments. The buds are swelling and a bit of green was starting to show.
Kusamono used as accent.
Here is the maple and accent on display at MABS.
Overall I was very pleased with the outcome of all three critiques. Here are their remarks:
KOBAYASHI CRITIQUE:
He thought it was a beautiful maple with good movement. Liked the overall feeling very much. He said negative space in bonsai is just as critical and thus he would removed the lowest left branch. Liked the stand and overall display.
BJORN CRITIQUE:
Loved the tree. He spent a great deal of time talking about this maple which I am guessing was a good thing. He said that even in Japan, this tree would be considered as a good tree. He also mentioned that in about 15 years this will be an outstanding maple. By then the trunk will have thickened to the point of making it look like a true multi-trunk tree. No real changes anywhere with the exception of shifting the front slightly so that one of the front branches does not come straight out into the viewer.
WALTER PALL/JIM DOYLE CRITIQUE:
I will let Will Farro (whfarro) fill in here since he was there. But I was told that Jim said he would not change one thing about this tree. Another thing they mentioned was that you will not see a maple like this in Japan since it brakes the rules of being a true multi-trunk tree. The trunks come out too high. This it seemed was a compliment coming from them as going a bit against the Japanese bonsai establishment.
Below is the tree one day before the exhibit in my studio getting some final adjustments. The buds are swelling and a bit of green was starting to show.
Kusamono used as accent.
Here is the maple and accent on display at MABS.
Thanx for posting this, its interesting to read.
The moss is nicely done, its looking very nice.
Funny to see how bjorn says it would be considered a good tree in japan and walter or jim said you wont see a tree like this in japan.
I think the truth is you wont see many trees like this in japan or anywhere else for that matter which look as good as yours does in this style.
It really is a good looking tree.
Any plan of removing the lowest left branch now?
The moss is nicely done, its looking very nice.
Funny to see how bjorn says it would be considered a good tree in japan and walter or jim said you wont see a tree like this in japan.
I think the truth is you wont see many trees like this in japan or anywhere else for that matter which look as good as yours does in this style.
It really is a good looking tree.
Any plan of removing the lowest left branch now?
whfarro
Chumono
You recapped my notes pretty well. As you said, Walter noted that in Japan this would not be shown because it is a "faux twin trunk. however we appreciate it as it is truly a remarkable tree." He noted, pot, tree, stand and accent all complimented each other. His only note of concern was to watch the apex in years to come.
Jim seemed to love this tree. He was looking for his LED flashlight so he could highlight the silhouette, as he said the lighting and backdrop didn't provide the best way to view this. He noted the branching and ramification and how the buds indicated it was in good health. He said the container, height of the stand were nice for this tree. He wrapped up by saying he wouldn't change a thing.
Jim seemed to love this tree. He was looking for his LED flashlight so he could highlight the silhouette, as he said the lighting and backdrop didn't provide the best way to view this. He noted the branching and ramification and how the buds indicated it was in good health. He said the container, height of the stand were nice for this tree. He wrapped up by saying he wouldn't change a thing.
I believe it would be shown here though as it is now it has no chance to get into a show like kokufu but the main reason for this would be age, this tree is too young looking . Simply age would benefit this tree greatly, nothing to do but wait for that.
I also agree on the apex which i believe i mentioned once before, it looks very nice but left like this and it might turn into a problem area.
I wonder if kobayashi san mentioned something about it.
I also agree on the apex which i believe i mentioned once before, it looks very nice but left like this and it might turn into a problem area.
I wonder if kobayashi san mentioned something about it.
Don Blackmond
Omono
Is the stand the correct height, or should it be shorter?
Its a great tree. Good to have comments from the judges. I'd be curious to hear their opinions on how this tree compared to the ficus, crab, larch and shimpaku; not judging it on its own merit but rather as against the others....
Its a great tree. Good to have comments from the judges. I'd be curious to hear their opinions on how this tree compared to the ficus, crab, larch and shimpaku; not judging it on its own merit but rather as against the others....
whfarro
Chumono
In my session, neither WP or Jim provided any comparisons to other trees other than a casual mention, such as "here is another collected Larch and you see this one has a bit more character...." kinda thing.... and at the time of their critique the top trees were not yet announced/made public.
JudyB
Queen of the Nuts
I have nothing negative to say about this tree, it's a good tree now, and as it ages, it'll become an amazing tree. I like the way it has it's own feel, that is what sets the crabapple apart as well. This makes us take notice.
I have two questions. I have heard other people being criticized for not having moss covering all the soil. So am wondering about this. Also although the prime viewing angle is said to be straight across the pot, it is rarely that we actually see exhibition photos that are that low. Maybe the exhibition books photograph from that angle. I tend to think that a slight bit above the tree sometimes can look better than straight across.
I have two questions. I have heard other people being criticized for not having moss covering all the soil. So am wondering about this. Also although the prime viewing angle is said to be straight across the pot, it is rarely that we actually see exhibition photos that are that low. Maybe the exhibition books photograph from that angle. I tend to think that a slight bit above the tree sometimes can look better than straight across.
