FreshAirSunshine's 2023-2026 ROR Contest Apple Submission

[FreshAirSunshine]

Not yet a ROR, but I think that's where I'm going to take this collected apple. Recently bought at a club auction and still in field soil. The branches and curve make me want to something semi-cascade-like, but I need some convincing way to get the trunk majorly tilted. Am I stupid thinking this? Think this should be a traditional bonsai? Think I should layer off the base and keep the straighter trunk portion? Let me know - newbie here happy to learn a thing!

Right now plan is this rock, found in a stream at a friend's place, the tree, and possibly this Shuho pot unless I find I need something deeper.
Tree with details:


This Rock:

This pot:

Something like this at the end?:

 

[IckyGuyBonsai]

Have you considered really leaning (pun intended) into the cascade feel and getting rid of the top straight section? Like so

 

[FreshAirSunshine]

Have you considered really leaning (pun intended) into the cascade feel and getting rid of the top straight section? Like so

I hadn’t but it’s an interesting thought. I was thinking of the highly bent branch on top as a basis for some apex-like construction.

 

[FreshAirSunshine]

The angle is off (probably needs to be angled downwards a bit more so the rock is somewhat above the trunk and it looks like it was force in that direction). It’s likely not the right pot (needs a deeper one, more semi-cascade). For the next year if not two this is where it’ll stay though.

 

[FreshAirSunshine]

Hagedorn/others styled muck based on cooked cornstarch, sphagnum, soil fines, and some yamagoke in my case. Potted in a Shuho pot over a rock I found in a family member’s stream on their property.