Japanese Beech Forest

[Djtommy]

Very nice forest, the slab also looks great

 

[Cadillactaste]

I must admit...birch is one of my favorite trees of all time for their bark...what a splendid forest! Love that accent planting season to add a pop of color to your forest as well. Very eye appealing. I'm glad you only lost a few branches and it seems to be regaining vigor.

 

[MACH5]

What is that lump behind the largest tree in the center? It's a little distracting.
I have to say this is one of the best plantings, in my opinion, that I have seen....very pleasing image.
I have messed around with some younger trees and they seemed to not like too much attention. Water, feed, no eye contact....
That Kennett sale looked like a bonsai wish list. I was at Bonsai West when Michael pulled in with a U-Haul. Some great stuff in some of the nicest pots I've seen.
Great buy!!

Thanks Lance. Of course as is the case with many or most bonsai, one person cannot take full credit for the creation of a bonsai. In this case I think the decision of planting this on the granite slab was very good. The planting I think was also well composed. I am not certain who may have worked on this bonsai at the Kennett collection. Perhaps Suthin?

The lump was there when I bought it. It is from an old trunk that apparently had died. What you see is the callous that formed when it was cut. It is now part of the fused base and I may have to leave it. It I were to take a dremel and smooth it down it would make a very sizable wound. Not sure about that. Beech has thus far proven to be a tricky and even delicate tree to care for. VERY different from say Japanese maples. Their behavior is not completely predictable and will abort a branch just because you looked at it wrong!

I met Michael Levin at the sale. I saw him carrying lots of stuff to his truck! The sale was incredible at incredible prices but still you needed to be ready to plunk down some $$$. There were several beech bonsai there. In my estimation this one was by far one the nicest ones. Luckily most folks had their eyes on the junis and pines.

 

[MACH5]

I must admit...birch is one of my favorite trees of all time for their bark...what a splendid forest! Love that accent planting season to add a pop of color to your forest as well. Very eye appealing. I'm glad you only lost a few branches and it seems to be regaining vigor.

Thanks Darlene but you mean beech and not birch right? The flowers are very nice when they come out, but I love it most now when the azaleas have that reddish hue on their leaves complementing the stark white trunks of winter and the green moss.

 

[JudyB]

Wish I could see this in person, can't imagine how much depth there is in this. Maybe this one is a good candidate for the approach of 3d photography, and then do a time lapse with the leaves opening!
Not a small project, but would be really cool.

 

[LanceMac10]

Oh, I don't care how it got on your bench.. Your just the next to put your hand to it. They don't give these away and old bonsai don't fade away. So somebody has to take over!!
Watering, wiring...taking care of a containerized tree is a lot of work. That puts you in control of the tree's destiny, so...it's your tree. Crap, it must weigh a TON, so moving it around is a job itself!

As I was sayin'...heheheee....one of the best plantings I have ever seen!

 

[Cadillactaste]

Thanks Darlene but you mean beech and not birch right? The flowers are very nice when they come out, but I love it most now when the azaleas have that reddish hue on their leaves complementing the stark white trunks of winter and the green moss.

Ugh...yes that's what I meant. Sorry...up half the night sick. And took more medicine. My mind is foggy. But the trunks on those...their coloring...stunning!

 

[Wilson]

Awesome forest! I love beech trees, they are too often overlooked. American beech are a great substitute, beautiful trees.

 

[Cadillactaste]

Now my nieghbor has a tri color beech...will its bark lighten with age? We were discussing the lovely beech bark...and they asked me if I knew...which I didn't. Would assume so...is all I stated but that is only reaching into my thinking cap with a speculative guess.

 

[MACH5]

Wish I could see this in person, can't imagine how much depth there is in this. Maybe this one is a good candidate for the approach of 3d photography, and then do a time lapse with the leaves opening!
Not a small project, but would be really cool.

Judy that's a great idea but being as heavy and cumbersome as this piece is and having limited help I am not sure I will be doing this anytime soon. So... if you wanna come over...

 

[MACH5]

Oh, I don't care how it got on your bench.. Your just the next to put your hand to it. They don't give these away and old bonsai don't fade away. So somebody has to take over!!
Watering, wiring...taking care of a containerized tree is a lot of work. That puts you in control of the tree's destiny, so...it's your tree. Crap, it must weigh a TON, so moving it around is a job itself!

As I was sayin'...heheheee....one of the best plantings I have ever seen!

Yes, it's H E A V Y ! ! !

 

[MACH5]

Awesome forest! I love beech trees, they are too often overlooked. American beech are a great substitute, beautiful trees.

Thanks Wilson! Yes but look into European beech (fagus sylvatica). I think even better than American. With American you might have to consider a larger sized bonsai so that is all more in scale.

 

[MACH5]

Now my nieghbor has a tri color beech...will its bark lighten with age? We were discussing the lovely beech bark...and they asked me if I knew...which I didn't. Would assume so...is all I stated but that is only reaching into my thinking cap with a speculative guess.

Darlene yes, all beech will turn a silver grey color with beautiful smooth bark as they age. FYI the white bark is only specific to Japanese beech (Fagus Crenata). Even so, my understanding is that there are a few varieties within Japanese beech with varying degrees of bark "whiteness" and leaf size. The most sought after is perhaps "Fuji Buna" that comes from the area of Mt. Fuji growing at higher altitudes which has very small leaves. Bill V. is a beech expert and he may chime in with more info on the subject.

BTW I hope you feel better!

 

[Cadillactaste]

Thanks @MACH5 your bark on your forest is stunning...and thanks for explaining bark in beech. As well as the kind words. It seems many I know are down sick with this crud. But hope to feel back with the living soon.

 

[JudyB]

on

Judy that's a great idea but being as heavy and cumbersome as this piece is and having limited help I am not sure I will be doing this anytime soon. So... if you wanna come over...

on my way...

 

[MACH5]

on

on my way...

YAY!!

 

[Don Blackmond]

Looking good Sergio

 

[Jacos]

Very much like your forest Mach5.
Strong impression on you latest photos!

But i think it would be very difficult to create the same 'compact' image with American or European beech.

 

[MACH5]

Very much like your forest Mach5.
Strong impression on you latest photos!

But i think it would be very difficult to create the same 'compact' image with American or European beech.

Thanks Jaco! Well I think you can but your bonsai has to be much larger! Bill has at least two large forests of European beech that are excellent.

 

[MACH5]

For reference I found a pic of the forest right after I purchased it showing the same side that I am now favoring.