MACH5
Imperial Masterpiece
Originally purchased from Brussel's Bonsai in the summer of 2019. This was a three tree composition in which I liked the movement of the main trees but I thought more could be done with this material.
Below is the original bonsai as it appeared on Brussel's website. As offered, the composition faced right.
I decided to create a composition with a greater number of trees. In 2020, I did several air layers to obtain additional trees. By the end of that year I separated all the air layers which now gave me several more trees for the planned larger grouping. Unfortunately, I did not get to it until the spring of 2022. So in 2021 I continued growing and developing the layered trees.
Below a couple of photos of when the group was being re-envisioned back in February 2022, using a combination of the original trees with those that were created from air layers two years prior.
The maple grouping as it looked right after leaf fall, November 2022.
Taking it now one more step forward, the trees were pruned to improve taper and structure, some others were taken out and wiring was done. Shishigashira is notoriously slow in ramifying. They produce lots of stubby looking shoots that do not extend much at all which is particularly necessary especially when one is developing primary and secondary branching. In instances where shoots do elongate enough, they are typically straight and coarse. To give these maples any degree of graceful movement, wire must be applied very carefully since this cultivar is extremely stiff and brittle. Generally, their development phase can be painstakingly slow. But your patience will be rewarded with incredible spring and fall colors, distinctive foliage, tight and intricate ramification and beautiful bark.
Approximately 35" tall. Granite slab 36" wide.
Below is the original bonsai as it appeared on Brussel's website. As offered, the composition faced right.
I decided to create a composition with a greater number of trees. In 2020, I did several air layers to obtain additional trees. By the end of that year I separated all the air layers which now gave me several more trees for the planned larger grouping. Unfortunately, I did not get to it until the spring of 2022. So in 2021 I continued growing and developing the layered trees.
Below a couple of photos of when the group was being re-envisioned back in February 2022, using a combination of the original trees with those that were created from air layers two years prior.
The maple grouping as it looked right after leaf fall, November 2022.
Taking it now one more step forward, the trees were pruned to improve taper and structure, some others were taken out and wiring was done. Shishigashira is notoriously slow in ramifying. They produce lots of stubby looking shoots that do not extend much at all which is particularly necessary especially when one is developing primary and secondary branching. In instances where shoots do elongate enough, they are typically straight and coarse. To give these maples any degree of graceful movement, wire must be applied very carefully since this cultivar is extremely stiff and brittle. Generally, their development phase can be painstakingly slow. But your patience will be rewarded with incredible spring and fall colors, distinctive foliage, tight and intricate ramification and beautiful bark.
Approximately 35" tall. Granite slab 36" wide.
