What did you do today? Show us Pic Required

[Kievnstavick]

Went to work on this schefflera for over-wintering. I defoliated all but the newest of growth. It still has a bit to go in terms of leaf reduction. I took a picture of one of the larger leaf whorls.



After cleaning off die-back from previous pruning and cleaning up some of the scars, I studied the tree for a bit. Some of the branches and congestion were bothering me. So I made a quick mock-up with branch removal and a different sized pot. I see the "re-styling" of the tree to have a better visual flow from Left to right instead of the flow getting lost in the tangled mess of branches. My intent is to honor the original design of the previous owner while elevating the presentation.




This is what I ended up finishing the session with. Quite a few of the branches need to be taken back further to increase ramification and to add more movement to the branches, but I figured I'd let the tree recover as is and see how it responds. Hopefully I get some back budding much further down on some of the branches. I plan on wiring some of the branches once I see where the tree back buds at to get the branches to have an overall "flowing to the right" feel. The pot edit was quick and dirty, leaving the size to what felt right for me. I have a few years to figure out a new pot for it as it looks like it was repotted somewhat recently before I acquired it.


Next task for me is to take pictures of my pots so that I can mess around with them in photoshop in order to aid in future potting decisions.

 

[Mike Corazzi]

Trying to raise public perception of CRUELTY TO TREES !!!



Also working on explanation of process like THROWING EPSOM SALTS IN ITS FACE !!
And ... RIPPING OFF LEAVES WHEN I DON'T LIKE THEM !!
And.... JABBING STICKS IN THEM TO SEE IF THEY ARE WET !!
And.... CHOPPING OFF ROOTS TO KEEP THEM LITTLE !!!
And.... HOLDING THEM UNDER WATER IN A BUCKET IF THEY SAY THEY ARE THIRSTY !!
And.... MAKING THEM SIT ALL DAY IN THE HOT SUN !!!

 

[PerryB]

Trying to raise public perception of CRUELTY TO TREES !!!

View attachment 510126

Also working on explanation of process like THROWING EPSOM SALTS IN ITS FACE !!
And ... RIPPING OFF LEAVES WHEN I DON'T LIKE THEM !!
And.... JABBING STICKS IN THEM TO SEE IF THEY ARE WET !!
And.... CHOPPING OFF ROOTS TO KEEP THEM LITTLE !!!
And.... HOLDING THEM UNDER WATER IN A BUCKET IF THEY SAY THEY ARE THIRSTY !!
And.... MAKING THEM SIT ALL DAY IN THE HOT SUN !!!

Reminds me of my ex-sister-in-law, whom we had known since childhood, who asked me, "What is it about your childhood that would cause you to maim and torture little trees?"

I confess: I didn't have an answer

 

[Carol 83]

Spent a couple of hours trimming up the wild things, so they'll fit in a month or so when they come inside.

 

[Carol 83]

All of this just from the Water Jasmine.

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

Reminds me of my ex-sister-in-law, whom we had known since childhood, who asked me, "What is it about your childhood that would cause you to maim and torture little trees?"

I confess: I didn't have an answer

I would have said, "You've never picked a flower or ate a vegetable? Murderer. "

Trimmed my S elm.

 

[Deleted member 47471]

Pruned and wired DAS


After having practiced on a branch, I applied wiring on a tree for the first time. I think I will get better over time but it feels easy and natural in theory and practice.


As I understand, keeping branches wired laterally or down can require constant work and even guy wire, but they’re holding okay initially (another closer look)


A small amount applied higher on the trunk and then let it grow



Another project: Birds Nest Spruce

Additional structural pruning done to allow better and lower growth with the idea to wire/shape into a potential multiple trunk-like structure while filling in negative spaces



Will let it grow and show me what comes next. Likely do additional cleaning up or just let it drops off small bits in its own.

Not much sunlight today given the Tropical Storm moving through the area. Hopefully the lighting inside is not terrible. Will also need to update to new phone with better camera and clarity in due time.

 

[Deleted member 47471]

I would have said, "You've never picked a flower or ate a vegetable? Murderer. "

Trimmed my S elm.
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Nice and elegant, cool movement in the trunk. Really pretty tree!

 

[Japonicus]

I found a piece of suitable driftwood, carved and fitted it to the bottom 3-4" of the trunk to make a tanuki-ish false flared trunk. I added a little wood putty to fill the small gap and spashed on a bit of ground charcoal/ water mixture.

Would love to see a picture of that Joe

Trying to raise public perception of CRUELTY TO TREES !!!

View attachment 510126

Also working on explanation of process like THROWING EPSOM SALTS IN ITS FACE !!
And ... RIPPING OFF LEAVES WHEN I DON'T LIKE THEM !!
And.... JABBING STICKS IN THEM TO SEE IF THEY ARE WET !!
And.... CHOPPING OFF ROOTS TO KEEP THEM LITTLE !!!
And.... HOLDING THEM UNDER WATER IN A BUCKET IF THEY SAY THEY ARE THIRSTY !!
And.... MAKING THEM SIT ALL DAY IN THE HOT SUN !!!

Literally laughed out loud. You go Mike

Today I created a bar branch and used my biggest wire in the house here.
Almost snapped the trunk, as EWP is like a straw, but this time it leaked through the bark and I quit.
Not too shabby coming from nursery can last April But the branches are a bit spindly...



EWP 'Niagara Falls'

Pinus strobus 'Niagara Falls' from Mountain Meadows nursery.

Last December when we went to Mountain Meadows Nursery in N.C. I picked up two projects. This is one of the two, a 3 gallon Pinus strobis 'Niagara Falls'. Hardy to zone 3, and a dwarf at 1-6" growth/yr. https://conifersociety.org/conifers/pinus-strobus-niagara-falls/ Its origin is a witches...

www.bonsainut.com

 

[DanaWhicker]

There is a stream that runs along the back of my property. Today I was cutting the grass back there and noticed a sweetgum tree on the bank of the stream falling over at a severe angle. Of course I had to save it.. The soil/mud was so soft it only took 10-15 minutes to dig up the rootball. I put it in my rubbermaid rain trough for now. Trying to decide what to do next.

 

[Fidur]

Today I wired and pruned my JWP. Still undecided on wich of the two backgrounds works better....

 

[KikurageOtomo]

Took a short trip to a local nursery today to get some end of season deals! Ended up with a 'Hessei' Cottoneaster that I think has some promise, a 'Consort' Black Currant, 'Superior' Blueberry and some decorative grass to up my kusamono game next year!


Cottoneaster was a *little* overgrown to say the least


Im thinking about reimagining it as a semi/full cascade given its weeping nature, I have a pot sitting around that I've been itching to break out and I think they'll compliment one another nicely.

The Black Currant had less immediate promise, but im a big fan of Currant bonsai and I'd like to branch outside of the varities im working with currently





Don't worry, I made sure to cut paste everything after I took the pictures! Nothing done to the Blueberry for the time, just going to let that grow out for a while.

 

[Joe Dupre']

Here ya go, Japonicus. It's been on a couple of years and needs a refresh.

 

[Japonicus]

Here ya go, Japonicus. It's been on a couple of years and needs a refresh.

View attachment 510208

Nice camouflage. Thanx!

So today I for some reason decided to work on this BADLY neglected hinoki. It's been on the N side of the house getting maybe 2 hrs of sunlight for several years.
I'm either going to turn it into a sparse bonsai, or make it wish it had never met me.

 

[Carol 83]

Today I wired and pruned my JWP. Still undecided on wich of the two backgrounds works better....

View attachment 510180 View attachment 510181

I like the darker one.

 

[IzzyG]

Honored to have worked on that tree many times. Here it is after my intensive course way back in 2018. (I’m pictured bottom left)

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Take good care of it, it’s a special tree to many of us

I’ve had quite a few of Eisei-en’s students reach out about the tree! I will most definitely take exceptional effort to care for the tree!

Finally put up the shelf to sort the containers. Now to find a spot for another shelf for the rest of them. Sam Tan is spending the weekend to work on a couple raw trees with me. Keep an eye out on the finished stylings!

 

[PowerTap]

Took my second annual trunk caliper measurements. Big winners were my Sitka (lower right arrow) spruce and coast redwood (top shelf arrow). Which put on 50% more trunk from last year.

sitka Spruce 28mm +14mm
Coast Redwood 25mm +11mm
Oregon Myrtle 15mm +5mm
Shimpaku Juniper 29.1 mm +3mm
Star Magnolia 32mm +2mm
Lodgepole Pine 41mm +1mm
Shohin Juniper 12.5mm +1mm
Alberta Spruce 23mm no change
Giant Sequoia 22mm ? (Apparently didn't measure last year.
Japanese Mapel
Left - 11mm
Right - 11mm
Big Boy (JBP) 7mm
Yamadori Juniper 58mm

 

[Cajunrider]

Wired my whimsical Tamarindus indica

 

[snowman04]

Picked up a few more pots... Organic projects on the horizon...

 

[Deleted member 47471]

Took family photos: