This photo shows where we left off with my water-elm “Dragon” last fall. It had grown out very strong following the initial styling, unwiring and then trimming judiciously. Since this photo was taken in October, the tree didn’t grow much more prior to dormancy.
Yesterday I gave Dragon its summer pruning. I perform this operation pretty quickly. Prune to shape, remove crossing branches, remove branches pointing downward, remove some branches pointing upward and shorten others that have a part in the design. Isn’t it looking great, after only two and a half years?
With water-elm, you generally only need to do a couple of rounds of wiring before you can begin the grow-and-clip phase of development. They really respond well to this technique, among the best in fact of any species I work with.
Stay tuned for more on water-elm in the coming weeks. We’ll be out again soon, collecting material for next year.
I’d love to know what you think of this specimen. Leave me a comment below.
A fabulous looking tree Zack. Thanks for sharing pictures of it’s journey to a bonsai.
A beauty in the making, Zach.
Zach, do you have an address I can mail a slightly different picture of that elm to you. It is something you may consider in styling this beauty. pk
Thanks for the offer, Pierre, but I’m satisfied with my design plan. The tree is actually going to be turned about 60 degrees to the left. I had forgotten that when I went to photograph it.
Nice find and nice development. pk
That is a great tree. It will be magnificent one day.
I appreciate the encouragement, guys. There are those specimens you happen across over the decades that just make bonsai art easy. This is one of them.
From the time you showed it the quality could be magnificent I have to say just to keep it alive was a challenge in it’s self you have only kept it alive you are creating a masterpiece, go ZACH
Champion