by Zach Smith | Jul 13, 2019 | Care, Chinese Elm, Elms
Can you guess what this is? Some background first. I field-grow Chinese elms for bonsai, and frankly you’d be hard-pressed to name a better overall species for bonsai. In fact, it’s not hyperbole to state that Chinese elm is the single best deciduous species for bonsai in the world. A couple of years ago, I lifted a Chinese elm from one of my growing beds and potted it up. I didn’t replant that particular spot, as it is no longer in a long-term viable place for field-growing trees. Fast-forward to this year, and what do I see in that spot where the Chinese elm once grew? A whole “forest” of root suckers. Well, I’m a sucker for Chinese elm forests so I had to dig them up.
And now I have a new forest in the making. These trees are grouped more or less as they came out of the ground, which is pretty cool. The arrangement actually works. And wouldn’t you know it? One week later, all of these trees have new buds on them. I’m confident I can make a nice forest planting out of them in just a single year.
I like to walk down bonsai memory lane from time to time, so here are a few photos from the past of Chinese elm forests I’ve assembled and developed. This one is from 2015.
And six months later (I had to do a little reforestation).
This one is from 2014. It’s one of my favorite bonsai forests of all time (that I’ve created). I sent it on to a client though I’ve misplaced the record of who, but I sure wish I knew what it looks like today.
by Zach Smith | May 16, 2019 | Bald Cypress, Care, Chinese Elm, Styling, Wiring
This is a run of the mill Bald cypress seedling (about 3 years old in 2017) that I decided to play around with in July of that year. How about a windswept cypress, I thought? So I wired it from bottom to top and stuck it in a Byron Myrick oval I had on hand. The base of this tree is about 3/4″ at the soil, and it’s about 22″ tall.
A couple months later I decided to turn the tree around. Now this does not make for an awe-inspring bonsai, no matter which way you turn it.
The thing to keep in mind, however, is that time does every bit as much to make a nice bonsai as we do. This doesn’t mean we don’t have to employ sound design principles. What it does mean, however, is that while you’re employing sound principles (and maybe an unsound principle here and there), the tree gets older. Unless you do something to harm the health of your specimen, it is going to get older just as surely as you are. More age is never a bad thing in bonsai.
So here, in 2018, I’ve performed the master stroke of eliminating extra branches. Only kidding. There’s no mastery in that stroke. It’s what’s called trying to figure out what this tree ought to be. The tree, I hasten to add, remains silent the whole while.
Okay, here we are in May of 2019 and I’ve discarded that whole windswept idea. Does that mean you can’t have a windswept Bald cypress bonsai? Not at all! I just think that this quality material is not suited to it. As a flat-top starts to take shape, this tree looks a lot better.
Here’s an important detail. Notice in the photo above that one of the crown leaders is crossing your field of vision and sweeping back toward the right. This is simply a vestige of that original windswept concept. In this photo, I’ve moved it back into a harmonious position.
But … there’s still something not quite right with this specimen (though it’s gotten a lot better).
And this is it. The trunk was configured in what is called the “C” shape, which is a very difficult trunk shape to work with (sort of like the “S” curve Chinese elms I despise). So I had to correct this problem. Now the tree actually looks like something with a future, even though it’s been made from quite ordinary material. At five years’ age, and the trunk base now at 1″, only time and some proper technique are required to make this a very nice bonsai.
Let me know what you think.
This tree is available for someone who’d like to continue its development going forward. The price is $175 delivered, and it goes to the first one to email me about it.
by Zach Smith | Apr 14, 2019 | Care, Chinese Elm, Elms, Hawthorn, Hornbeam
I took a few minutes this evening to do some quick trimming on a couple of trees, including this Chinese elm. Most of you are familiar with this specimen. It continues to fill out and get nicer.
I liked the lighting as the sun was going down, so took the opportunity to snap a few photos.
I recently potted this American hornbeam that I acquired from a fellow collector. As the tree put on its first flush of growth I wired it out and positioned the branches. American hornbeam grows all year long, so this specimen will make great progress in 2019. The trunk is 3″ across, and the tree stands about 20″ from the soil. The pot is a lovely custom round by Lary Howard.
This Parsley hawthorn group was featured in a recent blog. After I created the composition, I set it aside in a nice shady location and just waited. Today I noticed new growth on all the trees, so it appears the work was successful. Soon I’ll be able to do some more detailed work on the branch structure of each tree.
And that’s how I spent my Sunday evening. I hope yours was as pleasant.
by Zach Smith | Mar 30, 2019 | Care, Chinese Elm, Elms, Pruning, Styling, Water Elm
This is my earliest photo of what has become a rather nice Chinese elm bonsai. Isn’t it pathetic!
The photo dates back to August of 2014.
Never forget the old adage, “from humble beginnings.”
Five years later, using tried and true bonsai development techniques, and here we are.
Trunk base 2″, height 16″. Beautiful Byron Myrick pot.
A February 2018 collected Cedar elm. This photo was taken three months later, in May. It’s got trunk movement and bark going for it.
Ten months later, this one is shaping up very well. I love the low branch, with the remainder being high up in the tree. I think I’ll have something unique in this specimen.
The trunk base is 1.5″, and the height 22″. The pot is a tremendous piece by Lary Howard.
Beautiful natural Water-elm clump, photo taken in August of 2018.
Just seven months later, here’s Water-elm #35. The growth will quickly bring this specimen to a high degree of ramification this year.
The trunk base is 3″ across, with the height about 22″. The pot is an exquisite piece by Lary Howard.
That’s all for now. Let me know what you think.
by Zach Smith | Dec 28, 2018 | Bald Cypress, Care, Chinese Elm, Elms, Vines
Chinese elm, Ulmus parvifolia, is commonly called Lacebark elm. This common name was given due to the fact that the species exfoliates its bark annually, revealing a lovely underlayer with a nice orangey-salmonish color. I was cleaning up this specimen today and for the first time since I potted it the tree has shed some of its bark. That’s a milestone in this tree’s life as a bonsai, which began in 2014.
I’ve done some trimming on this tree, and will do a little more before spring. Chinese elms are among the first species to bud out each spring for me. Even though winter just began, I can’t wait for warmer weather!
I potted up this Trumpet vine, Campsis radicans, in 2017. Since that time I’ve just let it grow and recover from lifting. The trunk is nice, as you can see. Today I rubbed off the shaggy bark, leaving the smooth true bark of the species. It’ll put on another layer of shag in 2019, as it continues to grow.
The foliage is mostly off of the Cypresses, but this one is clinging to some pretty fronds. I thought it would be fun to share the image.
In another month or so, I’ll make the year two chop in the apex to continue the development of the tapering transition. When I do, I’ll post another blog on it. 2019 should be a good year in the life of this future bonsai.
by Zach Smith | Apr 4, 2018 | Chinese Elm, Elms, Styling
Chinese Elm – 4/4/18 Not bad for four years’ work! The
progression has been updated too.
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