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Archbonsaist in training
Join Date: Aug-2004
Location: Wynne
Country: United States
Posts: 479
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First Trident Maple
Wow, I did not realize that it had been so long since I actually posted a tree here. As those of you who remember me know, I am relatively new to bonsai. However, I have found that this forum is a great place to learn from, and I have missed it over the past few weeks. Unfortunately, I will not be able to frequent it as much as I would like in the upcoming weeks and months, due to my school course load.
Anyway, the reason for this post is that I took a break from my school duties and went to Brussell's just outside of Memphis. I bought a Trident maple while I was there, and I would like to see what ideas the fine folks here can come up with in regards to its training.
The reason I chose it over the others was because the others were all VERY curvy, in the staked Chinese style. This tree, however, only had a minor curve to it, and looked like it would be much easier to work with in a style other than Chinese. The one thing that really bothers me about it is the reverse taper, especially around the "slingshot" branches. I think that I will eventually air-layer one, or both, of these branches off and see where it takes me.
There really aren't that many branches at this time, so I will probably be letting it just grow for the next season or two in order to see what it can offer me. Also, the nebari isn't the best in the world, but it is much better than any other tree that I have right now. For only $38, I didn't expect a world class tree, by any means. Unfortunately, I cannot afford the really great stock that Brussell has.
Since this tree was just repotted, and it is quite bare as well, I really can't do much with it immediately. However, coming up with a plan for its development would be quite beneficial while I wait to work on it. Since this tree does have a couple of areas of reverse taper, one at the first fork and another just above that fork on the main trunk, I have considered layering off the main trunk just below the first fork and starting with a fresh "stump". The stump does have some minor movement in it up to the first fork, and it might offer me the best solution. The first minor trunk from the first fork also could have some possibilities if separated from the rest of the tree. The main trunk above the first fork would have to be layered above the second fork in order to do away with all of the reverse taper.
Allright, enough of my amatuerish (sp?) babbling. Does anyone here have any suggestions for this guy? I welcome any and all points of view, and have extremely thick skin, so please be honest. However, I do ask that you take into consideration that this is the best that I can afford right now, and really want to learn something from it.
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Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement.
QUI ME AMAT, AMAT ET CANEM MEAM
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