New Style or Rare Style!!!

Elm237

I have been reading a books on the subject of bonsai. These books mention in little detail American Elms. You are probably wondering about my fasination with American Elms. Were I live there used to be huge American Elms {Ulmus americana}, many of them have died because of DED or Dutch Elm disease. This disapontied me because they were magnificent trees. Since DED exists were I live I can't plant Elm trees outside because after 15 years they die, so I thought I could always see them if they were bonsai and never have to worry about them getting DED. Well this brings me to my question. Ulmus americana don't look like other Elms do. I have never seen a bonsai that looks even close to what they do. As you can see from the picture they are very unique trees. There trunks splits into many different branches. Heres the question can you make a American Elm bonsai look like this? I think that this is somthing know one has ever tryed,so I want to be the first. This many seem funny but I think it would look awsome. I would love to hear lots of opinions about this or anything that people would like to add. What do you think ;ever been tryed? Not possible? Thanks hope to here from you all!

Attached Images

elmamerican.jpg (60.2 KB, 163 views)

__________________
Elm237

Advertisement

bonsaikc

For some reason I cannot see or click on the thumbnail.

__________________
Sashi-no-eda.blogspot.com

Elm237

Anyone else experenceing this problem?

__________________
Elm237

midwestbonsai

looks fine here

__________________

Elm237

Well what do you think I am very excited to here what everyone has to say !

__________________
Elm237

Tobias

I don't know anything about american elms as a species (wow, i feel really stupid starting a post with these words!), but i can't imagine any kind of growth pattern that would prevent you from creating a tree of this style. I would be quite suprised if there weren't at least a handful of bonsai out there that are styled in a similar manner as to what you have in mind; whether you'll find any pictures on the internet is another matter.

It seems, however, that to grow a tree in this style you would have to start with a seedling or a small cutting. I can't think (and i'm not thinking to hard here folks, as usual)of a way to get a tree styled like this without a very time consuming process - essentially starting a tree from scratch. still, its a good idea!

get started, and post an update in 10 year so we can see the progress! seriously though, good idea, and enjoy.

toby

EDIT: on second thought, you wouldn't necessarily need to start with a seedling if you were working with a species that willingly buds back through old wood. you would just have to cut back hard to where you wanted the many "trunks" to emerge from the main trunk, and let them grow unrestained for a long time to catch up in thickness proportional to the main trunk. or something like that. right.

__________________
~Self-proclaimed dendrophile!

Elm237

I will post a picture of what I am starting with soon. Is it possible to attian the dropping effect? I am not sure how long this will take.

__________________
Elm237

Aurelius

To me it just looks like a modified broom style.
I imagine if you start like this and allowed/forced the branches to grow close together, you'd get your (multiple secondary trunks?) results. The hanging portion just looks as if it's a bit overgrown; at least by well trimmed bonsai standards.

Will_Heath

Why? It's an intelligent way to start a post on a subject you have no direct experience with, thank you.

Elm237,

The American Elms here grows in sort of a broom style mostly, as the picture you posted seems to be. Granted, the branching starts low on the tree in the picture.

http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendro...sheet.cfm?ID=41
http://www.elmpost.org/
http://www.fcps.k12.va.us/Stratford...merican_elm.htm
http://www.westol.com/~pennwest/trees/americanelm.html

Will