Smart Trees

FredL

In about 6 weeks, it will be two years since I returned to trying to develop bonsai of my own. Boy, has there been alot to learn! I really didn't appreciate what it took to develop decent material starting from scratch. It takes a lot of effort and a fair amount of knowledge. But one thing I hadn't really appreciated until I got into it with a significant number of trees and spent some time at it: the trees seem to want to help!

I'm finding that although things go badly from time to time: newly collected trees sometimes die as do repotted seedlings, Winter, and especially repeated freezes and thaws can take a toll of pots and trees, there is a learning curve for soil mixes, how to prune, etc., stc., on the whole, things go well and, despite everything, after a few months and ,still more, after a few years, the progress to be seen towards creating actual bonsai is obvious and exciting. And, the trees co-operate to an amazing degree!

I haven't been wiring branches yet. Seems hardly worthwhile with the need to develop decent rootage and trunks. Next Spring will be time enough to start on that with a few of the most advanced trees. But, yesterday, I did major chopping on many two or three year old trees as well as newly collected Elms and Wild Plums and the development of trunks is starting to be impressive. I keep chopping back the main trunks to allow small braches to become the new leaders; clip and grow, I guess, and unbelivably, it's producing actual bonsai-like trunks!

In my ignorance, I can only conclude that my trees know how to become Bonsai and if I'll just give them minimal help, they will succeed. I stand in awe!

Fred

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Carl_Bergstrom

Reminds me of the "shape within the bone" described in the quotation I just posted to another thread.

Best regards,
Carl

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In love with trees

RonMartin(deceased)

Guess what Fred. You now know the secret of bonsai !!!
All trees know how to grow up to look like trees. Like children they sometimes make a few mistakes. Get a few pimples and at times get a bit dirty. All we have to do is clean them up a bit and put them in their Sunday best. Not an impossible task at all.