"Gnome's Hat" Maples

bnsaijim

I've always admired those huge tridents with extreme tapers. While not everyone's cup of tea, I think they purvey a sense of exaggerated massiveness that appeals to me. While I do grow trees, including a few other tridents with more "normal"' proportions, I had a chance to pick these up for a "good" price...

I carry different imagery around- the character of these trunks- mottled bark, "muscular" undulations, and massive proportions remind me of some massive primordial tree- something truly ancient. Proportions become truly irrelevant. My inspirations are books like "Meetings with Ancient Trees" and another one "Sacred Trees". I may have screwed the titles some- I provide info if anyone likes...

This first one is in a pot about 17"x14" if my memory serves me.

These are basically "as offered" pictures on my dining room table. I did some basic cleaning up of wounds, edited branches, etc. BUT because of what I suspect is a fungal problem (we discussed this elsewhere in a defoliation thread awhile ago) they are progressing rather slowly.

Think "elephant's foot"!

Attached Images

trident1.jpg (57.1 KB, 164 views)

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bnsaijim

Here's another- a "Baby" by comparison- Pot is 14.5x12" I think...

I would have submitted them to the "trunk chop" but that would be cheating as these are field grown, I didn't chop 'em, and really have no progress worth showing yet...

Oh yeah, the arrows are points where chops have been done for taper, now adding character to the trunk...

Attached Images

trident 2.jpg (66.5 KB, 160 views)

TreeBay

Amazing trunks!

They might do well in some growing boxes for awhile. The growers tend to pot them in the smallest pots possible to emphasize the taper, (plus it's cheaper) sometimes to the detriment of development.

That first, elephant's foot, has a branch that looks like it's wired for sound. Plus, it's badly shaped. Probably best to cut it well back.

Regards,

Matt

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bonsaial1

Now that is some wood that has been chopped correctly for taper! The scars pale in comparison to the trunk. They do not overpower any part of the trunk and seem to add character to it.

Are they import trees, or is someone out there doing these locally? I have seen trees this size out here in cal. for about 800.00 to 1000.00 range. Is this in the ballpark?

Bonsaial

ripsgreentree

Jim the trees that I am growing in my field are young and pale in comparison to these two trees. Thanks for posting them.

Al: I still bristle at your suggestion that somehow my trees are cut incorrectly. They are not yet at this stage of development nor would they be in the price range that you have mentioned.
Oh Well!!! I really like what I do, growing trees and all, that is what is most important. Al you are entitled to your opinion. If you were trying to grow your own trees instead of buying them your opinion might be diffrent. There is nothing wrong with buying trees so don't get my meaning wrong.

Still wandering in the dark!

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ripsgreentree

It requires an open hand to give and to recieve.

bonsaial1

Rip, I would gladly give you 1000.00 for a tree like this. Its not about the dollars, it's about value for your dollar. I have posted numerous threads in the past weeks on taper, IT"S NOT ABOUT YOU, get a grip man. I think you have some issues that you need to deal with here. I have seen trees, I'm not talkin about your fields, I havn't even seen them for a year, so don't bristle yet, that I wouldn't take even if someone gave them to me. I just don't see any immediate future in some stock, and I don't waste my time with it. That is the joy of buying stock, I can pick and choose what "I' wish to work on. That gives me the best deal for my money. I truly know that there are people out the that love to grow trees. I have seen backyards with hundreds of half-assed plants in pots sitting all over the place. Big deal that guy can say he has 300 bonsai, but when it comes to a show they have nothing to offer. Deep down they know that their plants are just in the beggining stages of real bonsai development, and should be probably taken out on the bonsai pots and put back in the growing container. I'm not trying to sound like an arrogant SOB here, just stating some hard facts, "as I see them". You got the camera now, get the photo's that show what you are talkin about. I have only seen two plants with chops on them. I just don't feel they represent good stock in my opinion. I know there are people out there that may wish they had your two trees that you have posted. I'm just lookin for something else. Nothing wrong with that.

Doing my own thing, Bonsaial

Bonsainut

Whoa easy boys...

Bonsai Jim you can't dangle something like that out there. Im salivatin', I need more.
You can hardly see the scars, except for the black wound sealent.
O yeah and tell me where I can get a couple at a good price, pleeeeeeeeeeese-
-B

bonsaial1

Jim and Bonsainut, I feel bad that you may be offended by my outbursts. But if I make a comment about how "I" feel about someone other than Rip's stock, I shouldn't have to be challenged by him. Frankly I have tried to steer clear of posts that have anything to do with Rip's stuff. Any comment given by me seems to induce arguing anyway. I guess we are just two headstrong people that are at most times of the opposite side of the fence. I think there is room on this forum to each express our views without constantly feeling threatned by the other person. I know I am not threatned. How bout it Rip. I posted the "critical eye' thread to help from keeping this sort of thing from happening. I felt that we would all start over with a clean slate, and try to be indifferant to the critical posts. Everyone seemed to be pleased that I had brought this out into the open except Rip. He felt there is not enough respect here. I know that if I were to post a tree here and 5 people told me that they like the back better, I might not be so hasty to tell them all that my front is the way to go. 5 people can't be all wrong. I kinda took that as a nose thumbing. They were all the people that posted. Fairly unanamous, not even a percentage. While this makes no differance to me, An acknowledgment that you might consider the other views shows growth in the person submitting the work. That would be respectfull. I see that rip was able to get a shot in a thread recently about soil. Said that he had been told that any free draining soil would do. Basicly thats a true statement. Why put a negative comment like "Why Bother". Why bother being here in the first place then. There is alot here to learn if you want to take it in. Rip, your shoulders gotta be getting pretty heavy now from those two huge chips on them.

Bonsaial