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Update On Cast-offs.

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Old 3-Jun-2003   #1
Treebeard
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Update On Cast-offs.

Last November I posted some pictures of some material that was given to me because the owner wanted to clear out his pre-bonsai material. see this Cast-offs thread.

I have had a go at turning some of the trees into something that might have a future as a bonsai, with varying degrees of success.

Take a look at the following pictures, let me know what you all think. If you don't like it, then PLEASE say so, and why. There is nothing worse than no replies because everybody is being polite. I would much rather have some honest criticism than no replies at all.

Regards,

TB/Chris.
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Last edited by Treebeard : 3-Jun-2003 at 05:11 PM.
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Old 3-Jun-2003   #2
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First up is this Fagus sylvatica, european beech. The old picture is here.

I tried to get an unconventional windswept image here, with the wind from the right and the tree leaning into it. Unfortunately, I think it is just a bit too unconventional...

The pot is all wrong, and I haven't decided what to do with the dead bit half way up.
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File Type: jpg castoffcoolpix 058.jpg (60.2 KB, 214 views)
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Old 3-Jun-2003   #3
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Next comes another Beech, old picture here.

I am happier with this styling. I carved the top of the trunk, and applied wire.

Please excuse the skanky plastic pot. They are cheap, and it is only a growing-on pot!
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File Type: jpg castoffcoolpix 057.jpg (66.3 KB, 205 views)
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Old 3-Jun-2003   #4
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Chris I'm sure you will be posting the other trees, but i wanted to comment on the first two. We start with the saying "I got good news and I got bad news"... The good news is I like what you have done with the trees. The bad news is I never liked the originals, that is why I never commented on them. Yes, I know honest critic is a good thing, but being of limited knowledge (stick in here numerious disclaimers etc etc) I never felt qualified to give a negative report.

Of the two trees I think you have made the second one much better. The first one I would prefer seeing in a slightly larger pot. I know Literati... but it looks unbalanced. I do remember these trees are in training and new pots cost money!

Just my two cents....! I want to see these trees in a couple of years, I got a feeling I might start to like em.

Jay
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Old 3-Jun-2003   #5
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This is a group of Sorbus aucuparia, AKA mountain ash, AKA rowan. Old picture here.

In the old post I said I would chop back hard, to force new growth lower down. Well, it worked, but I cut back before bud burst, not after like I originally said.

I have combined the three trees with another one I had and a group of five The group of five were a lot smaller, I put then in a group to the right-rear.

The foliage of rowan is too coarse for small shohins IMO. The leaves are compound, and unless you keep the trees half starved and drought-stricken it is difficult to get the leaves much smaller.

Please excuse the blurred foliage, just won't stop blowin' here!
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File Type: jpg castoffcoolpix 056.jpg (60.7 KB, 212 views)
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Old 3-Jun-2003   #6
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Last up is the 3rd beech. This is the one that OMC liked because it was a BIG beech (was being the operative word...). See a dreadful picture of how big it was here.

It should not be too hard to see where I got the inspiration for this. See Bonitah's elm if you're not sure.

Unlike David's tree, this carving is obviously man-made. I have only roughed it out at the moment, and has had no treatment yet. I am hoping that next spring there will be 1 or if I'm lucky 2 buds breaking low down on the left. I have heard tales of a second summer flush of growth on beech, but I think they're only apocryphal...

This is the most drastic work done on any of the trees, but I suppose nothing ventured, nothing won.
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File Type: jpg castoffcoolpix 055.jpg (65.1 KB, 194 views)
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Last edited by Treebeard : 3-Jun-2003 at 05:54 PM.
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Old 3-Jun-2003   #7
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The other one I got, the yew (here ), is apparently a hemlock spruce (??), and I think it has been dead for approx 2 years. No buds at all, and yellowing needles. It has gone in the ground to see what happens with it.
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File Type: jpg castoffcoolpix 059.jpg (69.5 KB, 204 views)
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Old 3-Jun-2003   #8
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So there you have it. One man's faltering attempts to turn marginal stock into viable bonsai.

As I said, comments and criticism welcome, as are virtuals.

Regards,

Chris/TB
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Old 3-Jun-2003   #9
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OK... as far as the ash group and the 'big' Birch, sorry... better as they may be, they look like a face only a mother would love

But I will stick with my comments above on the first two.

Jay
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Old 3-Jun-2003   #10
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TB,

I like the first and second ones the best, (the first being my favorite) but I would raise the apical branch a bit on the second to not cross the jin. The forest, as you said, is too coarse and confused with crossing trunks. The carved beech is an interesting project. You sure made a bold move. All in all, I think you've made the best of dodgy material.

Best Regards,

David
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