12 years vs. 20 years waiting...

CScott

I was taking digital pictures of my oldest tree photos and thought you might enjoy the changes as much as I did.

As a cautionary tale of over working a tree, one series is a little procumbens juniper, bought in 1985, the picture is from 1987. The second pic is planted over a rock in 2003, followed by the latest 2006 photo. It is about 3 inches taller than the original, and has always been in a bonsai pot. Not much has happened in 20 years.

The other series is what can be achieved when you pay attention to all the advice thrown at you from club members, books, and teachers. The first picture is an elm whip won at a club raffle for $1 in 1995. I air layered it a few years later, and both trees were planted in the ground. Twelve years later, the smaller one was once the base, while the larger, taller tree is the top 2 thirds. They are by no means great, but I am pleased with the progress.

What have I learned? It is fulfilling and fun to do it yourself, but it takes forever and life is short.

Buy better stock.

Carmen

Attached Images

	Procumbens-1987.jpg (71.6 KB, 309 views)
	Procumbens-2003.jpg (68.0 KB, 284 views)
	Procumbens-20006.jpg (71.3 KB, 334 views)
	Raffle-elm-1995.jpg (63.8 KB, 317 views)
	Sml-Elm-Spring-07.jpg (72.3 KB, 371 views)
	Lg-Elm-fall-07.jpg (70.3 KB, 370 views)

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Vance Wood

The Juniper is very very nice though I would like to see it thinned out just a little so we can see a bit of trunk detail and branch ramification. The other tree??____ All I can say is that I bet dollars against horse scat that there is someone out there wishing they had kept that little stick. Very nice work as well.

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The only finished bonsai is a dead one; me 1992 MABA Des Moines Iowa

JayC

I love the taper on the first elm, and the bark. However, i love the shape of the second. Beautiful! It makes me want to take millions of cuttings from my elms!

JayC

bonsaimeister

Very nice Carmen,

Thanks for sharing. We know to buy better stock and I am also glad to see that you turned that whip into something outstanding!

bonsaimeister

__________________
"On its root I firmly commit
In its trunk I keep my soul
Through its leaves, I reflect my vision..."

- Robert Steven

anttal63

well done i love the juni and the first elm. thankyou for passing on your lesson, im hearing you.

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Antonio . . .
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Glider

On the other hand, it's not the destination, it's the journey

Those are really nice trees. They must mean a lot more to you as you have nurtured them from the very beginning and have achieved something very worthwhile.

__________________
Experience is knowledge gained immediately after it was needed.

Dav4

Love both elms...gives me hope for the future!!


Dave

hansvanmeer

Well don Carmen,

and how good to see your proof of what is said so many times to novice bonsai enthusiasts here on Bt and other forums. I really hope they read this, because pictures can say so much more than words in this case! Bonsai takes so much time, so don't waste it! I like the Elms a lot, good work.
Thanks for chairing,
Hans.

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"I fly so high...and fall so low!"


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GinaRothfels

Carmen, I love what you've done with those elms. I really believe it is far more fulfilling if you do it yourself. Hopefully one day I'll have something half as good to show for my efforts.