Lagerstroemia..Crepe myrtle progression.

[bodhidharma]

To jog your memory, i collected this tree October 28th last year. The tree has powered so hard i felt i could make its first decisions this morning. I took off all the flowers, which were profuse, before they burst (very dark pink) and removed any unwanted branches and then my apprentice and i sat and looked. I felt that i could work it hard as it is like the tropics here at the moment. So, nothing is permanent and this tree will go through many more changes but, at the moment, it will be as you see it here. Enjoy the pictures and any ideas are welcome and encouraged. There has to be more reduction i think and carving of the larger stubs.

[bonzaidog]

Hi Bodhi..Nice stock you have got there! it's got nice basal flare and some interesting movement.I realise this is a work in progress, but do the pics suggest the leader is leaning back at all?
Anyway my main suggestion is to keep the Apprentice away from the Jager! ....Dog.

[Jason]

Can't wait to see where you take this Bodhi. Love the movement and detail on the trunk

[cre8ivbonsai]

brilliant bark on these especially when more mature like this one. Personally, (without seeing the tree in the bark) I can't get away from the movement in the main (middle) trunk, and would cast aside the two secondary trucks and start the branching again, but that's just me, and I'm sure you've got much grander plans up your sleeve...

Good luck, I'll be interested in the development, where ever it heads

Ryan

[Beano]

Any updates on this one? Looks like a great tree

[Peterji]

Mighty fine looking tree Bodhidarma! Updates would be much appreciated.

[bodhidharma]

Thanks for the interest and the tree is doing very well. It has a lot more branches to work with and i will repost once it is wired again.

[bodhidharma]

OOPS.

[bodhidharma]

The collected tree has powered through its ordeal and has not looked back. This would be a perfect tree for a beginner looking to further their skillset of collecting and developing a Bonsai to gain confidence. I will cut the flowers and defoliate the tree this week. Branch selection will be made and the tree wired out. All this in a short two and a bit years. Amazing.

[Reece]

The collected tree has powered through its ordeal and has not looked back. This would be a perfect tree for a beginner looking to further their skillset of collecting and developing a Bonsai to gain confidence. I will cut the flowers and defoliate the tree this week. Branch selection will be made and the tree wired out. All this in a short two and a bit years. Amazing.

Nice tree Bodhi!

I have one quite similar. Will you completely defoliate this now?

[Beano]

I'm excited, one of my mystery crepes has flower buds! I might finally know what colour it is.

[Watto]

I'm very impressed with the flower arrangement all around the tree. Of course I am jealous as mine is not that "progressed" at this time of the year.

[bodhidharma]

Will you completely defoliate this now?

See the progression I.B and let me know what you think. First time i have defoliated These and pulled the leaves of instead of scissor trimming. Now we will see.

I'm excited, one of my mystery crepes has flower buds! I might finally know what colour it is.

Let us know also.

I'm very impressed with the flower arrangement all around the tree.

Hi Watto, i just need to compress the tree to make it more of a compact flower arrangement. The showing is very leggy.

[bodhidharma]

I have now defoliated and completed all the necessary carving and reduction. I am not at all convinced about the left hand lower trunk but i am loathe to cut it at the moment. If i can get branching lower down i will be able to reduce it but will not cut until i have seen it with some branching and ramification. Too many times i have made the mistake of cutting and regretted it. I have reduced the leader and did a little wiring and will just observe what the tree will do now. A long way off but the way this tree responded before it should be presentable within five years.

[Watto]

Thanks for the up-date. I am very interested in how this will look following the defoliation. In my area there is a general rule of don't defoliate after December, but I do understand that the weather patterns are changing. I will post a couple photos on mine in another post when it is in full flower, probably about a week away I would say.
If you wouldn't mind, could you please post another photo when it comes back into leaf?
Ta