[LLK] - Zelkova serrata

[LLK]

Height 25 cm
2009 present from friend, who grew this Zelkova from a cutting.
Cost none.
I saw this small tree in a friend's "training patch", and criticized its very neglected appearance, which resulted in my becoming the owner of it. As yet it is hardly an inviting subject for a shohin competition, but I thought it might make a nice challenge. No idea what I can do with it.
Lisa

[kcpoole]

Now that the opposite extreme frpom Skippy's Entry

this comp is going to be very interesting and i cannot wait to see the progressions next year

Ken

[LLK]

Skip has got it right -- see to a decent trunk first!!
I haven't got material like that (though there's a wild privet ogling me from a corner of the garden - might pay to dig it up ), but then I'm thinking that competing is the most important thing, not the winning.
And yes, it should be a most interesting competition to watch over the coming year.

Lisa

[Jamie]

gday Lisa

this one has a little growth to go! maybe the best option for this one would be to try and develop it in the sense it is a younger tree. so many deciduous tree in nature that have a younger thinner trunk can have a decent little canopy on them.

I would definately be getting into the privet mate, the speed those buggers grow is rediculous. ya nearly need a chainsaw to keep them in check!

[LLK]

UPDATE

This small tree came out of dormancy very late. I shortened the trunk and the branches and it is now growing well, but as one can see the leaves are far too big for this size shohin. For now I'll let the branches consolidate. Please keep your fingers crossed for this young thing on days when you have nothing better to do.
Thanks.
Lisa

[LLK]

Zelkovas grow very fast. Here are images of Jan 13 and today. The little branches are slowly thickening.

[LLK]

The little Zelkova with some modest Autumn tints. Not much change since the last photo.

[LLK]

First repotting of the season!
We'll make a bonsai out of this little tree yet.

[Watto]

Very good progression Lisa, but I think you are just teasing us with the angle the photo was taken at. I bet it looks much better from a front on shot?

[LLK]

Correction.

[Kyushu Danji]

I like the pot you have chosen. I think it suits the colour of the bark very well.

[LLK]

Thanks, K.D.,
It's a Pat Kennedy pot, as you may have guessed. I like his oval shohin pots, because they have a nice depth, neither too little nor too much. I wouldn't choose such a light colour for a big pot, as it would be too eye catching, but for shohin I think it's great. Actually, it looks as if the tree is planted too high, but that is because the surrounding moss is so thick. I may have to find another sort of the stuff.

Lisa

[LLK]

No visible change since last month.

[LLK]

This little tree has turned out better than I thought it would a year ago. It's 23 cm high. I hope to show its progress in another year's time, as I hope other contestants will also showq the development of their entries.

Lisa

[Steven]

Hi Lisa,

The competition rules state;

• The final pictures must include at least one paragraph of text describing the final outcome and what is planned for the future of the tree.

Please update your submission before midnight Thursday 1st November with a more detailed final paragraph to ensure you remain eligible for the competition.

Regards,
Steven