all set up...

[paddles]

Ok, I've got the tree preped, I've got the dremel out and set up, I've got the dutch courage opened... all ready... to CARVE!! will the tree ever forgive me???

[fae]

Go for it, I was the same as you and now I look for trees to carve.

My 10year old daughter has also caught the carving bug.

Would love to see some photos.

Fiona

[Andrew F]

Dont forget pics

[paddles]

just charging the camera.... no before pics... but it's been wired up, and now carved... (not finished obviously, but not bad for a tree that's been sitting...)

[paddles]

Ok, here are the photos..

[Watto]

Paddles,
Being a big fan of plums I love your work. One thing I do know about plums generally is that they callus over very well, even to the point of joining large cuts and sometimes "carves", so over time you will need to watch for that.
If I had one small suggestion it would be that the tree needs an apex and you might like to think about that over the coming few years.
Well done
Watto

[paddles]

watto, I "killed" the apex prior to carving it (i ringbarked the top...) it is quite dead at the top. I intend this tree to have a ?jinned? apex... something I read about and decided to try. so the carving is the apex... I have joined the carving at the top to a scar that came from removing a larger branch, I also hope to eventually thin down the side bit... but I'm going carefully there, so hopefully I don't kill that branch. this particular plum has been reluctant to push buds in the past, so I'm going carefully with it. but since the tree is not really anything that special, it is a learning tree for me...

[bonsaiarmy]

Very nice work, just curious as to what you'll be using to preserve the carved wood? I'll be carving soon too!

[paddles]

haven't thpught about preserving....

[GavinG]

Nice taper on the trunk, and jin. I agree about taking meat from that top right hand branch slowly...

Would you consider cutting the branches back hard to the closest one or two buds near the trunk? It might focus more attention on the trunk - it's a bit long-wavy-arms at the moment. That's just my opinion - if you like it as it is, tell me to rack off! You'd cut at the beginning of spring.

I've also had a couple of plums that a reluctant to bud - cut them back to the last two leaves, to ramify, and only one bud will shoot. Sigh.

Nice start to a tree - I'd think it can become special.

Gavin

[paddles]

What do you know, I found the thread... pic taken today