Ulmus parvafolia

[pjkatich]

Here is one of my Chinese elms for your viewing pleasure.

Ulmus parvafolia.jpg

This one was grown from a seed that sprouted in 1990.

It has been container grown the entire time.

Your thoughts please.

Cheers,
Paul

[Paulneill]

It's beautiful mate .it looks like a picture of a fully grown tree .
Very impressive . What size is it ? I have never seen an elm with white bark.

[Dario]

What a killer tree
And yes I agrre with Paul, it looks just like a real/natural tree to me
I guess that is one of the advantages of container growing from start to finish even if it does take a lot longer...not to mention your skill involved!
Well done and thanks for sharing!
Got any more bonsai we can look at and admire?
Cheers, Dario.
EDIT any chance of a few more standard angles please?

[Craig]

I agree, a beautiful tree Paul, great nebari

Your thoughts please.

not sure about the 4 way split, i wonder about removing the center 2 branches.

[MelaQuin]

Great branch movement and the nebari is absolutely wonderful. Well potted [as one would expect]. Consider removing the top left apical branch. Use the next lowest branch on the top right for the apex. I feel the tree is getting too tall and a bit too much weight up top so attention is directed to the foliage and not the nebari/trunk. I would also think about shortening the thick branch on the right, again to lighten the top as it is thick enough to demand more than its share of attention. These are my thoughts and what I would do if the tree were mine but as it stands it is a beautiful bonsai.

[pjkatich]

It's beautiful mate .it looks like a picture of a fully grown tree .
Very impressive . What size is it ? I have never seen an elm with white bark.

G'day Paul,

From the rim of the pot to the apex this tree is approximately 50cm tall.

The bark is not actually white. It's more of a silvery-gray with some shades of brown mixed in. This is a common bark coloration for Chinese elms grown locally here in Northeast Florida.

Thanks for taking the time to comment on my tree.

I appreciate the kind words.

Cheers,
Paul

[pjkatich]

What a killer tree
And yes I agrre with Paul, it looks just like a real/natural tree to me
I guess that is one of the advantages of container growing from start to finish even if it does take a lot longer...not to mention your skill involved!
Well done and thanks for sharing!
Got any more bonsai we can look at and admire?
Cheers, Dario.
EDIT any chance of a few more standard angles please?

Your welcome Dario, I appreciate you sharing your thoughts.

The inspiration for this tree came from the local Live Oaks that grow around the area where I live. This was my humble attempt to duplicate what I see growing around me.

I have many more trees which I will be happy to share with y'all when they are ready to be shown.

I'm not quite sure what you mean by "...a few more standard angles..." Could you elaborate a bit?

Cheers,
Paul

[pjkatich]

I agree, a beautiful tree Paul, great nebari

Your thoughts please.

not sure about the 4 way split, i wonder about removing the center 2 branches.

Hello Craig,

Thanks for sharing your thoughts about this tree.

Removing the two center branches would leave a heck of a hole in this composition. Not sure I would get that drastic at this point in time.

I appreciate your compliments very much.

Regards,
Paul

[pjkatich]

Great branch movement and the nebari is absolutely wonderful. Well potted [as one would expect]. Consider removing the top left apical branch. Use the next lowest branch on the top right for the apex. I feel the tree is getting too tall and a bit too much weight up top so attention is directed to the foliage and not the nebari/trunk. I would also think about shortening the thick branch on the right, again to lighten the top as it is thick enough to demand more than its share of attention. These are my thoughts and what I would do if the tree were mine but as it stands it is a beautiful bonsai.

Hi Mela,

I appreciate your constructive feedback very much.

Unfortunately, overly thick branching in the crown is one of the draw backs to working with elms. It is a constant battle to maintain the taper in the top branches of this species.

This tree is due for some adjustments when it gets re-potted in the spring. Your suggestions have a lot of merit and I will give them some further consideration.

Thanks for the compliments.

Cheers,
Paul

[Andrew Legg]

Hi Paul,

I agree about the top of the tree getting a bit out of hand, but the single biggest flaw in this tree to my eye is the straight taperless section of the 2nd trunk branching out from the left. This competes with the main trunk line and distracts my eye from the fineness and "jaggedy" branching refinement. Changing that would be a ten year project, but may be worth while.

Having said that, I think this is a stunning tree and has so much to offer me when I look at it. We can sometimes get caught up in trying to perfect our trees and not just enjoying them for what they are. I'd be more than happy to pop this tree amongst mine and just enjoy it for what it is! It is so uncontrived. Lovely.

Regards,

Andrew

[bodhidharma]

A lovely composition Paul. It is nice to see you posting trees to go with your pots All has been said regarding the tree, critique wise, and i am happy just enjoying it.

[GavinG]

Very interesting tree... Lots to think about.

There are certainly issues with the four-way branching, the collision of the trunk/branches after that, the straightish bit on the left, and the different densities of the areas. But what we all respond to is the glorious grace, balance and "rightness" of the whole tree - any attempt to "correct" the "faults" will destroy what the tree has become. Sometimes as growers we have to just accept what the tree has become, and enjoy it. In a way, the "faults" contribute to the fine "natural" feel of the tree, and fixing them will possibly make something much less beautiful, and gracelessly contrived.

Just my thoughts.

Gavin

[kcpoole]

Lovely tree Paul
the first right hand branch I think could be shortened a little. There is a thin branch off its right that i would reduce it to.
the other thing will be trim back and build finer ramifiacation all over.

Ken

[Dario]

Thanks for your reply Paul!
And well said Gavin...

Very interesting tree... Lots to think about.
But what we all respond to is the glorious grace, balance and "rightness" of the whole tree - any attempt to "correct" the "faults" will destroy what the tree has become. Sometimes as growers we have to just accept what the tree has become, and enjoy it. In a way, the "faults" contribute to the fine "natural" feel of the tree, and fixing them will possibly make something much less beautiful, and gracelessly contrived.
Just my thoughts.
Gavin

Totally agree

EDIT any chance of a few more standard angles please?

Sorry Paul...I meant could we please see (if you don't nind that is), a rear, left and right view please?

The inspiration for this tree came from the local Live Oaks that grow around the area where I live. This was my humble attempt to duplicate what I see growing around me.

Paul I love the way oaks grow, and it also reminds me of a mature English Elm that is growing locally

I have many more trees which I will be happy to share with y'all when they are ready to be shown.

Look forward to seeing them when the time is right!
Cheers, Dario.

[Booga]

Gday Paul. All my bonsai knowledge is theory at the moment so I cant critique your tree, But a can say that from a amateur eye it looks amazing
with a nice nebari and branch structure, I like it