Collected Hawthorn first style.

[Bretts]

I collected this one back in August 09 viewtopic.php?f=104&t=1748
I liked the way the tree wrapped around an older dead stump.

Here it is today

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I had a few ideas on where to go over the last few years but think I found the best option today.

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Last time I repotted the tree a couple of years ago it had next to no roots so although still undecided which level the nebari should be at I am very happy with the root progress. I chainsawed another 100mm of the length of the trunk.

hawthorn bonsai 004.jpg

The sun was very bright but some quick snaps after potting and primary wire.

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[Watto]

Thanks Brett, very interesting progression. Our local society gets the opportunity to dig a few hawthorn's so I am always interested in what others do with their trees, especially good stock like this.
Of course interested in how it looks in leaf, so if you would'nt mind a photo in a few months to show it "clothed" would be appreciated.
Cheers
Watto

[Andrew Legg]

Brett,

Nice material. Are you planning to carve the cut on the main trunk? This is gonna make a lovely tree with the right attention!

Cheers mate,

Andrew

[kcpoole]

Was thinking the same as andrew, needs a carve and knowing you it will get some reduction of volume

Ken

[Bretts]

Hi Watto, I have tried to use the lower branches to fill the bare spots in the middle at the moment. Will be interesting to see if I can get some budding around the middle of the trunk? Maybe this will end up with a very pine look of drooping branches but I think that will be ok for this tree. Time will tell. I think Harry Harrington gives some decent ideas of what can be done with the straight hawthorn we often get to collect. The next one I have to do is a real Harry Harrington Hawthorn Nice trunk but straight as a die
There must be some twisted ones out there some where?

Hi Andrew Ken, Yep I did minimum carving at the moment as the tree was freshly repotted by the time I got to that. That will have to wait until next year or even later now when the roots are strong and healthy.

I should point out something that is a little strange. In the following picture I have marked a couple of "lines" that go around the trunk. It is almost like there is a grafted section in the middle of the trunk that is different to the top and bottom. I thought it possible that in the past some wire was tied to the tree and it had grown over it or something similar. The bark is some what less Craggy in the middle section and it is this area where there are no branches. Not sure

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[Andrew Legg]

Interesting Brett. The bottom I could try to explain by presence of grasses and other low growing plants that may have kept the basal bark moist and therefore more craggy. The top, I'm not so sure. I don't know hawthorns , so can't really comment on their growth habits. Do they sucker? If so, maybe the bark down the bottom is affected buy this?

Good to see that you are a man of patience. I like it when I hear people making the commitment to the long haul in the interests of a trees health.

Cheers,

Andrew

[Bretts]

Got around to doing the other one today. Shorter than I first thought but more branches will come and it will be good in time. Just a rough carve today.
I wonder if Harry would like it

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[Bretts]

Here you can see the leader and back branch that I used

hawv.jpg

[Watto]

How is this one going Brett? Flowering at the moments I suppose?
Watto