AusBonsai

Hi All,

here are some pics of my English Elm that was origionally carved and styled by Chris DiNola.
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Amazing bonsai!

<<< Jealous!

although you still haven't achieved you goal quite yet

Deadwood wrote: My Mission - To own at least one tree that sends Shivers down your spine every time you look at it. ( Don't want much eh? )

Ad can you give a bit more information on the progression of the trunk. I study the pictures but I can't work out why there is such a vast difference in the line of the upper trunk from 2005-2007. Was that leader reduced and regrown? There seems to be a weak point in the trunkline at the point the first branch exits?

Hi Deadwood,
I don't usually like to see carved out trunks, jin and shari on deciduous trees. It seems at the moment it is very much in vogue to shredding away at the trunk of a deciduous tree, often for the sake of it, to the detriment of any possible design .
I am pleased to see that your Elm is very well designed, beautifully carved and is a fine example of a species that should be more widely cultivated as bonsai. I am lucky enough to have quite a few English Elms with large trunks in my yard at the moment, that are waiting for some design inspiration, your tree has definitely provided some today and I thank you for showing us a lovely tree.

Cheers
MM

Thanks Deadwood, as english elms are my favourite species it is nice to see a good specimen.

That looks great deadwood
It is the first elm I have seen that has been carved. Very interesting.
Mick

Bretts wrote:Ad can you give a bit more information on the progression of the trunk. I study the pictures but I can't work out why there is such a vast difference in the line of the upper trunk from 2005-2007. Was that leader reduced and regrown? There seems to be a weak point in the trunkline at the point the first branch exits?

Hi Bretts

the apex was grown and reduced at least four times over the two year period. It was a very healthy and vigourous tree so with a bit of food and water it went beserk.

As for the trunkline, the tree was essentially a topiary with one side branch ans it was turned into a trunk and first branch ( see dodgy drawing below )
Ad.

Nice progression. I'm not opposed to carving on any material as long as it is appropriate and tells me a story. A couple more years and it will be a show stopper!

I think the degrees of difference in the years are due to the differing angles the photographs were taken.

Update on the Super Elm,

From this....... To this...... Thanks to Pat for his terrific pot making skills.

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I like the new pot.
I think I would of centered the Elm in the pot.
This has given me some carving Ideas for the dead wood on my English elm.
Barry

and me on my privet
I reckon it shodu be centrered too
Ken

This tree is getting better each time we see it - I guess that what a progression is! I particually like the way the bark changes as your eye moves up the tree, from really old bark with large plates, to smaller plates, to rough bark and then to the smooth bark at the top of the tree. This tells me a the story of the tree aging.

Very nice tree and the pot works with the feminine species but I would definitely get the tree centred in a round pot. As for the carving (which is very good imo), a shari/uro works well on an Elm but I'm not so sure about a jin, partly because the wood may not be sustainable