Tall Stature with Lots of Character

[Bretts]

I was given this Elm 2 years ago when I attended Bonsai by the Harbour in Sydney. I returned home after the weekend to the unbelievable news that my mate Shayne had died from a hart attack. This guy was a big part of many peoples lives with a very tall stature and a magnetic personality. A massive car nut who's Gold Brougham was a regular entrant in Summernats Car Festival. Especially the burnout comp

We often traveled down south to Tomakin together with our partners and he tagged along with me on my crawl of the nurseries. In a short time he had a passion for buying plants. I was astonished with how his house soon became over run with plants. That was until Summer watering hit
He had also caught the bonsai bug from me and in no time he had many trees and although I did my best to instruct him a steady collection of dead ones too

I decided that this Elm I was given that weekend should be called Shayne's Elm in memory of a great mate.

This elm has alot of Character that would be lost by chopping it up so I see it as fitting to keep it tall like Shayne but I knew I was in for a challenge to find a bonsai in there. Two years ago when i repotted it there was not much in the way of roots so I tied it firmly it into an orchid pot (with attapulgite clay, cococ husk, potting mix, zeolite mix) and let it grow for two years. I have found English elms grow strong in spring but once the leaves harden off over Summer They are happy to leave it at that. I will experiment in the future with defoliation and watering to see if they will put out another growth spurt.
The tree was obviously strong this year and I was waiting for the leaves to drop to work out the style for the tree.

Put the tree on the bench yesterday afternoon to see If I could come up with a plan. It was an enjoyable time remembering my friend and taking on the challenge of turning this tall character into a bonsai.
I don't expect the pictures too look great but I am happy with yesterdays progress and I am looking forward to bringing out the character of this tree in the future.

selm.jpg

selm2.jpg

[nealweb]

I like it! So much character in the trunk and with such a strong trunk it can handle being tall. It already has a story and like any great arrtwork evokes emotions, associations and memories. It is a memorial and will one day be a good bonsai i reckon.

[Bretts]

Thanks Neal
I just couldn't get that first left branch to look right last night. Whether I had it level pointing up or down it always looked wrong. Carved a bit of the thick trunk away but still was not happy. I feared that branch would have to go?
Looking at the pictures again this morning I knew it had to go come down more as it is conflicting with all the other branches. I am finally happy with this lowest branch now and it should fit in OK once it fattens up and be a feature as it should..

[Scott Roxburgh]

Brett,

I have found that air/ground layers take within a couple of weeks on these around spring (hundreds of excellent radial roots) so you could have a go and show how poor nebari on great stock can be fixed!

BTW...This is not an attack, just a joke!

Great Tree!

[nealweb]

Thanks Neal
I just couldn't get that first left branch to look right last night. Whether I had it level pointing up or down it always looked wrong. Carved a bit of the thick trunk away but still was not happy. I feared that branch would have to go?
Looking at the pictures again this morning I knew it had to go come down more as it is conflicting with all the other branches. I am finally happy with this lowest branch now and it should fit in OK once it fattens up and be a feature as it should..

Hmm that must be the wisdom of 'sleeping on it' then. If you think something needs to go then schedule the chopping for tomorrow. Have a break from it and then give it one more look before you do what can't be undone! I love the slanting trunk, looks great. Good luck with it

[Bretts]

Hi Scott
I can usually tell the difference between a joke and an attack, unlike some But thanks for clarifying

When I said it didn't have much in the way of roots I meant that literally. It had very little roots. That has definitely changed and it is now a mass of roots in the pot. Whether there is any decent Nebari there now I will have to wait and see when I repott come spring. I am looking forward to seeing what is there, the trunk does look strong at the base but I am hoping for a little more under the soil. I tried not to remove too much branching to keep the vigor for spring repotting.

I would definitely consider a ground layer to create a new set of roots though. I guess I could fit that in next year if need be but will depend on vigor, maybe it would be better to wait a year after repotting?.

[Bretts]

Hi Neal
When we saw Peter Adams in Sydney it was interesting that he explained this to us.
After working on a Juniper and looking at it sitting on the bench later in the day he found some things he wanted to change. I had often had this happen and could relate so it was interesting to hear his take on it.
He brought the Juniper back to the stage and started working on it but he also had another tree and would swap from one to the other. He explained that each time he came back to a tree he was looking at it with fresh eyes.
I have come to expect this when working on trees now. I have even tried working on two trees at once. It really does work and it does rub your your ego just right

[bodhidharma]

I like your tree Brett. It is loaded with character. Do not be worried about regrowth, if you defoliate it will produce results. I can defoliate 2 or 3 times in a growing season and it comes back every time. You dont need scissors either. Just strip them of with your hand. grab the branch and pull. They will be back within days

[nealweb]

Hi Neal
When we saw Peter Adams in Sydney it was interesting that he explained this to us.
After working on a Juniper and looking at it sitting on the bench later in the day he found some things he wanted to change. I had often had this happen and could relate so it was interesting to hear his take on it.
He brought the Juniper back to the stage and started working on it but he also had another tree and would swap from one to the other. He explained that each time he came back to a tree he was looking at it with fresh eyes.
I have come to expect this when working on trees now. I have even tried working on two trees at once. It really does work and it does rub your your ego just right

Thanks Brett!
'Everytime you come back to your tree you are looking at it with fresh eyes'
That is a little gem to file away in my memory. Thats the kind of little tip that i love, and that really helps with your development in making great bonsai
As for working two trees at once that might addle my little brain a bit, i usually have enough trouble trying to make decisions about one tree alone but maybe as you say it would actually make it easier to have a look and then a break (looking at the second) and then a fresh look again etc etc. i will have a try
Cheers, all the best
neal.

[Bretts]

Hi Bodi
I am glad you can see the character of this tree. I just hope I can bring it out
That's interesting about the Defoliation Bodi. I had discussed this with Grant at the Collection looking at Quinten's (s) Elm. He said he was considering defoliation but was going to talk to Quinten about it. I understand that didn't happen.
I would love to hear more about how you treat these guys. Maybe some progressions on defoliation? If you don't defoliate does the growth return after Summer for you anyway?
Another tree I found that only puts out one lot of growth a year is paper bark maple.

[craigw60]

Hi Brett, nice elm and a good tree in that it presents you with heaps of options I really like growing trees which have the potential for future changes, and you have a ripper there.
Craig

[Greth]

In so sorry that your friend died, sounds like you loved him a lot. Dedicate this tree to him, its the right thing to do.

[Amanda]

A heart-warming story, Brett. I'm very sorry you lost your friend. You've a great, strong elm there.

[bodhidharma]

Hi Bodi
I am glad you can see the character of this tree. I just hope I can bring it out
That's interesting about the Defoliation Bodi. I had discussed this with Grant at the Collection looking at Quinten's (s) Elm. He said he was considering defoliation but was going to talk to Quinten about it. I understand that didn't happen.
I would love to hear more about how you treat these guys. Maybe some progressions on defoliation? If you don't defoliate does the growth return after Summer for you anyway?
Another tree I found that only puts out one lot of growth a year is paper bark maple.

As you know Brett they slow down substantially in a container but if you defoliate after the first new growth (once it has hardened off) the new growth and leaf size is phenomenal. I have personally done this with mine and been amazed. I will do a blow by blow description of this next spring. (please, can you remind me ). I actually learnt by accident. I had let some of my trees dry out, by accident and was so pissed of that i just ripped all the dead and withered leaves off with my hands ( i have since learnt to be calmer) and lo and behold, twice as many came back. Of course this lead to experimenting with growing stock and same thing. I next went to my prize Elm and nervously defoliated it the same way. Hey presto it worked. If you do not defoliate them, they grow, but ever so slowly. I then read an article that stated that is how the Japanese do it. Actually, i think it was on this site somewhere. When i go to Japan this year i will be watching. Next growing season i will try Chinese elms and zelkova the same way.

[kvan64]

Beautiful trunk! There is nothing wrong with it being tall. If you don't want it to be tall, you could layer the top and carve the base. If it was mine, I may consider chosing the best side and lay it down to root the other side and have a raft style. With lots of characters, the trunk would look like an old fallen tree where the raft emerged.
Nice tree and thanks for sharing Bretts