Windswept Celtis

[PeterW]

This tree i had tried to turn into a windswept style a few years back and decided that it didnt work so i restyled it into an informal upright. This also didnt work, so it just sat on the bench for awhile. I read my books (bonsai) at night and recently started to re read Robert Steven's - Vision of my soul, and then got inspired to do another windswept style. So in came the celtis again. I am happier with the new styling then the last because i think i understand the style better now then i did then. So anyway maybe in a few years it might start to look convincing as a windswept i hope. I will let the small shoots grow and thicken now and keep cutting back to get short thick branches with tight bends and then start to form some small twigs. Please feel free to comment/critique it.
Peter

Celtis before windswept Feb 2009Front.jpg

Celtis before windswept Feb 2009 Def.jpg

Celtis windswept Feb 2009.jpg

[Bretts]

Thats an intresting subject for windswept It makes me want to see it in leaf. It looks great.

[PeterW]

Thats an intresting subject for windswept It makes me want to see it in leaf. It looks great.

I dont think it will ever look good in leaf. It will be grown for winter silhouette.
It will be a few years off being anything at all but who knows it may turn out allright. I would like to have one in my collection one day.
After doing it and looking at it, there might be some merit in jinning the left side branch back to a stubb also............... maybe.

Peter

[Asus101]

Thats an intresting subject for windswept It makes me want to see it in leaf. It looks great.

I dont think it will ever look good in leaf. It will be grown for winter silhouette.
After doing it and looking at it, there might be some merit in jinning the left side branch back to a stubb also............... maybe.
Peter

I don't think I have ever seen one in full leaf other than conifers.
I wouldn't jin, it can be done as we all know, but its hard to pull off convincingly. Perhaps consider a uro instead? It would still show wind damage and look more natural for the tree.
Personally, I think it looks great. Once ramification has been refined it will be a very good tree.

[Bretts]

I believe I have seen a couple of deciduous windswept in leaf that pull it off. It looks more like a tree on a windy day than a tree in prevailing winds.

[Asus101]

I think I havnt seen any is because I like my deciduous like i like my girls.... Noody

[Bretts]

Nood is fine but I usually like them with a main of flowing hair that is the crown on top like leaves are to a deciduous

[Asus101]

Nood is fine but I usually like them with a main of flowing hair that is the crown on top like leaves are to a deciduous

Only dudes have "flowing manes"....

[PeterW]

Does anybody have a nice windswept in their collection? If so please post pics, they are not a common style to do i guess.
Peter

[MelaQuin]

I think a windswept on a deciduous, particularly with a trunk such as this one, is not going to achieve what you want unless all you want is the groom it for its winter silhouette. Once the foliage is on it will be hard to keep it looking windswept. Would you actually find this species successfully growing in a situation that had that much wind??? And growing 'artistically'.

The trunk and basic branches are good and I would restyle for informal upright and I think you would come out ahead in the long run.

[PeterW]

I think a windswept on a deciduous, particularly with a trunk such as this one, is not going to achieve what you want unless all you want is the groom it for its winter silhouette. Once the foliage is on it will be hard to keep it looking windswept. Would you actually find this species successfully growing in a situation that had that much wind??? And growing 'artistically'.

The trunk and basic branches are good and I would restyle for informal upright and I think you would come out ahead in the long run.

Perhaps you should read the whole thread first, then read Robert Steven's book and take a look at the same species windswept style tree that is created there. Then report back if you like.
Peter

[PeterW]

Some usefull information on windswept design bonsai.

[Jon Chown]

Yes a great article, thanks for posting that Peter, although my head is a little sore from standing on it while I read the article.

Windswept is another of those difficult 'Styles' to pull off and I think that you are heading in the right direction with yours. My first reaction was that the lower part of the trunk was heading into the wind before it bent with the wind and I thought that this was not convincing untill I read the article and the penny dropped. Windswept does not have to mean that the wind has blown constantly in the same direction for the life of the tree it may also just mean that the wind is blowing now as you look at the tree. When I look at yours now - I can see this. Great effort.

Jon

[PeterW]

Yes a great article, thanks for posting that Peter, although my head is a little sore from standing on it while I read the article.

Windswept is another of those difficult 'Styles' to pull off and I think that you are heading in the right direction with yours. My first reaction was that the lower part of the trunk was heading into the wind before it bent with the wind and I thought that this was not convincing untill I read the article and the penny dropped. Windswept does not have to mean that the wind has blown constantly in the same direction for the life of the tree it may also just mean that the wind is blowing now as you look at the tree. When I look at yours now - I can see this. Great effort.

Jon

Thanks Jon....you are spot on. Thats what makes this style so difficult. It will take at least another 2 seasons before it looks anywhere near convincing and also a suitable container!
Regards
Peter
ps sorry for the upside down pdf. i should have checked first!

[PeterW]

What do you think of this as an idea for this tree. Would it work? Is it easier to understand the design with the tree being exposed to more harsher elements and showing the results of the exposure?
Peter