Hawthorn - Triple Trunk

[Watto]

Hi,
I wasn't sure if I should post this in the progression series or here so if the mods want to move it that's OK.
This tree was obtained during a Goulburn Bonsai Society dig about 8 or 9 years ago. Origanially it had 5 trunks but they went in all directions and thus I decided two had to go.
It was first potted in about 2005, but my first photo isn't until 2006.
This year it flowered on all three trunks and this is the first time this has occured - it has flowered previously on all trunks,but not all together.
Hope you enjoy.
Watto

[Steve Warren]

What a wonderful sight in flower. I love the leaf on hawthorn. Did you dig this up in the bush or did or did it come from someones yard. I would love to add a hawthorn to my collection.

[Watto]

Steve,
Thanks for the kind words. This was dug on a property about 10km out of Goulburn. The property owner is a very kind gentleman who allows the Bonsai Society to dig occassionally. The location is a flood plain so the trees do get some very unusual shapes.

[Steve Warren]

Watto,

Hawthorn is not a native tree or is it ?, are these occuring naturally in the Goulburn area or have they been spread. Do you think they need a cold climate to prosper. I wonder how one would handle my coastal climate. I am only new to Bonsai so sorry if these seem like stupid questions.

Regards
Steve W

[Handy Mick]

Thanks Watto,
I love hawthorn, are you going to let it fruit? I hope to see it soon at a meeting.

Steve, Hawthorn came over from England not long after the first fleet, you can thank Mrs MacArthur for that, she brought Hawthorn, privet and several other noxious weeds to our country so she could feel at home while her husband was away in England or on sheep musters.
If you traveled up the hill in my direction you should be able to find one amongst to two hundred billion avaliable, I might even help you if you ask nice.

Mick

[Steve Warren]

Thanks Watto,
I love hawthorn, are you going to let it fruit? I hope to see it soon at a meeting.

Steve, Hawthorn came over from England not long after the first fleet, you can thank Mrs MacArthur for that, she brought Hawthorn, privet and several other noxious weeds to our country so she could feel at home while her husband was away in England or on sheep musters.
If you traveled up the hill in my direction you should be able to find one amongst to two hundred billion avaliable, I might even help you if you ask nice.

Mick

Thank you mick for the info. I knew privet was a noxious weed but didn't know Hawthorn was. I would love to get out your way and have a look for hawthorn.
If only I knew some one who could give some direction . I have started collecting in the Nowra area - under powerlines and I am find some good quality natives.

Please , Please let me know where to find hawthorn. I will be in the Goulburn area in a couple of weeks.


Regards

Steve W

[Watto]

The plan is to let it fruit. One of the things I like about Hawthorn is that is has something for all the seasons - flowers in spring; fruit in summer; foliage colour in autumn; and naked in winter.

[siddhar]

Just my worth, but I did like the original composition with the lower branches. Not that you want to hear that now, just an observation, and definitely not a critisism.

[Handy Mick]

You are right there Watto, they are certainly one of those all round type of tree.
Steve I sent you a pm.
I like it more naked the way it is now in my oppinion.

Mick

[Watto]

Thanks for your thoughts Sidd. There was long and hard thoughts put in before the lower branches were removed, but in the end I decided to try a make a tree and not a shrub look for this. I was probably using the old two thirds trunk and one third foliage theory.

[siddhar]

And a good theory in the end Watto. The end result is still very pleasing to the eye!

[Watto]

Perhaps with some more refining and more flowers it will look better?

[bodhidharma]

Nice job Watto. With some ramification it will be a stunner. The composition works well as a triple trunk.

[Watto]

After many thoughts, the decision was made to take this tree in a different direction. A re-organisation and a re-pot together with some judicious pruning has resulted in the new look. I think I like it but time will tell. The more compact branching structure around the apex is good (maybe) and the trunks now appear to be all moving in a similar direction.
The move however has highlighted the inverse taper issue but after all these years it doesn't bother me as much now. I am thinking about removing the new lower branches again as they don't appear to add much value?
Your thoughts and ideas are most welcome.

[kachmica]

Hey Watto don't be afraid to use your scissors and cut the lower branches off.