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Hawthorn - Triple Trunk
Posted: October 18th, 2011, 8:20 pm
by 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
Re: Hawthorn - Triple Trunk
Posted: October 18th, 2011, 8:35 pm
by 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.
Re: Hawthorn - Triple Trunk
Posted: October 18th, 2011, 8:42 pm
by 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.
Re: Hawthorn - Triple Trunk
Posted: October 18th, 2011, 8:57 pm
by 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
Re: Hawthorn - Triple Trunk
Posted: October 18th, 2011, 10:19 pm
by 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
Re: Hawthorn - Triple Trunk
Posted: October 19th, 2011, 11:39 am
by Steve Warren
Handy Mick wrote: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
Re: Hawthorn - Triple Trunk
Posted: October 19th, 2011, 5:32 pm
by 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.
Re: Hawthorn - Triple Trunk
Posted: October 19th, 2011, 5:48 pm
by 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.
Re: Hawthorn - Triple Trunk
Posted: October 19th, 2011, 5:54 pm
by 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
Re: Hawthorn - Triple Trunk
Posted: October 19th, 2011, 6:55 pm
by 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.
Re: Hawthorn - Triple Trunk
Posted: October 19th, 2011, 7:02 pm
by siddhar
And a good theory in the end Watto. The end result is still very pleasing to the eye!
Re: Hawthorn - Triple Trunk
Posted: October 20th, 2011, 5:42 pm
by Watto
Perhaps with some more refining and more flowers it will look better?
Re: Hawthorn - Triple Trunk
Posted: October 20th, 2011, 6:09 pm
by bodhidharma
Nice job Watto. With some ramification it will be a stunner. The composition works well as a triple trunk.
Re: Hawthorn - Triple Trunk
Posted: August 16th, 2016, 7:35 am
by 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.
Re: Hawthorn - Triple Trunk
Posted: August 16th, 2016, 9:53 am
by kachmica
Hey Watto don't be afraid to use your scissors and cut the lower branches off.
