Amur maple, progression to date

treebeard55 · 09-13-2009, 09:20 PM

Hello, all. I got this Amur maple (Acer ginnala)from the back-out-of-sight area of my favorite garden center a little over 4 years ago, for all of $10 US. What caught my eye were the movement and taper of the lowest 15 inches or so. It was over 5 feet tall; I had to cut it back a bit just to get it into my car!

About a year later I repotted it into this square growing tray, where it has been since. The top has been gradually reduced, and now it's about at its final height, approximately 13 inches.

Next year it will go into a smaller training container, and I'll start reducing the rootball, and developing the branches.

In the next-to-last picture, the blue arrows point to branches that will be let grow for another year or two, then cut off. New shoots should break at those points, and those will be developed into permanent branches. The red arrows point to stubs that will be removed. The orange bracket shows where I want to develop the crown.

The final attachment is a virt of what the tree may look like when I'm done.

noissee · 09-14-2009, 11:31 PM

I really like the shape and size of the trunk right now. Have you been able to get the roots into shape? Have you any pictures of nebari? One thought about the virt... My initial reaction was that it was not a very maple-like image, although it is a nice "tree" image. Just a thought. Looking forward to seeing more of this.
Nick

Mattbonsai · 09-15-2009, 01:10 PM

Hi Treebeard, I agree with Nick on the shape of the virt, There's something about it that doesn't say Maple to me.

But other wise its looking great, Deffinately a tree I would like to follow as it develops, please post photos as it grows.

-Matt-

treebeard55 · 09-15-2009, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noissee

.. One thought about the virt... My initial reaction was that it was not a very maple-like image, although it is a nice "tree" image...
Nick

Hi, guys. Well ... when I finished the virt, I sat back and thought, "Pine tree!"
I just haven't made up a new one yet.

I'll try to keep y'all up-to-date, altho I'm not going to do much more with this tree until spring.

treebeard55 · 09-17-2009, 08:29 PM

Here's another look at possibilities for this Amur maple.

I'm still not sure I'm satisfied. There's still nothing, to me, that says maple. Comments are welcome!

Another idea is percolating. When I'm ready, I'll work up another virt, and see what I think, and what y'all think.

Mattbonsai · 09-18-2009, 07:22 AM

It May not be Maple'y' but I like it

Quote:

Originally Posted by treebeard55

Here's another look at possibilities for this Amur maple.

I'm still not sure I'm satisfied. There's still nothing, to me, that says maple. Comments are welcome!

Another idea is percolating. When I'm ready, I'll work up another virt, and see what I think, and what y'all think.

Graham Hues · 09-18-2009, 06:53 PM

Hi Treebeard.
I've just got this Amur that I thought I'd share. The trunk has been designed as a hollow one. I should have used a white background, so that the trunk is better highlighted.... I'd like to put it in a shallower pot next re-potting.
Cheers G.

treebeard55 · 09-18-2009, 08:31 PM

Nice tree, Graham.

If you wouldn't mind posting a picture after the leaves fall, we'll be able to see trunk detail better.

Ravenna · 09-23-2009, 02:03 PM

Hi Treebeard,

from what you said I think you have felt it yourself: the second virt. isn't very much like a deciduous tree either. I feel you really have to think more in the sense of "canopy" here. What I am trying to say is that if you continue to try and develop a tree with widely apart pads of green it will always look more like a pine tree than a deciduous tree I feel.

I have an amur maple tree too by the way. Similar development stage as yours at the moment which I took because I liked the scaring it has (and the stunning autumn colours though here everything is still green (yet)). I don't find it all that easy to develop either but I think that is partially because we are being so swamped with pics of bonsai of evergreen trees that we aren't used enough to seeing good bonsai of deciduous trees...

treebeard55 · 09-23-2009, 07:50 PM

Good thoughts, Ravenna. Yes, much of the classic imagery is based on conifers. But there's nothing to say we can't work on tweaking our designs to look more deciduous.

I'm working on another virt. Not done yet because I've gotten so far from the traditional conifer look that I'm having to sort of grope my way, as it were!

09-15-2009, 01:10 PM	#3 (permalink)
Mattbonsai Tree Hugger In Training Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Cheshire, GB Posts: 801	Hi Treebeard, I agree with Nick on the shape of the virt, There's something about it that doesn't say Maple to me. But other wise its looking great, Deffinately a tree I would like to follow as it develops, please post photos as it grows. -Matt- __________________ -Matt- http://www.cheshirebonsaisociety.org.uk/index.html R.I.P Our Great Friend - Prowler, 24th November 2008

09-18-2009, 08:31 PM	#8 (permalink)
treebeard55 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Warsaw IN, USA USDA zone 5b Posts: 510	Nice tree, Graham. If you wouldn't mind posting a picture after the leaves fall, we'll be able to see trunk detail better. __________________ Treebeard 55 Steve Moore http://hoosierbonsai.blogspot.com The most important bonsai tool is your brain.

09-23-2009, 07:50 PM	#10 (permalink)
treebeard55 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Warsaw IN, USA USDA zone 5b Posts: 510	Good thoughts, Ravenna. Yes, much of the classic imagery is based on conifers. But there's nothing to say we can't work on tweaking our designs to look more deciduous. I'm working on another virt. Not done yet because I've gotten so far from the traditional conifer look that I'm having to sort of grope my way, as it were! __________________ Treebeard 55 Steve Moore http://hoosierbonsai.blogspot.com The most important bonsai tool is your brain.

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09-14-2009, 11:31 PM	#2 (permalink)
noissee Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: florida panhandle Posts: 206	I really like the shape and size of the trunk right now. Have you been able to get the roots into shape? Have you any pictures of nebari? One thought about the virt... My initial reaction was that it was not a very maple-like image, although it is a nice "tree" image. Just a thought. Looking forward to seeing more of this. Nick

09-23-2009, 02:03 PM	#9 (permalink)
Ravenna Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Switzerland Posts: 204	Hi Treebeard, from what you said I think you have felt it yourself: the second virt. isn't very much like a deciduous tree either. I feel you really have to think more in the sense of "canopy" here. What I am trying to say is that if you continue to try and develop a tree with widely apart pads of green it will always look more like a pine tree than a deciduous tree I feel. I have an amur maple tree too by the way. Similar development stage as yours at the moment which I took because I liked the scaring it has (and the stunning autumn colours though here everything is still green (yet)). I don't find it all that easy to develop either but I think that is partially because we are being so swamped with pics of bonsai of evergreen trees that we aren't used enough to seeing good bonsai of deciduous trees...

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