Ume one year later

bonsaikc · 03-13-2008, 09:55 PM

I think I posted this tree on the old site. I purchased it at the Bay Island Bonsai exhibit last January (2007). It summered well and went through a very hard winter. When I took it out of the cold frame a few days ago, the cheap pot it was in had split, and so I knew that as soon as it exhibited signs of waking up, it was time to repot. This also meant that now was the time to do some pruning and carving.

These two photos show the tree one year ago (cubicle) and today (black background).

bonsaikc · 03-13-2008, 10:01 PM

Here are a couple of photos of the repotting process. I am fortunate that the tree was prepared so well in the past. The nebari, hidden by moss in the old pot, is phenomenal, with plenty of interest and a full complement of feeder roots. The base of the trunk was a stub under the root pad, so I reduced it some more and sealed it with grafting sealer.

bonsaikc · 03-13-2008, 10:04 PM

I placed the tree in a Korean glazed oval. If the flowers turn out to be white, I think this color might be nice. If they are pink, I will have to move to another pot, perhaps white or cream.

I carved rather conservatively, and intend to add more interest in the future. I also removed the lowest right branch, as I thought that it took away some of the dynamism of the tree.

anttal63 · 03-14-2008, 06:56 AM

hey kc im guessing this is a prunus of some sort? i like where you are going with this good work. wise to go easy on the carving, plenty time.
personally i think if the flowers turn out pink, providing its a pale soft pink in a similar depth as the almost baby blue, they will compliment very nicely. but hey have to wait and see. please update in its differing seasons.

bonsaikc · 03-14-2008, 05:41 PM

Yes, antonio, this is ume, Japanese flowering apricot, prunus mume.

Thanks for the kind words. The tall spike is going away soon, I just want to see buds growing before I decide how high to cut it.

Ashley Barns · 03-15-2008, 12:58 AM

Chris big improvement getting it out from that moss. Now it looks like you are after taper. Do you intend to achieve that in a grow-on bed? My take on the carving is that it has to tell a story. Will you eventually join up the carved areas? However it has good potential and I most certainly would like it on my bench with a view to further work.

Ash

bonsaikc · 03-15-2008, 12:20 PM

No, the trunk is what it is. It's been grown for years, and taper is a low consideration for most ume. They are grown for their flowers and the look of the shari. I will eventually join the two and make a larger shari on the front, but there is no hurry. I've seen some umes with carving that looks artificial. I want to avoid that at all costs, so I use the Dremel to remove larger portions of wood and then hand tools and a hammer (the wood is hard) to work the grain a bit. We'll see how it does.

noissee · 03-31-2008, 12:06 PM

love it

Prowler · 03-31-2008, 02:39 PM

Chris.
Very nice indeed, i love what i call Stumpey trees.
Since your last pic. has it budded out yet? I presume once you find out the colour of the flowers you wont be doing a repot for quite a while.
Also could you give us a few dimentions on the size of it. Cheers.

bonsaikc · 03-31-2008, 06:04 PM

It's about ten inches from the base of the nebari. After some extensive research I realized that I pruned too late last year to set flower buds. This year I won't pinch back after mid-May and see what happens.

Oh, and it is leafing out nicely. I am going to get a pic of it this week and post it.

03-14-2008, 06:56 AM	#4 (permalink)
anttal63 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: melbourne victoria australia Posts: 155	hey kc im guessing this is a prunus of some sort? i like where you are going with this good work. wise to go easy on the carving, plenty time. personally i think if the flowers turn out pink, providing its a pale soft pink in a similar depth as the almost baby blue, they will compliment very nicely. but hey have to wait and see. please update in its differing seasons. __________________ Antonio...... __________

03-14-2008, 05:41 PM	#5 (permalink)
bonsaikc What're YOU lookin' at? Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Ottawa, KS Posts: 155	Yes, antonio, this is ume, Japanese flowering apricot, prunus mume. Thanks for the kind words. The tall spike is going away soon, I just want to see buds growing before I decide how high to cut it. __________________ I am the 545th best crossword puzzle solver in the world! Sashi-no-eda Bonsai Blog

03-15-2008, 12:20 PM	#7 (permalink)
bonsaikc What're YOU lookin' at? Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Ottawa, KS Posts: 155	No, the trunk is what it is. It's been grown for years, and taper is a low consideration for most ume. They are grown for their flowers and the look of the shari. I will eventually join the two and make a larger shari on the front, but there is no hurry. I've seen some umes with carving that looks artificial. I want to avoid that at all costs, so I use the Dremel to remove larger portions of wood and then hand tools and a hammer (the wood is hard) to work the grain a bit. We'll see how it does. __________________ I am the 545th best crossword puzzle solver in the world! Sashi-no-eda Bonsai Blog

03-31-2008, 02:39 PM	#9 (permalink)
Prowler Deceased: 11/24/2008 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Scotland Posts: 361	Chris. Very nice indeed, i love what i call Stumpey trees. Since your last pic. has it budded out yet? I presume once you find out the colour of the flowers you wont be doing a repot for quite a while. Also could you give us a few dimentions on the size of it. Cheers. __________________ Its hell out there, give them hell back.

03-31-2008, 06:04 PM	#10 (permalink)
bonsaikc What're YOU lookin' at? Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Ottawa, KS Posts: 155	It's about ten inches from the base of the nebari. After some extensive research I realized that I pruned too late last year to set flower buds. This year I won't pinch back after mid-May and see what happens. Oh, and it is leafing out nicely. I am going to get a pic of it this week and post it. __________________ I am the 545th best crossword puzzle solver in the world! Sashi-no-eda Bonsai Blog

03-15-2008, 12:58 AM	#6 (permalink)
Ashley Barns Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Victoria. Australia Posts: 61	Chris big improvement getting it out from that moss. Now it looks like you are after taper. Do you intend to achieve that in a grow-on bed? My take on the carving is that it has to tell a story. Will you eventually join up the carved areas? However it has good potential and I most certainly would like it on my bench with a view to further work. Ash

03-31-2008, 12:06 PM	#8 (permalink)
noissee Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: florida panhandle Posts: 206	love it

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