Entry: Logwood – Haematoxylum campechianum – Mexico – WITHDRAWN
ofBonsai Magazine
Before
Haematoxylum campechianum (Logwood) is a species of flowering tree in the legume family, Fabaceae. The old wood from this tree is extremely hard, one of the hardest I seen, the wood is dark red (haematoxilin is extracted from this tree) and that’s why it was called the blood tree. This particular specimen has a nice spuky (Yugen) feeling more like that of ferrytale books, which I would like to enhance to provide this interesting feeling and this is why I choose this tree. The tree will have a central trunk and a fist division close to the base. Currently it measures 120cm tall and 127cm wide. The main problem with the species is that once is potted it takes many many many years for the branches to thicken. Since the tree was collected only 2 years ago it will be safer and faster to work on it on the ground. Also due to the high temperatures in the summer the tree will benefit from having roots that are somewhat colder than if they would be in a pot. However for refinement, and to become an actual bonsai it will be repotted later in the year, once all the primary and secondary ramification have been set into place.
One Quarter Progression
For the first part of the progression series I like to submit a simple drawing of the design in my mind. I think it is a very important part to define what the likely possibilities are and see them before we start cutting things. This may be the second most important part of the series as it defines the artistic design and what are the things that need to be done. To me the most important part is the health of the tree as a pretty design on a dead tree would make this Ikebana and not bonsai. The drawing of this Haematoxylium shows my vision of a very natural shape of a multitrunk tree that has strong lower branches that develop into a nice soft canopy. The strong nebari provides a wide base of stability that lacks much of the dynamics of trees that grow under more adverse conditions, therefore the final outlooks has to be that of a more symmetrical tree.
Half Way Progression
Second part, the majority of the branches are cut down either to the base of the trunk for those that would cross the trunks or to a few centimeters for those that need ramification.
Three Quarter Progression
Third part, the chops of the cut branches are carved to remove the highly visible marks and the dead wood is left and allow to continue to rot naturally. The wood from old Haematoxyliums like this one is very hard so I’m not concern that it would rot the tree or cause any harm to the tree during the next few months, it will barely rot the softer parts that would allow to brush away a nicer and more natural grain of the wood. The tree will also be allowed to be in the ground until October when the main growth has been accomplished. The tree is old so it is better that the tree has longer stronger branches before cutting them out and repotting.