Entry #60
Judge #1: Great potential.
Judge #3: Nicely done. I’d choose a container that has simple lines and uncomplicated, grounded feet though.
Brush Cherry (Eugenia myrtifolia)
South Africa
60cm (23.6") / 30 cm (11.8")
Before
The tree was bough as a nursery grown lollypop tree in October 2011. I bought it for the massive nebari. I did not chop the tree immediately because the top had very nice potential as another bonsai so I air layered the top. I removed the air layer in October 2012 and let the remaining growths on the trunk to grow freely up to now. (Picture of the tree with the air layer included.)
I am planning to portray a very old tree in the broom style.
The growing season here is just starting so I am looking forward to start work on the tree.
One Quarter Progression
After posting the pics for the competition the tree was cut back heavily to the trunk and thick growth only. The entry pictures showed a lot of growth but there were not much to work with.
After the cut back the tree budded out everywhere and I let the tree grow out freely to recover from the heavy cut back.
The one quarter progression pics show the tree after I have selected potential new growths. All growths growing downward, directly upward, growths in bends, growths coming from the same bud and growths that were positioned that would not add to the design, were removed.
I am feeling better about the potential of the tree now because I can picture the final outcome of the tree in my head now.
The growth in the upper part of the crown will be reduced in the first week of December to prevent them from becoming too thick. The lower growths will be left alone until the second week of January before being reduced. The tree will then be defoliated and wired completely.
I am still going for an old tree in the broom style where the branches are styled in the naturalistic branch structure.
Half Way
From the last pic I have cut back all growth in the crown to force growth into the lower branches and twigs. I needed to do that to thicken up the branches and the twigs. Luckily I went on holiday so the tree had more than 30 days to grow out.
Three Quarter Progression
I have cut back the lower branches today. They have thickened up nicely and because they were growing freely they suppressed growth in the crown. I also lowered the apex by cutting it back a bit. At this stage the back of the tree looks nice also – will see how it progress.
As soon as I see the new buds swelling I am going to defoliate the tree to get some twiggy growth going and I will wire the whole tree end February – I am happy with the progression of the tree and am looking forward to the end result.
Final
Progression pics:
From the time I last posted the tree I balanced the growth in the upper half of the tree with the growth in the lower branches. The main purpose was to get some twiggy growth. This is the tree in late March just before I defoliated the tree, the tree defoliated, the tree wired and the branches and twigs styled. (The first three pictures.)
I tried my best to get as much movement possible in the twigs to portray the theme of an old tree.
At that stage I was very happy with the outcome of the tree.
Having only a few weeks left till the final pics I gave the tree as much sun and heat as possible to get the buds going. The tree reacted well.
Final pictures 14 April 2014:
Here is the final pictures of the tree in one of my self made grow out pots(The next 5 pictures):
I am very happy with the outcome of the tree. The tree has not disappointed me in what I have planned right from the beginning for it – when finished the tree will portray an old tree with one crown but with pads within the crown flowing into each other as one will found on old natural trees.
From here I am going to let the tree grow out a bit again to the 4th leave stage before cutting it back again. After that I will have enough twiggy growth to fill out the outline of the crown. The crown will also be a little bigger then, but wider than high. With the defoliation in early summer, the leaves will reduce tremendously – getting them at about 3mm wide and 5mm long is possible with the species using the correct technique. The smaller roots of the nebari will fatten over time adding more character to the base. Some carving, like a hollow, may also be in the future of the tree. Over time the front of the tree will probably change – lots of possibilities in its future.
When ready the tree will be planted in a light blue and brown oval pot with a pronounced lip and feet.