Entry #10
Judge #1: Main trunk is too perpendicular, but interesting design overall
Judge #3: Very evocative. It would be even better if the living trunk was a few inches closer to the soil line.
Logwood (Haematoxylum campechianum)
Mexico
150 cm (59") high and 210 cm (82.6") wide / 91 cm (35.8") high and 98 cm (38.5") wide
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 tree has great movement, very rare to find such an old tree with great movement like this. 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
¼ progression shows the tree in its new position. Sadly the great nebari was dead and the only live vein was that was feeding the upper part of the tree was found in the middle. The only thing to do is to turn to this part to prevent the old roots from rotting.
Half Way
With the new planting angle some branches were selected and the main line trunk was bend to begin closing up to the middle section, this will take some time since the tree its quite old and this part of the trunk its already 3 inch in diameter. Once it recovers it should be planted into a smaller container but for know the tree needs to get used to the new position.
Three Quarter Progression
The tree has know been planted into the proper pot, tbe live branch was bend closer to the roots but it will still need another two more bends to get to the proper location near the base of the tree. For know the tree is recovering and doing well
Final
Haematoxylum campechianum (Logwood). This is a large an complicated tree which still needs some time to show all its beauty. Since the lower roots died I had to reposition the tree, somewhat reminiscent of the famous “resurrection” from kimura. Although by no means trying to copy this, but this is the solution the tree gave me from having roots at the middle of the trunk (this was because the tree had fallen long ago before collecting). The tree will need more carving to lighten the large base and will need the branches to come down a bit more. However after bending the main branch 150 degrees It needs some time to recover, this branch was as thick as my arm!