EUROPEAN HORNBEAM

[coh]

Man, that cart (I have the same one I think) really shows off how massive this tree and pot is. Nice image, that's just about the right amount of snow. We have about the same here right now, it looks nice though almost all of my trees are inside their shelters. A few larches and a couple of pondy's are still out "enjoying" the weather.

 

[MACH5]

Man, that cart (I have the same one I think) really shows off how massive this tree and pot is. Nice image, that's just about the right amount of snow. We have about the same here right now, it looks nice though almost all of my trees are inside their shelters. A few larches and a couple of pondy's are still out "enjoying" the weather.

It's a biggie Chris. And HEAVY as hell! I do not want to know how much it will be to order a custom pot for it. Won't worry about it for now. For a sense of scale/size, the tub it's in is exactly 3 feet wide! I think I need to steal Ryan's dingo!

 

[leatherback]

tree dusted in snow

Wowsers!

 

[jason biggs]

This tree is ramifying awesomely .... gonna be a show stopper

 

[MACH5]

This tree is ramifying awesomely .... gonna be a show stopper

Jason they are easy trees. Extremely tough, not particular about anything and ramifies easily. Next year it will be defoliated for the first time to expedite the ramification process.

 

[JudyB]

Three feet!!! I'm starting to question your sanity! Beautiful snow photos!

 

[MACH5]

Three feet!!! I'm starting to question your sanity! Beautiful snow photos!

Juds! Come on now. You know I am anything but sane!

 

[john blanch]

I'm not great at judging bonsai from photos' but I will say that the front you chose does look more elderly than the other virtual. With the front you chose, the tree looks to me as though an original trunk has grown, died and calloused completely leaving side branches to redirect their energy into becoming trunks in their own right. This style of growth is evident in very ancient trees.
It's great fun for us to speculate over what we all would do with it, but it's good to see you're not easily swayed. Thanks for sharing.

 

[MACH5]

I'm not great at judging bonsai from photos' but I will say that the front you chose does look more elderly than the other virtual. With the front you chose, the tree looks to me as though an original trunk has grown, died and calloused completely leaving side branches to redirect their energy into becoming trunks in their own right. This style of growth is evident in very ancient trees.
It's great fun for us to speculate over what we all would do with it, but it's good to see you're not easily swayed. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks John. Not quite sure now which image you may be talking about? For clarity's sake I am posting the two front choices with FRONT #1 being my first and preferred front. When Mauro was here a couple of years back he convinced me FRONT #2 was better. I can see why it was his choice. Oddly enough it actually looks better in photos than in reality. It's got a few problems for me, the biggest of which has the trunk farthest from the viewer being the thickest by quite a lot. It looks strange and defies our sense of perspective logic. That is a big one for me!

FRONT #1 results in a quieter image. Yes it has less movement with its base not nearly as impressive as FRONT #2, but also yields a more realistic representation of an ancient tree that has grown in an open field unhindered.

NOTE: FRONT #1 does not depict exactly the chosen front as I am now looking to rotate it clockwise a few degrees to position the right trunk closer to the viewer.

 

[john blanch]

FRONT #2 Is a more ancient image.
FRONT #1 Is a more recognisable and safer image.
However the safer image #1 may be the most convincing and worthwhile.
Image #2 may be too difficult on the eye, almost too experimental.

 

[MACH5]

FRONT #2 Is a more ancient image.
FRONT #1 Is a more recognisable and safer image.
However the safer image #1 may be the most convincing and worthwhile.
Image #2 may be too difficult on the eye, almost too experimental.

John, I agree and that was my problem with FRONT #2. It never felt completely believable to me.

 

[JudyB]

Juds! Come on now. You know I am anything but sane!

True that!

 

[coh]

Tough call on the front! Photo 2 has that really good wide base but there is reverse taper in the left trunk (at least the photo makes it look that way). Definitely a challenging viewpoint. Photo 1 is tough to compare since you've drawn on it (do you have the original unaltered photo available)? But that view doesn't show the strange taper issues. I assume you've also looked at all the other angles, are there other possibilities? Maybe rotating view 2 to the left or right would maintain that great base but change the perspective on the trunks to diminish that weird neck/waist? Base on view 1 is still good.

Or maybe it's the lighting in the photo.

Anyway, please let us know how this responds next summer if you do defoliate. I haven't tried that on mine yet.

 

[MACH5]

Tough call on the front! Photo 2 has that really good wide base but there is reverse taper in the left trunk (at least the photo makes it look that way). Definitely a challenging viewpoint. Photo 1 is tough to compare since you've drawn on it (do you have the original unaltered photo available)? But that view doesn't show the strange taper issues. I assume you've also looked at all the other angles, are there other possibilities? Maybe rotating view 2 to the left or right would maintain that great base but change the perspective on the trunks to diminish that weird neck/waist? Base on view 1 is still good.

Or maybe it's the lighting in the photo.

Anyway, please let us know how this responds next summer if you do defoliate. I haven't tried that on mine yet.

Yes, if FRONT #2 is rotated you get away from the reverse taper issue. But as I mentioned before, my biggest problem is the very thick trunk that faces away from us. Perhaps not apparent in the photos but it is very bothersome as it doesn't help in conveying a sense of perspective.

I have gone through all possible angles and I believe FRONT 1 & 2 two are by far the best ones unless we are talking about butchering the tree, etc, etc and I am definitely not doing that.

Attached is a pic from two years ago of my preferred front without any draw-overs.

In terms of defoliation, Sal @Tidal Bonsai brought his hornbeam to my place earlier this year. We performed leaf cutting on it as I have heard you should not ever defoliate hornbeams. So we went more conservative on his tree just to err on the side of caution. It responded beautifully with a new, full set of leaves in about a month's time. You must commit to it, because if you do not and apply the technique timidly the tree may not respond at all or with a weak second flush. From what I have seen and observed, I would dare and say that these trees will respond to FULL leaf defoliation without any issues at all. These are very strong, vigorous trees. I am referring to both American and European hornbeams alike. Korean I think may need to be approached with more caution.

 

[Tidal Bonsai]

I noticed much more strength in the interior, much more density, and much finer buds after leaf cutting (around 50-75% leaf removal). Here is my massive European hornbeam also!

Partial defoliation in late May 2021


Late June 2021


Leafless 2020


Leafless 2021

 

[leatherback]

I would dare and say that these trees will respond to FULL leaf defoliation without any issues at all.

This is Carpinus betulus right?
I have been defoliating fully on a small tree I had in the past, with no issues at all, except for the tree getting too dense.

 

[john blanch]

FRONT #2 Is a more ancient image.
FRONT #1 Is a more recognisable and safer image.
However the safer image #1 may be the most convincing and worthwhile.
Image #2 may be too difficult on the eye, almost too experimental.

But I'm hoping image #2 is convincing in reality and goes on to be something very special.
Like I said usually, I find 2D pictures hard to make head or tail of.

 

[MACH5]

This is Carpinus betulus right?
I have been defoliating fully on a small tree I had in the past, with no issues at all, except for the tree getting too dense.

Thanks for chiming Jelle. I suspected as much! And yes, it is a betulus.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

The pigeon breast of the left trunk knocks out front 2 for me. Too bad because the base is very good. Is there an option to turn it counter-clockwise just enough that the pigeon breast is more to the front and minimized, or does that angle make it worse?

 

[Tidal Bonsai]

This is Carpinus betulus right?
I have been defoliating fully on a small tree I had in the past, with no issues at all, except for the tree getting too dense.

Yes it’s C.B., good to know!