Kashima maple redux

MACH5 · May 31, 2014

Late spring 2014 update

Defoliated this tree today. Can't remember last time I did this to a tree in consecutive years. Anyway it appeared quite vigorous and healthy again this year and so I went ahead with it. Below are a few pics of the tree before and after defoliation.

Kashima before defoliation.

After defoliation. One shoot was left untouched up top in order to be used later for an approach graft. It also has the benefit of thickening the top portion of the trunk line. Inner and weaker twigs were left untouched as well.

All the wire applied in late winter was removed at this time. It will be rewired again next year.

The nebari keeps getting better little by little every year that passes.

Back outside again in the sun.

Dav4 · May 31, 2014

Consistently one of my favorite trees posted here. That nebari is special, too.

fourteener · May 31, 2014

There are a lot of things going right with this tree. The part I love the most is the nebari. The roots have the right taper and the scale is perfect. To me, it's because of that really fine detail that a picture of this tree would keep you from being able know the true size of it. A sign of a great tree.

JudyB · Jun 1, 2014

The low portion of this tree always takes my breath away. The top part is going to be great in short order too. The tree is stunning.

fore · Jun 1, 2014

Def. one of my favorite maples Mach!

MACH5 · Jun 1, 2014

JudyB said:
The low portion of this tree always takes my breath away. The top part is going to be great in short order too. The tree is stunning.

Thanks Judy! The top portion will take some time to build and complete. Kashima (like all dwarfs) is basally dominant rather than apically dominant like most maples and other trees are. This is another reason I chose a shoot from the apex for my future approach graft, to help keep the top strong. Hopefully by end of season it will be long enough to be able to do the graft next spring.

dkraft81 · Jun 1, 2014

Another exquisite tree Mach.

Neli · Jun 1, 2014

Job well done! And fantastic progression.
Very inspiring...I have a maple that needs a serious redesign, but still not brave enough to do it...now You have pushed me forward.

thumblessprimate1 · Jun 2, 2014

No offense to the previous artist, but I like the current design of this maple slightly more. I do like the previous design more compared to it's current state when it's leafed out though.

MACH5 · Jun 2, 2014

Neli said:
Job well done! And fantastic progression.
Very inspiring...I have a maple that needs a serious redesign, but still not brave enough to do it...now You have pushed me forward.

Thank you Neli! Good luck and have fun with your maple

thumblessprimate1 said:
No offense to the previous artist, but I like the current design of this maple slightly more. I do like the previous design more compared to it's current state when it's leafed out though.

This tree was a Japan import acquired through Suthin many years ago now. It would be unfair for me to say that the original design is attributed to him as he probably just did basic maintenance until the tree was sold. So the maple as seen on the first post was probably more or less the way it looked when it came from Japan.

The reason it looked pretty good all leafed out was that it was highly ramified and leaves were small and tidy. The tree as is now is in full development phase again which gives way to larger leaves and an unkept appearance. It is still several years away from looking like it once did when leafed out

thumblessprimate1 · Jun 2, 2014

Thanks, Mach. That makes sense. I was trying to figure out why and perhaps it's those petioles left from the defoliation that gave me a false impression of a more ramified structure.

MACH5 · Dec 21, 2014

Autumn/Winter update

Update on the progress of this maple. Below are are few pics of it a few weeks ago. It was rather late in changing color this year.

And without leaves to reveal all the work done and what still needs to be accomplished. I am happy with the progress thus far. It will be wired again in the spring and repotted. I am thinking of a new container of a different color for it but most likely it will still be a rectangular shaped pot. Although difficult to tell in the pic, up top you can see some raffia to help secure an approach graft I made in the summer. About a couple more grafts need to be done next year and clearly more ramification still needs to be developed specially on the top third but I must patient and give time... time!

Here is a progression from spring 2012 [when I lost most of the branches and had to cut it all back] to winter 2014.

barrosinc · Dec 21, 2014

mach5 breaking the bonsainternet as usual

That nebari!! DROOL!

discusmike · Dec 21, 2014

Almost perfect, was wondering if you know if this tree originated from a cutting or air layer? Thanks for sharing.

Don Blackmond · Dec 21, 2014

that's good development in short time. Good job!

whfarro · Dec 21, 2014

Inspiring! Thanks for sharing the progression of this tree.

MACH5 · Dec 21, 2014

discusmike said:
Almost perfect, was wondering if you know if this tree originated from a cutting or air layer? Thanks for sharing.

Sorry I do not know. This tree came originally from Japan acquired from Suthin but other than that I do not know much else about it.

Giga · Dec 21, 2014

Very very jealous, I'm thinking like a seafoam color for the pot maybe? Like a two tone blue/green that kinda inconsistent with the color. Again beautiful tree.

MACH5 · Dec 21, 2014

Giga said:
Very very jealous, I'm thinking like a seafoam color for the pot maybe? Like a two tone blue/green that kinda inconsistent with the color. Again beautiful tree.

Yes exactly Giga! That is precisely what I also had in mind

I attached a pic from EBay for color reference only not style.

Kodama16 · Dec 21, 2014

Buy that thing in a heart beat

Kashima maple redux

Imperial Masterpiece

Drop Branch Murphy

Omono

Queen of the Nuts

Omono

Imperial Masterpiece

Shohin

Omono

Masterpiece

Imperial Masterpiece

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Omono

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Chumono

Imperial Masterpiece

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Imperial Masterpiece

Attachments

Shohin

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