Crape Myrtle progress

This is a Crape Myrtle that I've had for around 3 years. It has an interesting history, a lucky one for me at least. (I actually thought that I had dug this one up, but while looking for back dated photos, I realize that the dug up trunk went to my sister, and this one is from another source. Honestly - I had so many plants at that time, I could hardly keep track.... )

This one was supposed to be a crabapple that I bought from a dealer on ebay. I won the item, but the crabapple apparently met with an accident, so the seller asked if I would take a trade. As I didn't spend much on the auction, and I was always up for new plants, I agreed. I had not seen this crape even in pictures, but the seller assured me that I'd be happy with it. WELL, he was correct!

Soo, after letting it get some wild growth for a couple years, I decided to try to style it last fall. I had lots of suggestions and help from some very nice and knowledgeable folks over at the bonsaisite forum. The wiring job was at best mediocre, but it did help me to understand what I was doing incorrectly, and with lots of coaching, I got a start on it.

I was unhappy with it once the leaves came off, I hadn't put enough differentiated movement into the branches, especially with the limited amount of branching there is to work with. So I took all the wire off in Oct. and let it rest for a while. Here is the rewired tree, and a few progression shots from younger days.

I'm thinking of this as a wind-tossed style. Not windblown, as in constant strong winds made the tree this way, but a gusty wind picking up and tossing the branches, and we are seeing that snapshot of the wind gust catching the tree.

I know someone on this forum will recognize the tree and the history behind this tree. Thanks for the wonderful trade!

Here are the only shots I have of it's early growth, and the first styling attempt.

Any comments or critique are welcome, still have a long way to go!

Its me ... Awesome progress! I felt bad about the crabapple, but I'm very happy to see this tree paid off for you! I like the style and where it's headed. If you make the cut in the back a little smoother and cut down to live cambium, it will eventually heal over.

Brian Underwood said:

Its me ... Awesome progress! I felt bad about the crabapple, but I'm very happy to see this tree paid off for you! I like the style and where it's headed. If you make the cut in the back a little smoother and cut down to live cambium, it will eventually heal over.

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Yeah, I mean to do that this summer, I was never sure if I wanted to do more carving till I found a direction for this tree. Don't feel bad, this was probably a better find than the crab... Funny that your signature is so fitting for this thread!

BTW, I still do not have a shohin crab of any worth....

This crape has some real potential. Any plans to let the leader thicken up?

I agree, thanks.
Yes, plans to let all the branching thicken. I'll do a small haircut this spring, then let it all go wild for the year, wire again and let it go for at least another year. We'll see where we are then...

What's the reasoning for the rough chop?

bwaynef said:

What's the reasoning for the rough chop?

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hmm, came to me with the chop, I only did some (poor) carving on it. I now have better tools for carving, and will have another go.

Judy, great tree!
I really like the feeling you've captured with it. Did it flower for you last year?

raydomz said:

Judy, great tree!
I really like the feeling you've captured with it. Did it flower for you last year?

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Thanks Ray,
No, I cut them all off. I let my other one flower though, and it was pretty, but the flowering stems go so far outside the framework of the tree, they always look awkward. I know some folks never let them flower for this reason.

I'm attaching some shots from different angles, it's an interesting tree. Also after some input about the first photos, the top left branch will be reduced a bit, but I'll let the apex and most lower branching grow unchecked.

And did a bit of carving, looks much better now. Sorry for the branch in the photo across the carve area, shoulda moved it! I may go lower with the carve toward the base, right now the wire stops me, but I'm not sure if I want to or not. So I'll wait and see.

Beautiful, Judy. I am looking forward to seeing future progress on this one.

Brian's trees are always among the very best on eBay. Unfortunately for me, they usually are bid up higher than I want to go; however, I did get a small seiju elm that I think will be a nice tree.

Very nice work Judy... love seeing all those branches gnarled and twisty.... I see several images of potential different fronts so in the future you may have many options to choose from.... tho you can always choose several

Ang3lfir3 said:

Very nice work Judy... love seeing all those branches gnarled and twisty.... I see several images of potential different fronts so in the future you may have many options to choose from.... tho you can always choose several

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I have G52 to thank for all those little twistees. As I look at the photos, I can see him saying that I shoulda put more teensy bends in the long curvy ones... And I'd agree with him. But something about the way they look like they're floating in the breeze.... That, and I'm going to prune off some of em. (no excuse I know!)

I can't see a future pot for this, any ideas?

JudyB said:

I have G52 to thank for all those little twistees. As I look at the photos, I can see him saying that I shoulda put more teensy bends in the long curvy ones... And I'd agree with him. But something about the way they look like they're floating in the breeze.... That, and I'm going to prune off some of em. (no excuse I know!)

I can't see a future pot for this, any ideas?

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Judy, you shoulda put more teensy bends in the long curvy ones...

Seriously, nice work so far, and nice material you got from Brian.

The "baby bending" - putting gnarly bends into wired branches when they are very thin and supple - is a great technique to create a sense of age, but perhaps not for this sort of design. I see more of a "willow swaying in the wind" look to this tree, and therefore more gnarly bends out at the periphery might look out of place, since a willow's straight, distal whips do the really graceful swaying you are trying to capture.

Some other type of tree with really old, gnarly branches, would not be likely to sway gracefully like a willow, though it still might do so somewhat on shorter, distal whips. So, if you want to have it sway in the wind in a manner reminiscent of an old oak, or in the graceful way a willow would, the extent of the bending techniques would be different. Is that making any sense?

OMG! It's simply amazing, almost impossible to believe, but I'm sensing another opportunity here for a shameless plug for my book! On pages 84-85 the theory behind the gnarly branches seen on ancient trees, and their link to an ever extending root base as trees age, is laid out. Following this logic, and confirming it by observing old trees in nature, it becomes apparent that the baby bending becomes even more important at the most distal fine branches that develop every year. This means finer, but increasing amounts of wiring work each year, but, like standard ramification techniques, the image can be quite stunning.

I also like your placement of the branches, with some coming down.

When choosing a front, and when considering branch placement, you should already have a focal point in mind that the branches and foliage will accent and frame. On a tree like this the focal point would most likely be the uro, especially if the nebari were best on that same side, which I think they are.

From either side, that lowest branch under the uro, while nicely shaped after your work, needs to go. (In fact the one above it may need to go as well). It has no future in the design, and simply detracts. Rather than leaving a bullseye scar by snipping it with concave cutters, though, you might consider extending the uro down to and incorporating the scar. Then sweep the upper branch down a bit into that space, before having the wind catch to move it up and to the left again.

The carving is very nicely done, very convincing for a fresh, first working. Good eye and hand. Eventually, you might want to hide you toolings, though, with some dremel work or even hand carving, so the die grinder marks aren't so obvious.

Anyway, great progress Judy, both carving and wiring. It's gonna be a great tree over time.

grouper52 said:

Some other type of tree with really old, gnarly branches, would not be likely to sway gracefully like a willow, though it still might do so somewhat on shorter, distal whips. So, if you want to have it sway in the wind in a manner reminiscent of an old oak, or in the graceful way a willow would, the extent of the bending techniques would be different. Is that making any sense?



From either side, that lowest branch under the uro, while nicely shaped after your work, needs to go. (In fact the one above it may need to go as well). It has no future in the design, and simply detracts. Rather than leaving a bullseye scar by snipping it with concave cutters, though, you might consider extending the uro down to and incorporating the scar. Then sweep the upper branch down a bit into that space, before having the wind catch to move it up and to the left again.

Eventually, you might want to hide you toolings, though, with some dremel work or even hand carving, so the die grinder marks aren't so obvious.

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Thanks Will,
Yes this does make sense, especially when you describe the trees to make your image.

I see what you mean about that lowest branch. I just worry about the small number of branches that this tree has. I know, I know, gotta get over it. It's just hard to wrap my head around sometimes that less is more... I think your idea of extending the carving there is a good one. And I see the branch line of the other one doing that just so.

This carving was all done with a dremel. I tried to get the wire brush in to clean it up but it wouldn't fit, I'll try to get a different tip in to get rid of the obvious marks, I wonder if burning it would help too..

gonna have to get the book now....

JudyB said:

This carving was all done with a dremel. I tried to get the wire brush in to clean it up but it wouldn't fit, I'll try to get a different tip in to get rid of the obvious marks, I wonder if burning it would help too..

gonna have to get the book now....

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I must have mis-guessed about the tree's size, or you must have used a large dremel bit. In any event, the carving is very nicely done. I'd wait to do more until the wood dries out a bit, then just use a smaller bit so the toolings aren't so obvious in that one place.

The book, BTW, will rock your world! If you order one through Elandan, I will personalize my signature to you if you let them know.

It's probably only about 8" tall above the pot (guessing), but that's good that it fooled you right?

Judy,
I have to say I really like you tree....
For me your styling works, and I think you have greatly improved upon it from previous wirings.
What is not working, is one the transition between the thickness of the stump and the leader in relation to it's taper. Now obviously time will solve this, but I also feel it could be resolved by further carving of you uro.
I would make the carving side of your tree the front, and I would extend your carving down the front making it a Shari.

I think this will also help with the problems some of the others are having withe the crazy styling, by giving it a matching trunk to accompany.

Sorry, would do vert, but having computer probs. currently posting from my wife's kindle... it's auto correct is starting to drive me nuts...

Lots of people have picked the back for the front, you are in good company. I will probably continue to look at both sides as options. For now , for me, I can't get over the hair sticking up from the back of the head look that this side feels like to me. With no branches, and all from the other side.... Time will move the tree forward and I'll see where that takes us.