American Beech Progression

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Here’s a progression of an American Beech I collected about 5 years ago. I stumbled on the tree in a spot near downtown Atlanta behind a business I used to work for. At the time I had no idea how to collect, so I watched It for close to 2 years while I got some experience with successfully collecting trees.

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I finally felt good about it and I brought along my pal Russ to assist with the collection. The tree was growing oddly out of the side of a very steep hill, and appeared to have had another tree fall on it but it clinched to the earth with its roots. I got the tree home and planted it in a wood box to let it recover for 2 years. I saw the tree as a Cascade and changed the angle in the box.

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Next, I put the beech in a training pot for close to two years while I honed my skills in pot making. I made the pot for the tree and was happy with the results. I took the tree and the pot to a workshop wi5h Adam Jones of Treehouse Bonsai and he helped me repot and give the tree it’s initial styling. 9F91D200-6814-4D27-85D9-F9E6F94EC2F6.jpegA16B218B-D49B-4A81-986F-E0B398A94EF6.jpeg64F32F80-ACD6-47D2-9F63-287A9A78804B.jpeg77DCD0D7-2406-4DA2-BEBD-EB6EA52FD489.jpeg068C5398-B259-4F90-B360-0375D834B87C.jpeg
 
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This December I entered the tree into the Bonsai Winter Silhouette Show in Kannapolis, NC. The tree needs more styling and refinement, which will come, but the tree was well received and I had a lot of fun showing. The second photo is by the great Joe Noga, who photographed the entire show. Thanks for looking. 1CE1BD4F-4F82-4F57-8A27-86D8B1F44B98.jpeg6CF35B69-5758-422F-9702-968EFD5246BB.jpeg
 

R3x

Shohin
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Nice tree with good potential. On remark though: the descending part of the tree is relatively straight. You won't be able to bend the thick part but try to give the lowest branch you're building some movement.
 

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M. Frary

Bonsai Godzilla
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Never seen one naturally growing like that??
Beech fall apart when they get old.
The little ones under them get pummeled by dropping branches.
I dont have an interest in them but there are some nice unusual ones wherever beech grow.
And where they grow you will usually find hornbeam. Hops Hornbeam grow right alongside them. American hornbeam will be just a little lower.
 

Orion_metalhead

Masterpiece
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Very cool collected subject. I had no idea what you were going to do with it when I first saw the original tree. The cascade was a good choice!
 
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Thanks all! This tree has been a fun and slow, but willing participant. There’s lots to consider for the future, I’m looking at the back as a possible new front. Time will tell!
 

W3rk

Chumono
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Fat trunk, good taper, nice bend. Super trifecta. Great find and nice work.
 
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