Hartinez
Masterpiece
I kept seeing the posts for this errr "contest" and wasn't entirely sure where they originated. I found the @sorce . Pun intended. And @John in Toledo . Not entirely sure I qualify as I've been practicing for about 6/7 years. I certainly feel like a rookie though with as many trees as I've killed. Ive read the original post and found I have till tonight to get in my tree!!
Either way, I'm jumping in. I decided to go with a shrub/small tree native to my neck of the woods which many of you may not be familiar with. Foresteria Neomexicana or New Mexico Olive. Some say new mexico privet or desert olive. Small pale green leaves. Females produce berries in late summer. Bark is a slight rough pale gray, almost the color of aspen. most found in nature grow in the clump form and are very drought tolerant. The nebari on purchased specimen or very contorted and less than ideal for traditional bonsai. however, with the size of the leaves being small and the great looking trunks and natural forms a great bonsai these trees can make.
For my tree in this "contest". I purchased this guy from a local nursery for $35. Great movement down low with the best surface roots I have found on one of these at a local nursery. Ive chopped heavy to 3 trunks with the intention as of now to use all 3. This of course may change depending on the amount of budding I get. Here it is as I bought it 10 days ago. Its pushed several buds since this pic was taken and I will post an update in the AM.
Either way, I'm jumping in. I decided to go with a shrub/small tree native to my neck of the woods which many of you may not be familiar with. Foresteria Neomexicana or New Mexico Olive. Some say new mexico privet or desert olive. Small pale green leaves. Females produce berries in late summer. Bark is a slight rough pale gray, almost the color of aspen. most found in nature grow in the clump form and are very drought tolerant. The nebari on purchased specimen or very contorted and less than ideal for traditional bonsai. however, with the size of the leaves being small and the great looking trunks and natural forms a great bonsai these trees can make.
For my tree in this "contest". I purchased this guy from a local nursery for $35. Great movement down low with the best surface roots I have found on one of these at a local nursery. Ive chopped heavy to 3 trunks with the intention as of now to use all 3. This of course may change depending on the amount of budding I get. Here it is as I bought it 10 days ago. Its pushed several buds since this pic was taken and I will post an update in the AM.
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