Hornbeam material-The Four Brothers

[Djtommy]

Nicely done! Looking good.

 

[BobbyLane]

Cheers guys, im quite happy with the outcome so far. what i may look at doing is tilting it slightly left, so the main trunk is more erect and the left trunk is on a slight slant. the root pad is so shallow, the tree could be slipped into a shallower training pot at any time, i think this rectangle will be suitable. nice depth n length where the tree could continue to develop
IMG_5654 by Bobby Lane, on Flickr

 

[just.wing.it]

So nice!
This tree is going to be a spectacle!

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Nice material, and definitely has your touch. I wonder if that middle trunk is going to be too much at some point. It doesn’t have taper or much interest, and the tree doesn’t seem to be better with it than without it. Shorter height keeps your eye on that very nice base too.

 

[BobbyLane]

Nice material, and definitely has your touch. I wonder if that middle trunk is going to be too much at some point. It doesn’t have taper or much interest, and the tree doesn’t seem to be better with it than without it. Shorter height keeps your eye on that very nice base too.
View attachment 217716View attachment 217717

Thanks for your input Brian, its nice to hear the thoughts of a long time pro.
i see what you mean about the taper issue in the main trunk. ive noted this myself, but i think as long as i dont let it worsen it should be ok. this will be managed by keeping the stronger areas on the trunk in check and letting a few lower branches go next season.
but just a slight rotation and you see less of where the main trunk originates from too.
there is also two branches coming from the front of the tree, near the base...these will develop and help to further obscure any small problem areas, the area or V where the two front trunks meet will become quite dense.
i do think the main trunks compliment each other quite well, the subtle curves by the yellow lines appear to harmonise well for me
2018-11-17_01-04-59 by Bobby Lane, on Flickr

a few years in a shallower pot should see the base spread a little. i think once this fills out properly, flaws will become less noticeable.
this is the back of the main trunk, i suspect a lot of these nodes will pop next season
20181117_132900 by Bobby Lane, on Flickr
20181117_132920 by Bobby Lane, on Flickr

 

[0soyoung]

this is the back of the main trunk

I think this should be the front of your composition - just my perspective.

 

[BobbyLane]

I think this should be the front of your composition - just my perspective.

Hello mate, the potential is there i agree. i always try to style them with more than one view in mind. the nebari is just as good i think from the back. when it goes into the rectangle ill be able to choose between the current front or the direct back. looking at it now, the curve in the second trunk looks quite nice slanting off into the rear, then you have the recently chopped left trunk slanting away and the main trunk leering over you and a chunky nebari, not forgetting the thinnest trunk, the fourth one (could be cut shorter)blending in too. the taper in the main trunk is better from the back.
thank you for your input Oso, i will certainly look at this.

 

[BobbyLane]

Now there'll be those that say ive gone n ruined it, im sure some may like it!
i decided to make another drastic cut and im very happy with the outcome. this is now going to be a very powerful broom style tree

this is my preferred angle, i first tried reducing some wood in the main trunk, tried to get a little taper in there
2018-11-24_07-22-02 by Bobby Lane, on Flickr

might have worked, but my eyes kept getting drawn to the outline of branches lower down, where its obvious there was a smaller tree in there, so went and reduced the length
2018-11-24_07-21-20 by Bobby Lane, on Flickr

the central trunk is a little heavy, i wont remove it as it will leave a gaping gap. im going to do a little carving at the side of it to reduce the volume of wood on it. maybe even a big uro in the centre will help to visually reduce it.

 

[BobbyLane]

I reduced some wood from the central trunk, along with an angle change, think that is slightly better. maybe at some point the thin trunk on the far right could be brought down a little. in spring i may do a little carving on the far left trunk, similar to what i did with the central trunk


IMG_7179 by Bobby Lane, on Flickr
IMG_7180 by Bobby Lane, on Flickr




i see the eventual canopy quite large
IMG_7179 by Bobby Lane, on Flickr

 

[Paolo]

Need a good native hornbeam.. one day soon hopefully!
Great work as usual ?

 

[BobbyLane]

Need a good native hornbeam.. one day soon hopefully!
Great work as usual ?

try the hedging nurseries, bare root nurseries and wholesale tree nurseries, should be some in your area. google is your friend. pretty certain there is good collecting spots in sussex too.

 

[Paolo]

try the hedging nurseries, bare root nurseries and wholesale tree nurseries, should be some in your area. google is your friend. pretty certain there is good collecting spots in sussex too.

Cheers Bobby... Yes need to make some time for visits this winter.. Yes, Sussex has a few decent nurseries etc...
Thanks
P

 

[barrosinc]

Way to go!!!
Cool roots for a nursery tree

 

[BobbyLane]

Still evolving, some reduction in the left trunk....

 

[Maros]

Still evolving, some reduction in the left trunk....

You will become a master carver with that attitude mate.

 

[BobbyLane]

I felt i could reduce and get some taper n movement into the left trunk while still maintaining the current silhouette. i suppose the left trunk could go now, but no. i think it would leave too big a hole and the tree would lose much power. the shortened left trunk really adds to the ground power. flow is much better

Thanks for the comments guys

 

[BobbyLane]

You will become a master carver with that attitude mate.

Hello mate!
actually, when i got this i never planned on doing any carving on it, i wanted to seal all wounds and avoid all unnecessary cuts/scars. i remember speaking to you about this one and we agreed the trunks could become problematic. i felt in the end some drastic decisions had to be made.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

I like what you have done,
A few years to age the look of the carved wood, and I think this will be very stunning bonsai.

 

[BobbyLane]

Its still evolving....

No longer the 'Four brothers' as two departed to pursue their dreams

It will be more of an informal broom i guess.....

It just needs time now, but i think this can be quite good. it has everything, movement, taper, dynamism, power and in time the hollows will provide character.....im very happy with the outcome
20181221_142202 by Bobby Lane, on Flickr
20181221_143632 by Bobby Lane, on Flickr
20181221_151509 by Bobby Lane, on Flickr
20181221_164156 by Bobby Lane, on Flickr
20181221_151739 by Bobby Lane, on Flickr

in the past, i made drastic decisions which i regretted, but now when i make big changes, there is no looking back, really happy with the new tree,
48393886_2023071774424520_8521708332128403456_n by Bobby Lane, on Flickr

will leave it in this pot for another year, to power new growth, gonna get crazy back budding........ if you can see, just above the central hollow, there is two or more nodes, these will back bud so lower branches, might become part of the design, we shall see.

 

[coh]

Its still evolving....

No longer the 'Four brothers' as two departed to pursue their dreams

Did they go willingly or did they put up a fight?

I will watch this one with interest. I liked the original multi-trunk structure but you obviously know what you're doing with these, so I trust the result will be excellent!