Kiyohime shohin broom

[MACH5]

Sharing some pics I took today of one of my maple shohin. This one is another Kiyo Hime being trained in the broom style. From soil level it is 7" tall. Just got repotted into a Yozan pot. With the exception of a couple of branches, it is mainly being trained with the clip and grow method. This tree is still young and needs time to mature. Thanks for looking!

 

[Brian Underwood]

Charming little maple! I think it is already quite nice, only to get even better with age. Thanks for sharing! (nice pot too...)

 

[october]

This tree is beautiful.. What can I say. Beautiful and proportionate nebari, nice subtle trunk movement, nicely tapered trunk, "perfect" branch placement, nice tapering branches and a beautiful crown. This tree demonstrates the if you have the chance to control the tree's growth at a young age and step by step, it produces a beautifully structured tree that will only improve in time.

Rob

 

[RichKid]

Nice! How long have you had it? When did it start training? How old is it?

 

[Smoke]

Really nice tree. I have that same pot only in yellow. I think kiyohime is vastly underused.

 

[crust]

Sweet little tree. Why don't you want to wire it? I think it would be much more graceful if you did.

 

[cmeg1]

Awesome tree.

 

[MACH5]

Nice! How long have you had it? When did it start training? How old is it?

Have had this tree for 3 years. My guess it is 10 to 15 years old. When I bought it, it was already semi trained but the design was clunky, coarse and quite dense.

Really nice tree. I have that same pot only in yellow. I think Kiyo Hime is vastly underused.

Thanks Smoke! I got my pot form Gary Ishii at Chikugo-En in LA about a couple of months ago. I really like it!!

Sweet little tree. Why don't you want to wire it? I think it would be much more graceful if you did.

Wiring a Kiyo Hime this small is inviting disaster. The fine twigs break very easily and could well end up with more branches broken that wired ones! For now I am limiting myself to do what is only necessary. I think the gracefulness will come as the tree matures and settles into the design.

 

[Nybonsai12]

Stunning tree. The kind of tree that I wish I had or could replicate. Thanks for sharing.

 

[davetree]

Nice little tree ! Very nice pot to go with it. Can we get another pic when the leaves are new ? They are brittle, I once snapped one pretty much in half when wiring it. They have beautiful color though.

 

[MACH5]

Stunning tree. The kind of tree that I wish I had or could replicate. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks Nybonsai! It is actually quite "easy" to make this type of bonsai with Kiyo Hime since their natural growth pattern lends itself very well to this style. They have a tendency to get quite dense so that needs to be managed accordingly.

Nice little tree ! Very nice pot to go with it. Can we get another pic when the leaves are new ? They are brittle, I once snapped one pretty much in half when wiring it. They have beautiful color though.

Thanks Dave! Yes indeed they are. Wire and Kiyo Hime are not the best of friends. Yes I will post once leaves come out Incidentally, the wound you see up the trunk by the first branch, was created by me snapping off a thick branch when I tried to bend it with wire. This fortunately was a good thing since it opened up the tree.

 

[JudyB]

really wonderful surface roots, and terrific pot choice, along with a charming tree.
way to go!

 

[berobinson82]

I also love that you used the green wire to blend in with the branches. Is this aluminum wrapped in tape or did you buy it as such.

 

[MACH5]

I also love that you used the green wire to blend in with the branches. Is this aluminum wrapped in tape or did you buy it as such.

Thanks Bernard! Yes it is aluminum wire that I wrapped with floral tape. Readily available at any craft or floral shop. The main reason to do this is to protect the delicate smooth bark of maples from biting in too quickly into the wire. It essentially cushions the wire. The side benefit of doing this is that it does blend in with the tree a bit better.

I do think taking this extra step when wiring deciduous trees (maples specially) is worth the effort.

 

[Adele]

Wow! Maples are my favorite species, and this little one looks amazing! Great job! Can't wait to see the foliage
Thanks for posting this tree!

 

[Dan W.]

Great little maple Be sure to post pics of the leaves coming out!

 

[akhater]

how lovely, for how long have you had it ? any earlier pics ?

 

[MACH5]

Thanks Akhater! I've had this tree for about 3 years. Sorry no earlier pics of this guy. I will update soon with a pic of the tree in leaf.

 

[MACH5]

Ok here it is in leaf as of today.

 

[akhater]

lovely !

Thanks for sharing