MACH5
Imperial Masterpiece
Or more correctly, Thuja occidentalis as it is not a true cedar. It is a native of the northeastern United States and Canada and thus extremely hardy needing little to no protection in winter. Loves full sun, lots of water and fertilizer. Its wood is light but very resistant to rot. Usually old collected Thuja have great character featuring lots of deadwood.
This tree was purchased in the summer of 2016 at a 2 day sale that Suthin had right in his garden and nursery. It is a small leaf cultivar with dense and compact foliage. By comparison many of the Thuja I have seen produce much larger fronds and have a more open growth habit.
According to Suhtin this tree was sourced from a nursery in Vermont and not a collected specimen despite the great amount of natural looking deadwood it has. In just four years Suthin was able to take it from raw stock to bonsai worthy of the 1rst US National Exhibition back in 2008.
Below the tree as pictured in the 1rst US National book. This book is now nearly impossible to find. Many thanks to Dave (Dav4) for the opportunity to acquire it from him.
It also appeared in a 2014 issue of International Bonsai magazine as well as in the Bonsai Bark blog the previous year. The IB magazine was gifted to me by Brian (Nybonsai12) as I was trying to pull together any material related to its history.
This is the tree as pictured in the online catalogue for the 2015 bonsai sale extravaganza at Suthin's nursery.
Finally at my place, this IPhone photo taken just a few days after the sale. It is apparent that Suthin may have worked the tree prior to the actual sale as it appeared more refined that in the catalogue photo.
I intend to submit this tree for next year's 6th US National. If it does get accepted, it would be ten years since its showing at the 1rst US National marking a significant milestone in this tree's history.
The tree just days ago. Overgrown but there is a tree inside there somewhere. Before any wiring is applied, I needed to cut back, thin out foliage and edit all branches to bifurcate neatly.
Here is the tree after it had been cut back and its deadwood cleaned and treated once again. Even without any wire, the tree's shape and form began to emerge once again. I am hoping to wire it completely in the next few weeks. The ten-jin is still there. It will be made visible once again as I tighten and lower the apex area when it gets styled. I would also like to find a different container and get it repotted next spring.
This tree was purchased in the summer of 2016 at a 2 day sale that Suthin had right in his garden and nursery. It is a small leaf cultivar with dense and compact foliage. By comparison many of the Thuja I have seen produce much larger fronds and have a more open growth habit.
According to Suhtin this tree was sourced from a nursery in Vermont and not a collected specimen despite the great amount of natural looking deadwood it has. In just four years Suthin was able to take it from raw stock to bonsai worthy of the 1rst US National Exhibition back in 2008.
Below the tree as pictured in the 1rst US National book. This book is now nearly impossible to find. Many thanks to Dave (Dav4) for the opportunity to acquire it from him.
It also appeared in a 2014 issue of International Bonsai magazine as well as in the Bonsai Bark blog the previous year. The IB magazine was gifted to me by Brian (Nybonsai12) as I was trying to pull together any material related to its history.
This is the tree as pictured in the online catalogue for the 2015 bonsai sale extravaganza at Suthin's nursery.
Finally at my place, this IPhone photo taken just a few days after the sale. It is apparent that Suthin may have worked the tree prior to the actual sale as it appeared more refined that in the catalogue photo.
I intend to submit this tree for next year's 6th US National. If it does get accepted, it would be ten years since its showing at the 1rst US National marking a significant milestone in this tree's history.
The tree just days ago. Overgrown but there is a tree inside there somewhere. Before any wiring is applied, I needed to cut back, thin out foliage and edit all branches to bifurcate neatly.
Here is the tree after it had been cut back and its deadwood cleaned and treated once again. Even without any wire, the tree's shape and form began to emerge once again. I am hoping to wire it completely in the next few weeks. The ten-jin is still there. It will be made visible once again as I tighten and lower the apex area when it gets styled. I would also like to find a different container and get it repotted next spring.
