misfit11
Omono
Update. This one is getting about a half dozen root grafts soon to improve the nebari. It's slowly but surely coming along though.
Trident Maple
- Thread starter misfit11
- Start date
misfit11
Omono
Did four root grafts on this Trident yesterday. They're all thread grafts. We also removed the large too-high root on the left. The tree was planted low to encourage the new grafts. Now we wait....
misfit11
Omono
Trees always look better in person. Some definitely more than others. This Trident is most certainly one of those for me. It's becoming a very nice tree but it isn't very photogenic 
. I have difficulty getting a nice picture of it due to the fact that the apex comes toward the front so much. In photos it looks as if it's got a pointy top (witches hat as @Smoke calls them). In reality it has a quite rounded top. I reviewed the great bonsai photography post by @grouper52 (I'd seen it long ago but obviously needed a refresher) that someone revived and realized that I was taking the pictures from too close making the apex appear pointy. I gave it another go and with some editing I got a more representative picture.
. I have difficulty getting a nice picture of it due to the fact that the apex comes toward the front so much. In photos it looks as if it's got a pointy top (witches hat as @Smoke calls them). In reality it has a quite rounded top. I reviewed the great bonsai photography post by @grouper52 (I'd seen it long ago but obviously needed a refresher) that someone revived and realized that I was taking the pictures from too close making the apex appear pointy. I gave it another go and with some editing I got a more representative picture.Attachments
misfit11
Omono
Nude photo. I think this one deserves a new pot in the spring. The root grafts that we did last spring all took and I will be exposing the negative more with the next repot.
Leo in N E Illinois
The Professor
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almost a decade since the first post for this thread. Nice progression, nice tree.
james
Shohin
Nice work with this tree. People have their own opinions on apex development, it’s quite subjective. With that said, your tree appears to have 2 apices, based on the picture you shared. I recognize one is likely behind the other. Might you consider choosing one, and reducing the other? It may allow for more taper and reinforce movement in the trunk. At present, my eye rises to the upper trunk, where they both arise, and stops, it doesn’t know which way to go. Just a thought?
misfit11
Omono
Thanks. I've kind of come to believe that it takes about a decade (sometimes less, sometimes more) to get tree to show quality. IDK, if this one is show quality yet but it's finally getting closer after working on it for nine years. "Patience, Daniel-san.".
misfit11
Omono
I think you're right. It's interesting how much photos help identify flaws. I probably wouldn't have noticed this otherwise. Thanks for the insight! I may end up removing the branch at the red line. I need to look at the tree in person.
MrWunderful
Omono
I think some of the upper main branches need to be cut back and brought into scale a bit more, but It looks great. It is really on its way.
This thread led me to going to lone pines (though not that saturday) and Buy a beefy project trident!
PS my name is Corey too, but spelled with an “e”
This thread led me to going to lone pines (though not that saturday) and Buy a beefy project trident!
PS my name is Corey too, but spelled with an “e”
misfit11
Omono
I tend to agree. It's definitely not without it's flaws.
Glad you got up to Lone Pine. I haven't been there in a really long time. Might need to make the trip sometime before they close for the winter.
Nice to meet you Corey. I won't hold it against you that you spell your name the wrong way.
I think we've chatted on here before. If you ever find yourself in Petaluma, give me a holler. We can have a socially distanced beer in the backyard and talk bonsai.
MrWunderful
Omono
I do remember that now. Last Time I was in Petaluma was 15-20 years ago, we went fishing at D street.I tend to agree. It's definitely not without it's flaws.
Glad you got up to Lone Pine. I haven't been there in a really long time. Might need to make the trip sometime before they close for the winter.
Nice to meet you Corey. I won't hold it against you that you spell your name the wrong way.
Thanks for the offer!
misfit11
Omono
Does anyone have a pot suggestion for my Trident? I was thinking about like a green oval. @Brian Van Fleet any ideas?
Brian Van Fleet
Pretty Fly for a Bonsai Guy
I agree with the shape, but would look for something blue or cream in color. You could get away with a bag shape and cloud feet. The tree is coming along nicely, Cory.
misfit11
Omono
Nice. Thanks for your input, Brian. I value your knowledge about all things bonsai and specifically in this situation, your experience and intuition for pot pairing.
leatherback
The Treedeemer
I am starting a similar path now. In spring I bought a decent trident trunk. Any tips on what you would not do again for a next tree? Lessons learned?
Enfield Snapper
Mame
I just heard Michael Hagedorn and Jonas Du Puich talking about this in their podcast. They said their students were more able to see trees in a way they could analyze it once they started doing classes over video. Something about seeing it in 3D makes it harder for the brain to get past simply seeing the tree as a whole.
misfit11
Omono
Good question! Wow, what would I have done differently? Actually, I don't really regret anything that I did with the tree (grafting, branch selection, etc.). My only regrets are from years of more or less neglect. There were quite a few years (like 3 or 4) that I was not very focused on the hobby and I did little more than keep my trees alive. I wasted a lot of time and it's development was slowed significantly as a result. If I had been fertilizing, pruning, defoliating, grafting etc regularly, I think the tree would be a lot further along. Unfortunately, sometimes life gets in the way. I'm just grateful that I at least kept it alive and didn't sell it.
misfit11
Omono
That's great. I've really come to realize the benefits of photographing my trees and posting them on here. The 2D image really does make flaws easier to identify. Also, allowing the forum to point out these flaws is a tremendous help. We look at our own trees all the time and sometimes are unable to see these flaws. Sometimes it takes a fresh set of eyes (and ones that aren't biased) to point them out.
misfit11
Omono
I just received the pot that I purchased for this tree. I bought it from Wallace Woods Pottery on Etsy. I was a bit nervous about buying a pot by an unknown Potter on Etsy, TBH. I'd bought a pot a number of years ago from Sarah Raynor but she's obviously got the pedigree to be trusted. I am very happy with the quality of this pot. It has a nice understated blue glaze and the pot is good quality stoneware. I highly recommend this Potter to anyone. As good quality as any of the big name potters (Raynor, Lang, Lentz, etc) without the high end premium.
misfit11
Omono
So I wasn't able to get it into a small pot yet because of some large roots that still need to be addressed 
. I applied tourniquets to a couple of them in the hopes that I get some roots sprouting closer to the trunk. I also approach grafted a couple roots per @MACH5 's awesome tutorial on one of his maples. I hope they take.
. I applied tourniquets to a couple of them in the hopes that I get some roots sprouting closer to the trunk. I also approach grafted a couple roots per @MACH5 's awesome tutorial on one of his maples. I hope they take.So @leatherback asked me what I would I have done differently or about any lessons learned within the last 10 years working on this tree. I wish I had focussed more on developing the nebari and doing root work early on. This is something that we hear from the more experienced members on the forum like Brian Van Fleet. It's so much easier to develop the nebari and the base of the tree early on rather than trying to correct problems down the road.
