Trident with an identity crisis!

[Poink88]

BTW Judy...have you chosen a front yet? Check somewhere between pic #1 and pic #3 (closer to pic #3)...with a minor back branch relocation to the left (and elimination of the V notch) it might give you a good front.

Just for your consideration (I know I am a pest and tenacious...just because I care though it may not sound or seem like it at times.)

View attachment 33156 or View attachment 33167

 

[JudyB]

Dario, I have no intentions at this time of loosing the v notch. My goal is to use pic one as the front currently, and allow the notch sides to heal pretty much to the point that they'll appear as the large base of the branches that come off them. I do not want to get rid of that back branch, and seems like the virt without it and the left side of the notch is a step backwards to me. My goal is to take this tree into a wide broom, not a triangular shape.
This is still of course in the first stages of progress on branches, (and I never say never) so there will I'm sure be many changes to the finished design.
Thanks for your concern.

 

[Smoke]

Dario, I have no intentions at this time of loosing the v notch. My goal is to use pic one as the front currently, and allow the notch sides to heal pretty much to the point that they'll appear as the large base of the branches that come off them. I do not want to get rid of that back branch, and seems like the virt without it and the left side of the notch is a step backwards to me. My goal is to take this tree into a wide broom, not a triangular shape.
This is still of course in the first stages of progress on branches, (and I never say never) so there will I'm sure be many changes to the finished design.
Thanks for your concern.

You are wise beyond your years..........
....stay the course

 

[JudyB]

Could be that my years are wise beyond me...
Thank you.

 

[Smoke]

Could be the cipro talking.....

 

[JudyB]

Update on the tree today. I just did a first cutback and a little wiring on this, I didn't pinch much this spring. It's starting to look a bit better, the shape is starting to come across as I'm aiming for. Still a long way to go.

 

[Beng]

I agree with what others have said I really like your original front. Nice tree this ones gonna be something someday!

 

[JudyB]

I did a cutback and rewiring of this, I believe I'll get some good growth on these branches next year. I will take the wire off early and probably let it grow unchecked for the most part all year.

 

[Lazylightningny]

that tree's got some junk in the trunk!

 

[dkraft81]

Love the muscular feel to this tree. Good job with the progression from where it started.

 

[JudyB]

Thanks dkraft, and llgy. That's what drew me to it in the first place, I like Am. hornbeam for that reason too. Hard to find though.

 

[discusmike]

The base of the tree is really starting to shine.

 

[tmmason10]

Nice work Judy! Another nice deciduous tree from you.

 

[Smoke]

Once in my Japanese club, I was narrating the demo during the exhibit. People like to learn about history and simple things that make bonsai fun. During my time to bloviate, I was able to offer this analogy about how cartoon animaters would be very good at bonsai due to the fact that moods can be set by the way the animators draw the trees. I think Walt Disney was the first to convey an image thru the way a tree is represented in our minds.

I had a couple of old timer friends of mine in the audiance that had been doing bonsai decades longer than I have and commented on how they had never looked at bonsai in that way.

As I gaze on this tree as it is presented most recently, I am struck at the melancholy feeling I get. This tree seems sad with the down turned branch tips, and overall feeling that the tree has given up.

I wonder what the tree could say with a little uplifting feeling in the branches?

 

[JudyB]

I like that the tree makes you feel that way. Sort of the feel I am after in a way, with a bit of creepy thrown in...

I plan on turning up tips of those once they get a bit longer, I don't imagine that I'll achieve the bend as much as it is now, will probably loose some once I unwire. But that cartoon thing, I really get that. I'd never actually thought about it, but I can see it in my head.
Thanks for taking a look at it!

 

[treebeard55]

"... analogy about how cartoon animators would be very good at bonsai due to the fact that moods can be set by the way the animators draw the trees...

Vaughn Banting once made a direct comparison between caricature, as in cartoons, and bonsai. In each case, the person doing it exaggerates certain characteristics, just enough, to convey an image, mood, setting, what-have-you.

 

[sikadelic]

Great tree Judy. Like others have mentioned, the trunk conveys great strength already. Looks like you will have a wonderful tree in no time!

 

[JudyB]

Thanks Jarrod, it will still take quite a bit of time in my climate. Smoke would be done with this one in a few more years with the growth he gets!

 

[Grok42]

Makes me want to try a trident

I want to keep the number of tree species down as I'm starting off so I'm going to stick with Boxwood and Cypress if I can but this thread and some of Smoke's really makes me want to get some tridents to work with. We'll see if I stay smart and restrain myself for 2014.

 

[JudyB]

I can tell you that trident would make a good addition to your crew. They are hardy trees. Thanks for the compliment!