AusBonsai

That last trident is relatively young. I have not been able to keep all the details on all the trees I grow or even the ones I keep as my own. I guess about 5 years in the grow beds with a couple of chops in that time. Then another 5 years in poly boxes to grow the replacement leader and get branches started. Another 10 years since then cutting and growing the branches and adding some more roots so probably around 20 years to get this far.

I've found some earlier photos:
File info says 2009 but also says 4:09am so maybe the camera calendar was not set at that stage? - pretty sure it is the same tree. One of the root grafts still fusing at the base: This looks like the first time it was in a bonsai pot - Sept 2009. The previous root graft has ben reduced to a stump and more added. Nearly a year later in June 2010

Would love to know more on the first tree the Japanese maple. How did you develop it, It looks like a wonderful tree.

precise details of that palmatum are also lost in the mists of time Keels. I can't recall if this was a layer or just a seedling chosen for having extra low shoots to develop multi trunks. I do know I deliberately set out to grow this multi trunk Japanese maple style tree and actually started several at the same time, some of which I still have but not all were worth keeping and have been passed on to other growers.
2010 is the earliest photo I can find of the structure and there's not much difference. May 2009 photo shows autumn colour but not the branch structure

Thanks shibui. I forgot that you have been at this a long time, i appreciate the effort in the last update. I always find it interesting the trees you post plus how your growing and developing the trees. Thanks