The innocuous Chinese elm Ulmus parvifolia

[Pup]

Just recently we have had posts on trunk ratio to height what is your favorite Bonsai. Would you keep or throw these away. These led to heated discussion with some saying we do not have them here some saying we do.

I would like to post two as I have said, innocuous Elms and pose the question do they not meet the requirements of what we aim for. I do not expect every one to like them, but I do and so does Hirotoshi Saito, soI will keep doing what has to be done to improve them. Like the one in the grey pot has to shortened back.

Here they are for what ever you wish to criticise, or praise that is your perogative.

Cheers Pup

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[senseijames]

G'day Pup, after looking at these Elms I think I shall go outside and start a bush fire in my Collection
James

PS Is the grey pot australian made ( local potter )

[dayne]

to be honest their was trees in your first post to keep or to throw that i didnt find powerful or convincing trees nice but not special i am a follower of the lower ratio trees its just my thing i like the powerfull japanese images and even some of the european stuff but these two are pretty powerful trees like you have said the second one could be bought in a little to tighten up the triangle but i like them and trust me id tell you if i didnt

[Jamie]

gday pup,

i like both trees, i am quite partial to a tree in winter silhuoette, i love the twiggery, i am hoping to get my trees as dense as this one day, i eventually will

[Chris]

They look great to me Pup Inspiration if i must say

[kcpoole]

Nice Pup

The first one, should the apex be a little further to the right? More directly above the trunk base?

the second I think is a lovely outline, but needs so more ramification to fill in the branches and outline.


Jamie can I use that term please Twiggery so apt actually for a well ramified wither silhouette

Ken

[Pup]

G'day Pup, after looking at these Elms I think I shall go outside and start a bush fire in my Collection
James

PS Is the grey pot australian made ( local potter )

No James that is a Stone Monkey pot, he is a UK potter, the wife and I met when we in the UK last year. Very nice young man as well as a good potter.

Cheers glad you like the elms Pup

[Jester]

Truly inspiring!! Enough said!

[BirchMan]

Nice elms Pup, these are exactly the style of tree i'm aiming to craft one day. If i may ask, how were these grown, from a stump "clipped and grown" or were they trained from seedlings?

If you're ever looking to sell I'm in Perth too...

[Pup]

Nice Pup

The first one, should the apex be a little further to the right? More directly above the trunk base?

the second I think is a lovely outline, but needs so more ramification to fill in the branches and outline.


Jamie can I use that term please Twiggery so apt actually for a well ramified wither silhouette

Ken

G,day Ken one of the most annoying things about the innocuous elm is the apical dominance, and the need to keep it in check apart from the apex needing to be moved it also needs to be cut back before the taper disappears completely.

This need in Chinese elm allows for a lot of Miniature trees to be made. Then they can be either put on the raffle table or up for auction if they get past the wife

I have some I planted up but on fear of starving and going without I gave in and kept a couple.
Cheers Pup

[Glenda]

Pup,

I would be proud to have any of your trees on my bench. These are nothing short of inspiring.

Glenda

[Pup]

After answering Ken, I thought that was a lot of whatever. Ialso had a braimstorm . So here are the ones she said or else to they are now Mrs Pup's but I will look after them, she does the same for me.
Here they are I believe she has relented on one.

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[hugh grant]

I think both trees are great!
I pesonaly don't really worry about the whole ratio deal, I follow it to so e extent but it all comes down to the tree looking good. If the ratio is out but the tree looks good there is no way I'm changing it

thanks for posting them, there lovely trees
Hugh

[Bretts]

I love the first one Pup. Great bark that looks well aged with no obvious new growth, nice shiloeete great ramification I like how many branches you have fit in there and how that front branch works. Now you mention it I can see the issue you mention with the taper in the apex. I can imagine it will make that front branch work even better when you reduce that again as you plan.
But I do think it would be even better if that front branch was just a little higher. If nothing else it would help with long term taper. Might upset that upward branch on the first left branch though Off course that is not going to happen.
All that said what you are doing definitely works as a first class tree.

The second tree I think needs more work than the first. I consider shortening the left branch and complicating the right branch more by creating some branches closer to the trunk. The second left branch needs a little wave put in it finishing up in much the same spot. I think this will help camouflage that it has been moved down to fill a space. Maybe another smaller branch mimicking the downward direction to fill space and create some natural repetition.
In time I would hedge my bets on creating a stronger leader to the right in the apex but only slightly different than you have here at the moment.

I am looking forward to the day I have some off cuts that make great little trees like this

[Jamie]

KC said,

Jamie can I use that term please Twiggery so apt actually for a well ramified wither silhouette

of course you can mate it explains ramification quite well without typing out ramification