These of you who observe the Bonsai Wire podcast might recall an epic journey involving a damaged tailbone whereas amassing a Vine Maple. That is that tree. I nonetheless can’t consider John Eads and I acquired it out. The basis system was locked onto the lava rock like an octopus. We spent 2 1/2 hours breaking the rock, noting the diminishing daylight, and muttering spells to decelerate time.
This collected specimen has an extended story to inform. Many basal orifices remained the place previous trunks had died off, suggesting a maple of marvelous antiquity. The next photographs are of assortment day, November 2020, after which after one 12 months of development.
John Eads working with a bar to extract a Vine Maple, November 2020.
In January 2022, after a 12 months of development. The wingspan of this Vine Maple is 6’ 4” / 1.9m. I’m nonetheless puzzling over the entrance.
One trunk doesn’t work—on the correct, curving up by means of the previous trunks.
Residing trunks encircle a rotted away previous base, like a coral atoll or lichen fan.
If collected deciduous are mature, they might have already got the dense, tremendous twigging we see on mature bonsai. I’ve discovered that with collected deciduous bushes typically solely a 12 months or two in a field can suffice. Longer than that and vigorous species like Vine Maple can get too coarse, shedding their tremendous twigging.
We will revisit this one. A planting composition is being deliberate for spring.
January 2022 Bulletin Board
- Be part of us for the upcoming Winter Seasonal-lite for repotting abilities and design issues in probably the most inventive occasions of the bonsai calendar. Two weekend mornings, January 22 and 23, with 6 hours whole in-person instruction bookend this restricted enrollment on-line course, together with a 30-minute personal with me.
- Additionally, the 2022 dates are up for in-person Seasonals. We’ve run this common skill-building intensive course for 15 years now in our open-air Portland studio, with winter periods on February 10-12 and 24-26. Additionally on the calendar are Could, July, and October dates.
