Water-elm group - first year of training - a visitor stops by

This water-elm was a messy clump when collected last year. It's grown quickly, giving me the opportunity to do much of the basic styling this year. Next year we should get a lot of ramification and begin the refining process.

I like it a lot... although I am not a big fan of figurines. In my opinion, figurines (including the bronze animals) restricts the viewer's imagination.

I really like the naturalness of the trees a lot. If these are individual trees, then maybe this spring repotting you may want to reposition them in such a manner that they don't lie on the same line on a plane. Trees that are angled back and forward 'irregularly' give more depth.

- S

suburbia wrote:I like it a lot... although I am not a big fan of figurines. In my opinion, figurines (including the bronze animals) restricts the viewer's imagination.

I really like the naturalness of the trees a lot. If these are individual trees, then maybe this spring repotting you may want to reposition them in such a manner that they don't lie on the same line on a plane. Trees that are angled back and forward 'irregularly' give more depth.

- S

This piece is from a clump that I reduced to three trunks in the spring. When viewed from the side, the trunks do not lie in front of one another, so this worked out.

I'm not a fan of figurines either, but on rare occasions Mudman comes out to enjoy the shade of a tree.

GO MUDMAN!

You know, back when I was in college, I had this silly little juniper Bonsai, and underneath it sat a little mudman with a book folded open on his lap and I used to tell people he was studying philosophy.

That was MY major too......I kinda miss that little mudman.

Zack,, I like your group planting ,,of course,,i like elms.. i would keep the small trees short if it were mine..the major big tree branches thickenup..it will be a nice group soon...good work take care john

moyogijohn wrote:Zack,, I like your group planting ,,of course,,i like elms.. i would keep the small trees short if it were mine..the major big tree branches thickenup..it will be a nice group soon...good work take care john

Thank you, John. I have been chasing back those little trees this year. I know exactly what you mean. And I should have the branches on the big tree to the right thickness in about two years. I think it'll work best if I don't let them get too long. Any thoughts on that?

Zach