Summer cleanups

Trees are all overgrown this summer from all our rain (we've already exceeded our annual average!), so I've started a full scale assault on leaves -- partly to see what's under there and partly to start looking at what I might bring for our club's consideration for our display at the Carolina Bonsai Expo in October. The club has elected to do shohin and smaller size trees this year, which suits me just fine.

This is a privet root-over-rock which I've had for years. It stands about 6 inches high, but when I started on it today it had 10 inches of arrow straight branches poking out in every direction. It is a two-sided tree, which is nice for trees that may be displayed two (or more) to a stand because it can point in whichever direction we need.





I probably trimmed it a bit severely, but I'll have to trim it again a couple of times if I decide I need it for the show.

That's a really nice tree Jim.
But, well.....

Mr. Jim Lewis wrote: It stands about 6 inches high, but when I started on it today it had 10 inches of arrow straight branches poking out in every direction.

Because of the surplus rain this year, I've got a few of those things myself I'm dealing with, as well!  It would have been exceedingly COOL to see the sort of obligatory, before-and-after photos of this really nice tree. You know, the untamed Wild Beast - that you have now transformed into the contemplative, and serene bonsai pictured for your personal enjoyment.... C'mon, we don't always have to see just the 'Beauty Shots' do we?

C'mon, we don't always have to see just the 'Beauty Shots' do we?

No, but to do that, you have to plan ahead . . .

Thanks for the kind words.

Nice little tree. I especially like the base with the nice root mound, it gives the little guy the impression he's not so little. 

Another privet. This one is about 13 inches tall so it is a bit over the shohin limit, but it was getting a bit raggedy. I've had this planted on a ceramic slab pot for years, but think it looks much better in a traditional pot.

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the beautiful trees, this in Photo I think it should reveal a bit more roots, a few small stones makeup.