Cornus mas. Cascading bonsai...

"Don't try to make your tree look like a bonsai, try to make your bonsai look like a tree" ( John Y, Naka ).  

Right.  But there are not that many decidous cascades around.  At least not in my region.   So taking an IDEAL from the Nature does not make a sense.  Should I quit? No. Why not to make a bonsai look like a bonsai? Here we go...

The way we were... 2013


A year after


Summer 2016






A cherry on the top


I plan some more detailed carving of the deadwood.  And then some more years to get more matured look.  Also I hope to reduce the size of the leaves in the meantime.  Right now I am not sure how it works for this species.

So this is a Cornus that looks like a (pre-)bonsai.   The Cornus that looks like a tree in the Nature  is Vesna (= Spring ).  A Maros Belan's Cornus...

Very nice project!

Happy you like it, Alain. Thank you.

Nice I like it!!!

Vlad wrote:"Don't try to make your tree look like a bonsai, try to make your bonsai look like a tree" ( John Y, Naka ).  

Right.  But there are not that many decidous cascades around.  At least not in my region.  

very well justified !!!
and well done !

...and the fruit on the trees add a lot.

I wish you an even better crop next year. Your tree might become a European milestone soon, don't spoil it

Mike, Kevin, Alain: thank you for your comments.   Happy that you like the cascade.  

@Alain: Re fruits - you are absolutely on the spot.  The red and a bit later dark red colour of the berries makes a great match with the dark green and a bit shiny leaves.  One of the best domestic species once it comes to fruiting in my opinion.  And the yellow blossoms on "naked" = leafless branches in the early spring look great too.  And on the top of that there are quite funny flower buds.  

May I ask for opinions regarding the raised root?  



The raised root is the result of the adjustment of the trunk to get better angle of the cascading branch.   It looks like a strange creature eating an earthworm.   I plan to cut off the  worm once the new roots are well established in the new position.  And then also some ajustment on the top section of the remaining part.

I think I would keep it. Removing might cause some people to think of reverse taper. I mean keep the root not the worm.

OK. Thank you Mike.

A quick update.  Cornelian cherries are quite eager to show their flowers early in the spring.  I hope to get to the Czech Karst Sanctuary on Easter to see the beauty of trees at large...

The weather is up and down here in Brno Vlad, I'm sure it's like that up north by you? The flowers are a good sign for things to come I hope we don't have another dip in temperatures.

Pretty much the same here, Thomas. In fact, these blossoms are a bit forced, taken from the winter shed last week and taken indoor for few days...

Have you stood this up more since the repot? I don't know if its just the viewing angle but it looks less cascaded (not that that's a word!) in the latest shots. Its a cracking plant and the more ramification it gets over the years the better it will look.

dave fish wrote:Have you stood this up more since the repot? I don't know if its just the viewing angle but it looks less cascaded

Yes, you are absolutely right. Just trying to find the best view of the current front, thinking about another ( less masculine ) one... And in the meantime waiting for the new more decent pot that should arrive later in the spring. Too late for this year but it will come in handy next one.