My Babies.

I recently posted a Pine dedicated to my father. These two trees began life when my children were born. The first is a Chinese Elm I started from a cutting the year my first son was born in 1997. It spent a few years in the ground. Height 6"

This one is a Rowan raised from seed in the year my second son was born 1999. It has always been in pot cultivation. Height 4"

Will - nice little trees and a very nice remembrance. Great idea! (But a lot of pressure to be certain they thrive…)

The Rowan is particularly nice I’m my eye – not a “traditional” look by any means; but one that is bright, cheerful and vital.

What about a container to show off its non-traditional beauty? A slab jumps to mind, but a lower profile “modern” pot would likely work as well or better.
David B.

will,.....as a lot in my life trees also come with a story.....in remembrance or just a good day!
I''ll stick anything to it.

My most thriving trees have long story's attached to mostly people,.....if they don't.....they have to wait for one!

grtzz from Holland where in my house nor garden, nothing gets thrown away,.......stories.

I like the ulmus,......nice and forgiving trees to build with.....as like......?
Both healthy little,......!

GOOD!

Very nice! Thank you for sharing the photos and stories behind them. I also LOVE the Elm Trees above all so I really enjoyed these.

Great job and dedication!

The Rowan leaf pruned. It will come back with a crop of tiny leaves. Will post when it does.

Three weeks after leaf prune and a good feed. New buds everywhere. The leaves will be a lot smaller as well. Will update when it's opened fully.

Cracking idea Will and 2 lovely trees.
I'm trying to "do" a couple of trees for my 2 children but I want them to "help me" with them so that (hopefully) they will take them over when I'm old and infirm (about a couple of years me thinks )

Thanks for sharing Will,
Okk, Okk,
Simon

I love the "deception" involved with a good bonsai. The first shot of the Rowan tree looked much bigger than the one with your thumb in the picture (unless you have unusually large thumb(s)!)

Here is an odd note (pun intended); after a 9 year hiatus from the bagpipes, I have just resumed taking lessons. One of the traditional tunes my instructor chose for me to concentrate on is "Rowan Tree". Never did know what a Rowan Tree was... now I do!

BTW, very nice trees!

Jay

Jay Gaydosh wrote:Never did know what a Rowan Tree was...
Jay

In this country we call them mountain ash. The American species is Sorbus americana. The rowan tree is Sorbus aucuparia. It is supposedly useful to witches. A house inspector told me to soak the berries in vodka.
Iris

bonsaisr wrote:

Jay Gaydosh wrote:Never did know what a Rowan Tree was...
Jay

In this country we call them mountain ash. The American species is Sorbus americana. The rowan tree is Sorbus aucuparia. It is supposedly useful to witches. A house inspector told me to soak the berries in vodka.
Iris

Thanks Iris for the info on the Rowan Tree.

as for the "witch's brew. I think I heard of that remedy before.

Soak the berries in vodka, drain, drink the vodka... pitch the berries! Cures pretty much anything!

Jay

The Rowan or Mountain Ash, in Finnish folklore was the first plant on the Earth. The goddess Rauni (where Rowan comes from), came down from heaven and took the form of a Rowan tree. She then got together with Ukko (god of thunder) and they made the rest of the plants around the world. My youngest son is called Rowan by the way. And before you ask, my first son is not called Chinese Elm! Its Stanley.

Will

And there was me thinking your other son was called Elmo

Love the Rowan, and the Elm, really nice too see, thanks for showing

Regards

Andy

Lovely trees Will, the Elm looks much bigger than its actual size.
First time I've ever seen a Rowan defoliated, I wasn't even aware you could. It looks like its been a great success.

Does defoliating work on common Ash too? I love the look of them when they first appear, but then a few weeks later they're 5 times the size.

Nice idea having trees relating to the birth of your children, I can think of a couple of my trees that fit in with the times both my kids were born. I also like Simon's idea of getting them involved in the trees developement, a couple of years down the line for my two though.

Are any of your sons interested in bonsai?

Neither of my sons are interested in bonsai at the moment. They like the fact that they have their own tree but thats where it ends. Scateboards and Xbox are the order of the day.
I think you can leaf prune Ash but I would do it early, as in now.

It is indeed a great idea Will and thanks to you I have plenty of oak saplings from the acorns you sent me to commemorate the birth of my daughter last year. Many thanks for that again. It will be many years until I'm able to post any pictures of trees resembling bonsai to the standard of yours though I'm sure.

Hello NJF. Glad to hear you had a good success rate with the Acorns. A few years cultivation in the ground and you'll be well on the way.

Hi Will,I want to show you my Mountain Ash shohin cascade, made from a seedling from my garden
It is 10 years old now
Greetings Ed

Very Cool thread. I am trying the same thing but my boys are only 5 and 2 so it will be a while until they are able (and possibly interested) in helping out. There names are Oak and Mica Ash. I have a small number of Young Oaks I started back then in the ground but off to a slow start, and a mountain Ash for my 2 year old. I guess it is an idea many of us have maybe I will post a few picture in years to come as they develop some more
Robert

The years soon pass and I am so glad I did it. Good to hear that others have done so too. You have some very fine pots to put those trees in too Robert.

my maple that i got as a sapling when my granddaughter Hayley was born they are both 13 years old now.

Pictures taken today. The leaf size is much reduced.

Photo from the right to show the depth.