Two year anniversary

Just over two years ago, a friend of mine checked a couple of bonsai books out from the library. During a visit, he and his girlfriend showed me the books, as well as a small collection of local maple seedlings they had started on their porch along with a mallsai juniper. I was immidiately intrigued by the progressions I saw in the books, and loved the small trees they had potted. Before this time, I had never realized bonsai wasn't a particular species of tree. My eyes were opened, and there has been no turning back.

In September of the same year(2008), after having done some reading and research on the internet, I decided to buy my first plants for the purpose of fashioning bonsai. I bought a small juniper from a big DIY store on fall clearance, and also a couple sickly boxwood from a local mom and pop landscape nursery. The boxwood were in poor health, but were quite large and had decent trunk girth from what I could tell. They were pretty large and thick bushes with enormous rootballs that had outgrown thier burlap wraps long ago. I made a lowball offer for the both of, and I think they were just glad to get rid of them at that point in the season.

Now I have over 50 plants, and over 20 varieties. I feel I've been making good progress, and I am really looking forward to the next couple of years when some of these start to look like bonsai.

Here is a progression of one of those very first boxwood that started it all.

After bringing it home and a little bit of thinning (sept 08)


close up


There was obviously too many branches, and a very thick one was creating major taper issues, so I sawed it off and this was what was left.


I then planted it out for the winter. In spring I dug it up and reduced the roots, and trimmed a bunch more branches. The large stub from the original branch had rotted and would need carving in the future. In the mean time I was attempting to chase foliage back along the remaining branches. Guy wires were added to begin shaping for the future.


Some shots from last fall (09)



March 2010


Again after pruning in May


Now, as it is today after a final summer pruning. It will get a full cleaning and pruning in fall before it goes into storage, and is getting its first bonsai container in the spring of 2011.




Thanks for looking

Dave


Dave

Happy aniversary Dave. The Box is looking good and nice progress shots. Look forward to seeing it potted up.

Dave,

Wish my first attempts were as good. I had a special place in the garden where I would hide my disasters out of sight until they either died or recovered

Keep up the good work.

ok, cleaned up a bit and pruned...

Hello Dave. A very good development in a short space of time. How tall is this Box?

Good job. I find it interesting how your eye improved as you patiently worked on the boxwood. Slowly, the most awkward branches disappeared. What's left is going to be a nice little ?? bonsai. How large is it now?

Keep it up

Cracking little Box Dave.
I hope that I can do half as good a job on my Buxus as you have done on yours.

Super job & thanks for sharing,
Simon

Nice work so far. Since it is the 2 year anniversary, time to chop to the two main branches. I suggest cutting off the middle upright branch as in this virtual.

Boxwoods look good in white pots.

(RE: Dave,

Wish my first attempts were as good. I had a special place in the garden where I would hide my disasters out of sight until they either died or recovered )

You could start a new topic called "Closet Bonsai - or ...If you only knew...!"
Todd

I think you have a nice Boxwood in the making and have a knack for branch selection! You seemto be a natural!
Todd

Dave is one of the most talented members of Bonsai Club of Central NY. We are very proud of him. As Todd said, he is a natural.
Iris

Thanks to everyone for the kind and encouraging words. Rob, thanks for the virt it looks real good and I love the pot choice. For now though, I am working the otherside as a front because the apex leans that way. For all those who were wondering, this boxwood measures in at 12" tall from the soil line. Thanks again.

Dave

Worked the roots down enough to get into this training pot for further development. I was able to remove three big roots that were wrapped around and "strangling" the trunk.

Dave

The tree is comming along great. It just has that "believeable" look of a natural tree.

Neil

Happy anniversary Dave!

I like the natural appeal of your tree, Robs future design on your tree is perfect and very achievable.

regards,
jun