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Memory Lane – The Trident Maple with the hanging branch

Looking back….we can tell a tree’s story…..admire an image…..capture a moment…..remember a special event…..be inspired – to create a memory for tomorrow. 

I hope you enjoy this regular peep into some of John’s bonsai history.

Memory Lane – The Trident Maple with the hanging branch
DSCN0110feb02As you would expect this tree originated in Japan. A substantial and old maple of great individuality due to it’s long hanging branch. The tree did not stay with us long and was soon sold but this post illustrates the work carried out to the tree on the nursery in the spring of 2002 shortly after it’s acquisition.DSCN0112
The second picture shows the interesting deadwood around the bend in the trunk.
The tree does not appear to have had a detailed pruning for some time. Most branches are heavily congested with badly directed and crossing twigs.
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The hanging branch is pulled in towards the trunk to improve the balance of the tree. All the branches are carefully pruned and thinned out. You can clearly see the difference in the before and after pictures.
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This work was carried out in February so the tree was also repotted at the same time. This solid fibrous rootball is so typical of a Trident maple growing strongly. When trees like this are in training I would normally repot every two years.
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 April….. the tree has leafed out and now needs to be thinned out to stimulate more growth. Once again you can see the difference in the before and after pictures. The final picture shows the result of this work in May where you can clearly see all the new red buds beginning to emerge.
I would have loved to have had this tree for a longer period to really work on the refinement but when you are in the business to sell trees you simply can’t keep them all!