This powerful Trident maple was submitted by Carl Morrow of Cape Town South Africa and is our first Fearless Bonsai Warrior award winner (a fifteen dollar gift certificate to Stone Lantern-see below).
A free critique (for what it’s worth)
There’s a lot to like about this tree, and a few things that might be done to improve it. I think it needs a different pot (actually, I like the pot a lot, just not with this tree). It’s shallowness sets off the trunk’s thickness, and that’s a good thing, however, the pot is too big from side to side and distracts the eye some from the tree. I think slightly smaller glazed pot with the tree planted a little off center, would serve this tree better. The trunk is wonderful and the nebari is off to a very good start, though not yet completely developed; there’s a gap that could be filled with some creative root grafting and the small root in the center could be fused with the root next to it.
A new twist (the pleasant surprise)
We are going to start rewarding some Fearless Bonsai Warrior’s entry’s with gift certificates to Stone Lantern. That’s right, send us photos of your bonsai and the worse that can happen is you’ll get a free critique (for better or worse), and if your lucky, you just might be awarded a gift certificate. A win-win situation for you (actually I’ve always been suspicious of win-win, the first person who ever used the expression with me ended up stealing my rug (floor, not head)).
The same tree a little later in the season. The mass of foliage reduces the over-potted look some, though I still think it needs a slightly smaller pot. Also, the foliage could be thinned some to let a little light and air in and maybe shortened a little on the right, which would help emphasize the trunk’s girth and power.
How to get your award
Email wayne@stonelantern.com, and we’ll give you a gift certificate number. Then, when you order on line, just put your certificate number and dollar amount in the comments box and we’ll take care of the rest.
Thanks for the comments and the gift. No matter how many pots you have in your collection you will never have the right one for a tree! This tree is a good example of one that needs a winter pot and summer pot.
I have already grafted 7 roots onto the tree. It was really difficult getting them all at the correct level and so there is a root in the gap that you highlight, it is just not visible in this picture. I will need to work on trying to raise it up a bit but I am afraid that it may break off in the process. The idea to fuse the root at the front is an interesting one. I have been obsessed with spreading them out but it may be interesting to create a bigger, flat root in this area.
You can see developmental stages of the tree in The Bonsai Handbook (pp 120 to 121) repeated in Pocket Bonsai (pp 140 to 141). My original inspiration was based on the Celtis featured in Amy Liang’s book Living Art of Bonsai on pages 16 and 17. What I enjoy in the Celtis is the way in which the first branch almost makes the tree a semicascade with its bold movement out to the right.
My plan was to make the tree less balanced by extending the first branch on the right outwards and down a bit. It would then fit into its current pot better! Balancing the tree more by shortening the right hand side of the tree is another idea that I have not considered. I feel that the trunk may then start to feel too grotesque relative to the branches and foliage volume. This would be particularly bad in winter which is the main view that I am aiming for. I am hoping for a bit more flow and “elegance” (is it possible on such a big trunk?) and more movement in the foliage mass.
What do other people think; extend the right or shorten it?