I’m pretty sure this is an Ume (Japanese flowering apricot), though I can’t be %100 sure. Whatever it is, it sure combines some very showy flowers with impressively ancient looking bark. It’s from a Japanese book (not available in English) called Gyozan Nakano, Sakai: A 35 Year Anthology. Mr. Nakano is a rather famous (in Japan) Master Potter (this is not the first time we’ve featured him). Most of the book is devoted to his pots sans trees. However, there are a few in the back with trees. This is one of them.
Slow motion gallery
In this case, slow motion means one at a time. Normally we put up more than one tree per post, but I’m gone a lot in October and November (hiking and family) and don’t have the opportunity to spend much time blogging. So this provides an easy solution; I can relax and get away a bit, and you can still enjoy fine bonsai (hopefully I’ll find time for a few comments).