2 growing seasons ago I purchased 2 hornbeams. 1 was a European hornbeam and the other was a Japanese hornbeam. I haven't done much with either of them. Both were purchased on a Facebook bonsai auction. Both came in a plastic bonsai pot. Both were in nicer bonsai soil. One had some decent scaring from wire. One had a good first branch started. It was material that I wasn't ready for. Last growing season I did a couple of cuttings. I do not think I have the cuttings anymore? Truth is I have not spent any amount of thought on them.
When I was 19, I was introduced to bonsai. Every spring or so I would purchase a beginner bonsai book. I would drive around and look for bonsai. Usually the nursery around GR were still closed or didn't do anything with bonsai. Every now and then someone would say they like bonsai or know a co-worker that does them, but they were not always working on that day. Spring would pass and so would the fever. Next year or so, same cycle. I always bought a new book. Some would tell me about a club in the local area. I have tried on and off on trying to get a hold of bonsai clubs. I still am not apart of a club. Want to be. I do t try to hard on the day they get together. I swear I signed up for the email but never get one. This blog will help me talk about bonsai. I so want to talk about bonsai!
The hornbeam I am working on today. I am not sure if it's a Japanese or European hornbeam. I hear Korean hornbeams are favored but it's not one of those. I do have a American hornbeam that I blog about, check it out if you haven't seen it.
Work is a little slow in the colder months. In the morning I walk out in the rows of trees and look for one to bring to work. I get to work and usually wire and trim. During the day look up at it and make minor tweaks to it. Until I am happy. It needed some work. This season it just ran with little to no work done on it. I believe I trimmed it in June but it's just a maybe.
The tree has good nebari. Very little movement on the lower part of the trunk. I was thinking of maybe putting it on a rock? I have a rock that I am dying to use. It tapers decent but for shohin. I would consider not. I personally do not like big trunk chops. I prefer the slower method of growing deciduous trees. I am 46, will I ever see any of my trees in show quality refinement stage? I believe not.
Just made another minor tweak.
And another.
Current future for this hornbeam is to let the apex run one more push of growth. Find a new leader and let run. Repot next potting season. Check the roots. Put in a grow box slightly shallower than the pot it's in now. Maybe slightly bigger box than the pot. 3-5 more years of that, might give me a thicker trunk.
Here are the pics!
I see some branches that I am wanting to cut but gonna see how the spring goes.
I think I have some pics of this tree? Let me see.
Well, I searched and only found that one. Apparently I do not think it's picture worthy. Well not anymore. I will take pics to keep track of it. If all of this chatter helps you? Then let's grow.
Thanks
Ted
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