pear bonsai and elm bonsai

It looks like spring has sprung. Most of my trees are pushing leaves like crazy. The first one I believe is an American Elm. The second one I believe to be a Callery Pear. The pear was just repotted into this shallow rectangular tray.

American Elm Bonsai

I am still not completely sure what exact type of elm this is but I am leaning towards American Elm. Here it is today, the original leader has died and now there are several leaders that make up the apex. I just love the bark on this one and the branches are coming along nicely. The tree was collected near some railroad tracks behind a McDonald's a few years ago. I'm letting the tree do what it wants to do for now while I figure out the first branch. I keep it outside all winter here in Cincinnati with zero protection (could be why I lost the leader branch).

I don't have a garage or a shed or a yard to bury the trees in. I live in the city and all my plants survive on a balcony facing east. These conditions are less than ideal for gardening but I am somehow able to keep them alive. My mulberry died last winter but I attribute that to over-working the roots. City/balcony gardening can be annoying but it beats the alternatives; giving up bonsai or moving out of the city, both things I would never do at this point. Anyhow, the elm is perfect for such a situation as it is very cold hardy and tolerates receiving only morning sun. Pests are still a problem.

American Elm Bonsai

I will have to apologize because I had originally been calling this tree a winged elm. I now believe that it is not a winged elm since it has failed to produce wings. I will now be calling this tree American Elm. Sorry for the confusion.

I got the tree out today to take a quick photograph while the leaves are still small. I like this tree a lot and it seems to be getting more tree-like each year. The leader had died back over the winter so I wired up a new one. I'd like to keep the tree tall like it is now but if I need to, in the future, I may shorten it. Lately I am favoring tall trees. I never much liked the perfectly tapered sumo trees that have become such a trend. Also I am favoring the more upward reaching branches and eventually branches going all directions in a slightly haphazard construction. This tree isn't supposed to look ancient but I do hope it to look naturalistic as it progresses. So far I am pleased with its development.

Winged Elm bonsai, winter update

Here is my winged elm bonsai, collected in kentucky. I'm hoping for another mild winter since again it won't be getting any protection.

Collected Elm Bonsai, first year in a pot.

Winged elm will grow (Zones 6 through 9) in full sun but prefer shade and will tolerate drying out between waterings. The winged elm is a fast grower, quickly producing the fine twiggy growth and small leaves. It will take heavy pruning throughout the growing season. They are vigorous top growers, so when pruning keep more leaves on the lower branches and less on the upper branches. The twigs tend to grow in a naturally pleasing zig-zag manner and the leaves reduce to a half inch or less.

I collected this tree last summer in the Cincinnati area. It had been wired a little and routinely pruned. I removed many of the lower branches and much of its root system. The tree has been fed very sparingly and is growing in full sun. I plan on picking up many more of these in the nearest future.

Like what you see? Make me an offer and I just might consider selling it to you :)

New pot for elm bonsai

This elm was collected this past spring. These trees are perfect for bonsai.

Collected Winged Elm bonsai

This plant may not look like it has much potential. Straight trunk, no taper, and relatively no surface roots to speak of.. however, I believe in the core of my psyche that this plant, in time, will look like a real tree that just got shrunken. I mean naturalistic and pure like a real tree. Imo too many bonsai don't rly look like real trees. They still look good. Just not real. And today more than ever there is a high value on what is really real.