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.