Post helene hornbeam

[jesse3489]

So before Helene came through I had gotten in contact with the local legend John Geanangel about acquiring some yamadori hornbeam. I purchased a tree from him and planned on picking it up on Friday Sept 27th. Helene came through and literally ripped up everything around my house. My truck was totaled, shed got picked up and nearly taken away. The ONLY thing left in my shed were my bonsai pots, all perfectly stacked up like nothing had happened. I had also set up a cheap 13'x8' Amazon greenhouse that housed all of my trees during the storm which had MIRACULOUSLY been unscathed. I had rushing waters surrounding my house and landslides behind my house. This man called me and asked me if I needed anything and checked up on me multiple times before I even thought about coming out to get my tree.Yesterday on Nov 2nd I could finally retrieve my tree from John. I made the 3 hour journey to his house and let me tell you this man was one of the most humble and inviting human beings I have ever met. It may sound dumb to some of you, but after everything I had experienced over the course of the past month, I felt like I had went to Disney land. He is a untapped mine of knowledge and his artistic vision is truly amazing to see in person. And let me tell you when I finally got to see my tree, it was spectacular. This tree is going to be dedicated to the storm and all people involved in it and I pray that I can do the tree justice and tell my story through this tree in the years to come.
Had to make sure she had an enjoyable ride home.

She is an absolute beauty!

 

[RJG2]

@johng you made an impression

 

[johng]

Im glad you like your tree, Jesse! I am sure you will do well with it
John

 

[jesse3489]

Im glad you like your tree, Jesse! I am sure you will do well with it
John

I will bring the tree back your way in the future. I want this tree to be a group effort over time, your vision artistically is better than mine at this stage. I can't wait to see how this tree develops over time. Couldn't ask for a better foundation though!

 

[jesse3489]

I'm finally getting to see one of my favorite trees come into leaf for the first time. Point point source lighting brings out the mesmerizing fluting in the trunk. The spring color of the leaves are also captivating with a nice bronze-copper to the bright chartruese veins before they darken to an emerald green. Super excited to see this tree grow hopefully for the remainder of my life.

 

[doc spring _work]

View attachment 591834

Wow... That is gorgeous

 

[BobbyLane]

I wonder if you could take a large knob cutter to the straight edge that causes the L bend in top of trunk. Youd get a more sinuous flow in the trunk line. The scar wouldn't be visible from this front. If you prefer it as is, ignore me. Thats what folk normally do when they dont agree with suggestions



Ps, then maybe bringing the apex left a little, gives you more changes of direction. Branches could also echo movement of the trunk.

 

[Gabler]

I like the knob. It gives the tree character.

 

[jesse3489]

I like the knob. It gives the tree character.

I agree. I like to keep trees alittle wild. Some of my trees i like the "perfect" bonsai look, but hornbeams in my neck of the woods grow in the craziest ways. That's what drew me to them in the first place.

 

[jesse3489]

I wonder if you could take a large knob cutter to the straight edge that causes the L bend in top of trunk. Youd get a more sinuous flow in the trunk line. The scar wouldn't be visible from this front. If you prefer it as is, ignore me. Thats what folk normally do when they dont agree with suggestions
View attachment 591843


Ps, then maybe bringing the apex left a little, gives you more changes of direction. Branches could also echo movement of the trunk.

I agree with the words that came after ps. I plan on wiring this tree out to create more movement but as this is my first spring with this tree, I wanted to see how strong the tree was before I wanted to put it through any stress. Good news is the tree is very strong. Excited to get to work on it.

 

[pandacular]

STUNNING trunk!

I could go either way on the knob—if you want to accentuate deadwood, it’s an option, but I dont mind the shape. Looks like a hunched back, very human.

 

[BobbyLane]

Thats cool. I didnt even realise it was a 'knob' until scrolling back up to the earlier image. If it was mine I would keep the 'knob'. But I would still improve the trunk line, by skinning the bark off the knob, and turning the knob into a hollow.

 

[BobbyLane]

I like the knob. It gives the tree character.

Ya reckon. To me, in the second image, it just looks like a saw cut.

 

[ForrestW]

That is on its way to being an amazing tree. I look forward to seeing the progress over the years.

 

[jesse3489]

That is on its way to being an amazing tree. I look forward to seeing the progress over the years.

Really cool that you commented, in this trees future I plan on commissioning a pot for this tree specifically from you, huge fan of your pottery.

 

[ForrestW]

Really cool that you commented, in this trees future I plan on commissioning a pot for this tree specifically from you, huge fan of your pottery.

You are very kind When the timing is right for that tree to move into a nice pot I would be honored to give it a try.

 

[jesse3489]

Bit of an update, more for documentation purposes. But feel free to scooch along with me through my journey.
I'm allowing the lower branches to sort of grow unimpeded probably for the whole season to hopefully get them to thicken to catch up with the very vigorous top. I have trimmed it once this season and this beauty really loves to branch out quite a bit from even light pruning. With that being said I have been fertilizing mildly once a week. From what I have seen they don't seem to mind even heavy fertilizing. So far though this tree keeps growing onto me like a leech, this one I think I will keep for the rest of my life, God willing.

 

[jesse3489]

She had a healthy growing season this year.

The more I work with american hornbeam the more I fall in love with this species. It seems to be more than suitable for bonsai than people are willing to give credit for. These things love to branch out!

 

[jesse3489]

Not sure why the first Pic wants to be sideways but I took her out of the greenhouse just to admire its beauty today!