Originally
purchased as 2½ft tall nursery stock in a Garden Centre sale
in Autumn 2000. This ugly-looking Pine had some future as a
bonsai due to the presence of a number of low branches with
foliage close to the trunk and some wonderful bark texture.
The
tree was reduced in height, repotted out of its unsuitably
wet compost and left to recover.
Autumn 2001. A year later and the tree has its first basic styling,
unwanted branches are removed and the beginnings of the branch structure
is wired.
The two areas
of tape around the trunk are where grafts have been made in the
Spring.
The marked
improvement in the health of the tree can be seen in its foliage
colour.
Summer
2002 and some good growth.
Spring 2003. The tree is repotted into a mica pot. Needles have
been thinned in the Autumn of 2002 to produce backbudding.
Just 6
months later in Autumn 2003; the tree has responded very vigorously
this year producing many new buds and much new growth.
This image
is taken after needle-plucking. The top of the tree has been
lowered by bringing the apex forwards.
