Whimsical Ponderosa Pine Styling-

I really like this pine — with deference on the issue of the removed jin, this tree exhibits artistic mastery of the yamadori pine! Nice work!

Michael Hagedorn

Ponderosa is a controversial North American tree. Mostly the debates swirl around the long needles, and their size being a problem with bonsai. I’m of two minds with this. For one, Ponderosa ramifies rather well over time, and needle length comes down pretty good. My misgivings are that for very small trees, ponderosa foliage doesn’t seem well suited. But, for a modest sized tree and larger, we have a really rough and rugged, really quite exciting, pine character. It’s almost the ultimate pine, in terms of wild ‘piney’ feeling.

This ponderosa is modest in size, 26″. That’s enough size to get beyond the long needles, and then it’s also a bunjin, which is one of the best applications for the species. Needle size will also go down a lot over time.

Before I bought the tree, it had been left to grow for some years without any kind of management…

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Utah Juniper (aka “Big Sexy”)

Very inspirational for those of us that might be intimidated working with Yamadori of this quality…will be great to watch the progression of this tree!

Peter Tea Bonsai

Utah Juniper (aka “Big Sexy”)

Now that I have settled back in California, it’s time to rebuild my Bonsai collection!  For the past 6 months, I have been slowly rebuilding the Bonsai business I left behind and have worked with many terrific people.  I have study groups that have formed throughout California and even in other States!  You can say that I’m living the Bonsai dream!  I hope to play my part in helping the promotion of bonsai in the United States and get good information out there to those that want it.  My other goal is also to build a quality bonsai collection for myself and not just enjoy the final development of the trees, but the journey as well.

That brings us to the tree that you see below, known by some (mainly the collectors) as, “Big Sexy.”  There is no doubt that this tree is big, though I didn’t buy it just for the size…

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Siberian Elm Forest

Siberian Elm Yose Ue

Composed of Ulmus pumila seedlings, this forest was planted January 18, 2014 during an extended bout of cabin fever. Although maybe a little early for transplanting seedlings, Siberian elms are a tough species and good survival is expected. How many trees?

Siberian larch

Acquired December of 2013 from a local nursery, this larch has potential as a future bonsai. With it’s attractive nebari, even taper and branch structure, I envision an old and stately semi-formal upright design. Of the trees faults, however, a congested area of thick branches half-way up the trunk will require some heavy pruning. This will be a great exercise in ‘branch removal without fear’ as so often depicted in old Bonsai Today articles!

Raw stock Larix siberica, 40″. Shown here with one of the heavier spoke branches already “stubbed”

Nebari potential

Initial wiring and branch selection, 26″

Korean maple bonsai

Korean maple (Acer pseudosieboldianum) over a rock

Rooted over a rock a year ago and recently wired for shape, this seedling Korean maple has room to grow in a blue glazed training pot. With time, ramification will be improved, the roots will be exposed, and an image of an older tree should begin to develop. For now, I am still experimenting with Acer pseudosieboldianum as bonsai. Given it’s cold-hardiness, vibrant spring growth and awesome fall colors, there is definitely potential for this under-utilized species.

Yamadori Black Hills Spruce #1

3-tiered bunjin style

Collected Spring 2013 and bonsai-potted in the Fall, this tree will need additional wiring to define the foliage pads.

Atop “The Hills”

View from Harney Peak – Highest point East of the Rocky Mountains at 7244′ elevation.

Twisted pines

Old Ponderosa pines growing in the Black Hills of South Dakota inspire both the beginning bonsai enthusiast, as well as seasoned yamadori masters.