About my "Acer Negundo" bonsai forest
In early 2022 I decided to work on a bonsai forest composed of five Manitoba maples. The idea was pretty older, likely when I was a 13 y/o kid.
Fig.2.Forest in late April 2022.
Fig.3.Forest in summer 2022.
Fig.5.Forest in July.
Fig.6.Maintenance progress
Fig.7.Maintenance progress
Fig.8.Forest in August.
Fig.9.During photoshoot
Fig.10.Forest in September.
Fig.11.Forest in September.
Fig.12.Forest before/after cleaning
Fig.13.Detail
Fig.15.During autumn cleanup
Fig.16.Done!
Fig.17.Forest during Christmas
Fig.19.Forest in four seasons
Fig.1.My forest in mid September 2022.
The trees were collected in early March, the older one in the center being collected back in 2019 - it was pretty small, but nowadays got some taper and looks "mature" within the project.
Around this time the forest didn't exist. The idea came after I saw several videos posted by The Bonsai Zone (Nigel Saunders) related to similar forests and I appreciated a lot the process, not only the forest itself. Being still in early learning about bonsai world, I tried with accessible trees like Manitoba maples that grow likely everywhere in the area and I can work with it in my own pace.
It's uncommon to me, but I didn't take any pictures when I potted it, mostly because it was right after 24/2, everyone was speaking all about the incoming war times and I felt so disillusioned and I simply planted the trees and let it alone. Furthermore, I just had my phone in service for almost a month and my mood for photography declined and although I had a strong vision of the then-future "Acer Negundo" forest, I felt uneasy if the trees will root or not. I drastically root pruned them so I could obtain a radial nebari/root system, mostly specific to the Negundo's relatives from Norway, "Acer platanoides".
In fig.2. I finally started to get confidence in the project and I decided to pick up a nice front for the tree. The forest had had a great vibe with its spring green and small leaves, only for short time.
Manitoba maples tend to grow large leaves and sprout branches in an inequal manner. This tree specimen screws a lot traditional bonsai enthusiasts and its obviously almost unused. But for me the forest now holds a story. I discovered I can get smaller leaves on these maples too, but I don't know how much time is needed to gain such a feature. They are all still skinny and due to the big leaves they tend to look like house plants than a true bonsai forest.
Fig.3.Forest in mid May 2022.
The trees still need to recover. In its early days the trees needed stones at the base so they won't tip over. Planted some wheat around Easter in the soil. I intended to keep it as a "hedge", but it all grew up and made the overall forest looking like an abandoned lot - that was the main idea, the wheat stabilised the soil somehow, but I removed it entirely in late June because it dried being in the shadow of now larger leaves of the Negundo's.
Fig.4.Forest in late June 2022.
In early summer I've been away from home almost a month. I thought it will be one week, but the departure was longer than expected and the forest was under the care of my mum. She made regular live videos via WhatsApp the state of the forest and other trees whilst I was at the hotel. I felt very uncomfortable there, mostly because I didn't have fresh air and I missed the forest.
When I returned back, the forest was the first thing I checked. It got sunburn and wheat dried away, so a cleanup was needed. Found scale insects that attacked the trees during my absence.
I thought the forest won't recover, but a month later it showed little growth, unbelievable but certain leaves remained small and the forest started to get a bit the real-life scale but in miniature. Nonetheless, I appreciated now bigger leaves and I let alone those sayings related to Acer Negundo and simply enjoy my project since I placed it on my table beside my bed and enjoy it the way it is.
In mid summer, the forest received some minor work. I planted some pepper as "hedging" and it was finally the result I wanted in April when I planted wheat. The pepper grew at a slower rate due to the shadow and resembled real life hedging (fig.6&7)
I've been away almost all summer. After all the nightmare caused by "green pass" controversy I tried to enjoy all the moments outside. However, I spent certain days indoors along my forest, but I was overwhelmed by stress and sleeplessness. I tried to manage the forest as much as I could during summer time, even via third parties (my sister). At the end of summer the tasks were done and I didn't touch the forest at all, only minor cleanup and watering.
The forest received its first professional photoshoot (professional for my means 😅). During August and September, forest remained still, only minor growth, as the days were shortening along sunlight and warmth.
On 20/9/2022 it was the last time when I brought it inside. After two days, I left for the next month and a half with few returns. I acknowledged that the forest started to enter dormancy and I placed it in the balcony. It slowly entered dormancy as autumn days past by. I left the dead leaves until I made another photoshoot session and cleaned all later.
It wasn't the "autumn vibe" I expected. The leaves dried too rapidly and this is the way I found it in November 2022 (Fig.13/14). However, the forest seemed partially dormant and it was cool by mid November it was fully in hibernation.
Fig.14.Forest in late autumn.
Sadly, the "pepper hedging" got removed. It truly looked great, but it must have go. The Dacia 1300 model and stones were still there as they belong to the main scenery. In late spring a.c I'm going to replant the "hedge" in the same manner like the former one.
From this point (Fig.16) nothing happened in the forest. I could relax for a while in my departures, as I was speaking about it all the time.
Christmas season came in and I decorated the forest as well. I received recently a comment on Instagram like <<you might be the first one on Earth to decorate an Acer Negundo>>. Yeah, I literally did it for my own enjoyment and it got noticed by another bonsai enthusiast. It was its first Christmas and New year and red might have protected it during season.
Fig.18.Forest in January 2023.
And here's the forest nowadays. There are still two months of dormancy ahead, but the forest does great at the moment. In March I'm going to trim trees and reshape the canopies. However, the forest will stay there in this blue tray two more years. I know it doesn't put any value to the forest, but I need at least three years of probation and find a nice pot meanwhile. I'm glad at the moment with all the endeavors to keep it alive since its planting day, being also still a busy student.
Post Scriptum
The times are very unstable, not only the weather, but politically. I don't even know what to expect next months since January is almost over and things doesn't look bright.
2022 didn't go smoothly. After 24/2, everyone was scared. Prices keep on rising and whole autumn was screwed up because I must work now twice to have enough money to overcome the current downhill. Winters aren't the same at all, really wished to collect some snow and place on the forest's soil. Recently switched to tap water to rain water finally.
We'll live and see what's next. The balcony is still a safe place for the forest and I can't wait to see it green again. That's the story. More updates soon. Cheers! 👋💡🌳
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