Great bark, outstanding foliage...Eric's favorite things about working with Washington Hawthorn! As a member of the rose family (along with crab apple and quince), Hawthorn have thorns and need regular treatment with fungicide to keep them healthy. Fortunately, the good features far outweigh the challenges in developing beautiful bonsai from Hawthorn.
If you're interested in developing your own Hawthorn bonsai, you can pick up starters (shipping within U.S. only) here: www.bonsaify.com/products/was....
00:00:50 As young trees, the goal is to create an interesting trunk, adding movement in the low trunk.
00:01:23 Eric discusses wiring and associated challenges.
00:01:51 Hawthorn have a tendency to create suckers (like crabapples), which Eric considers to be a Feature, not a flaw. Eric wires the tree #1.
00:02:34 Tip for working with thorns - they're easy to remove on young Hawthorn and won't grow back.
00:03:13 Advantage to keeping thorns.
00:03:34 Creating movement after wiring. Hawthorn are relatively flexible for a deciduous tree.
00:05:03 They make really good bark! Eric begins to work on tree #2.
00:05:59 Wiring decisions explained.
00:06:26 Since Hawthorn aren't particularly good at healing over wounds, there is an opportunity for carving and the creation of interesting deadwood.
00:07:52 How to speed growth up and create vigor.
00:08:29 Hawthorn are relatively hearty and produce an incredibly beautiful, fiery display of fall foliage every year.
00:09:27 Eric also loves the fine twigging.
00:10:17 Summary of work on tree #2 - creating the beginning of a cascade.
Do you have any Washington Hawthorn in your bonsai collection? Tell us your favorite thing about working with Hawthorn in the comments. Post pictures to Instagram or Facebook and tag us @bonsaifyonline! Thank you for watching this video; please subscribe and share with your bonsai friends!
Still Hawthorn images by Aki Yamakawa - check him out on Flickr.
www.flickr.com/photos/spclzd/...
Footage of Greg McDonald by Tom Lao:
/ @baikoenbonsai