Hello AR! I sent you a message on Instagram, so I thought I would double up and send a message on KZfaq. I just finished my journey from Portland back to the Seattle area and I think that your “ Shohin School” was a resounding success! A most impressive program!

I do Bonsai for a pretty long time but never heard about Nishikigawa even tough im a maple fanatic, instant sub! Great Specimen, greetings from Switzerland

Very educational, good sir. You put out some great talking points to consider. Really appreciating you, brother

I really enjoyed hearing your thoughts and explanations, awesome trees!!

Another awesome video! Thank you. Love the dots and dashes imagery.

I have had several cork bark maples and currently I have an Arakawa Maple. Once the structure of the tree is formed ramification is tricky because of back budding (like you mention). So I think fall pruning is essential to reduce the distance between internodes. Otherwise your branches become too leggy. Thanks for the video.

Great video again, Andrew. The second half of the video horticulturist part of myself in my mind repeatedly told me you are definitely going to stick these cut branches into substrate as cuttings. 😂

As always thank you Andrew! It’s amazing to see and confirm the techniques that we apply have real results. 🎉

Thanks for another great video! Do you sell Rakuyo merch anywhere? I didn't see any on your website!

Great video and advice on the differences between Arakawa and Nishikigawa. Looking forward to creating these myself. I recently acquired a pretty decent old Arakawa, unfortunately it has an 8" momiji trunk before the graft so will have to layer it. Plan to pump up energy this year and take a few air layers and rooted cuttings off the top in 2024, then air layer the whole remaining tree off in 2025. You've reminded me that I should also start growing/planning for future thread grafts...it will need them!

Hmmm, I guess low cost is relative. I’m guessing Peter is not giving these away. Peter is awesome and he certainly knows how to assess trees including knowledge of correct market values. It’s always a bit of a mystery how much trees cost or are worth. A bit of a taboo subject it seems. I think it’s a great exercise to learn how to properly assess a tree including an understanding of what is the potential and required time frame to finish the tree would be. I just heard Peter speak on this subject (and others) at the ABAS (Sacramebto club) monthly meeting. Based on that I’m guessing the price for the tree was $6000. Most bonsai growers tend to not bring up cost or prices. It is proper and appropriate. That said for those still learning(I guess that’s all of us) I think understanding the value of trees would be an important exercise. There are few to none in regard to actual pricing or values videos on KZfaq. Personally I try to never miss a local auction because that is to date the best place for me to understand pricing, quality and desirability. Your video inspired me to buy a few of these maples from Mendocino maples, they were all crudely grafted but I will layer them once they get established. Unfortunately there is no movement in the trunk which is a challenge and a reminder of the importance of early selecting decisions. Thank you again, Mats

I have both Arakawa and Nishikigawa in my collection, the long internodes are a pain at times, I've tried holding right off with the fertiliser in late spring, a very challenging maple to grow. Great tutorial video, thank you :-)

Ugh I was going to buy that arakawa from Peter before it disappeared from the store lol. Guess I can't be mad you got it at least

I love the rough bark aspect - not only on Deciduous trees such as in this video, but also evergreen ones. Your trees in this video show how your artistic talents and love of this living art form can produce a beautiful tree. I’d love to visit your garden. And from what source do you acquire the silver aluminum wire of varying sizes. Using brown or black ones, I have overlooked some on a tree that really bit into it. Thank you.

Great content!

salut, très intéressant vraiment merci et bonne année ;)

Another awesome video Andrew. Thank you for sharing these excellent trees and tips. I'm a huge fan of maples so I'm loving this maple content. In your experience does the Nishikigawa maple not drop branches like an Arakawa?

What species would you like to see more of in the U.S? 2 years ago, i started a growing operation in N.C. im currently growing Silverberry, Zelkova, Euro Beech, Stewartia Monadelpha, Elm Corticosa, Gardena, JM (seigen, momiji, Arakawa, Trident). Mostly all air layers. Surprisingly i started the Stewartias from seed.

Nice trees. I am trying to airlayer my tree to get the roots coming out at the base of the corky wood rather than the smooth bark below the graft. Do you use a tourniquet? My air layer didn't work last year so I'll try again this year. Thanks also for the tip on thread grafting.

Hi, thanks for your explanations. A question: I've a rough maple (not bonsai), but I don't know the variety; are there any differences between arakawa and nishikigawa other than the speed they bark? Thank you in advance.

Great video Andrew. But I disagree on one point. I don’t think the maples are your most Populus trees in the garden… Sorry! Couldn’t help myself 😂