A year ago we featured Michael Roberts on a couple blog posts, and here’s another one. Michael not only works with great care and patience over many years but also had the foresight to take photos of his subjects. Which makes posts like these a pleasure.
Young Corkbark Elm, 2010. Notice the pots in the rest of the photos. Each one is different.
Michael writes of his tree: “This twin trunk Cork Bark Elm was purchased from San Gabriel Nursery in December 1998 as 1 gallon nursery stock. At that time the tree was probably 5 or 6 years old, and had a trunk diameter of about 1 1/2″. I most likely grew it in nursery pots and boxes for 10 or 11 years, until I had the primary branches in place, which was what I generally did those in days. So, at that point, I put it in the cheap injection molded pot shown in the first picture. That pot is roughly 12” x 8” by 2” deep and I probably took that picture because it had fall color for the first time (elms don’t often get good fall color in Southern California). It’s also about the same time that I got my first digital camera and pictures were easy to create. So, based on the pot size, I’m guessing that the tree was about 15” or 16” wide and about 17” or 18” tall with a 2 1/2″ – 3” trunk base.”
2015. Michael has switched the front here, which appears to present the branches better.
He writes: “Probably sometime in 2013 or 2014 I turned this tree around and repotted it into the pot shown in the 2015 picture. That pot is 17 /12” x 13 1/2” x 2 1/4” deep. That puts the tree, after pruning, at about 21” or 22” wide, about 19” tall from the soil line, and with a 4” diameter trunk.”
In 2018 the tree is coming into focus. Ramification is edging into legendary status.
Michael writes: “The 2018 photo is the prep for the “Winter Silhouettes” show for January 2019. That pot is 20 1/2” x 16 1/2” x 3” deep. So, once again, I’m guessing the tree was 26” or 27” tip to tip, about 20” tall from the soil line and has a trunk dia. of about 6 1/2”.”
And by 2023 the thing is epic. For 13 years of work it speaks for itself. The pot is the only one with sizable feet, which, at this stage, feels right. The trunk is hunky. In the first photo the short little feet worked well with the modest trunk size. Now we’re in the big leagues and we need a whompier bat. Also notice that even in a pot this tree has gained 5” of trunk caliper.
Michael again: “Last January I repotted into the bag pot which is 20” x 16 1/2” x 3 3/4” deep. The tree is currently 27 1/2” wide, 24” tall from the soil line and has a trunk diameter of 7 1/2”. This past growing season, I pruned, thinned and defoliated twice, in an effort to open the canopy somewhat. I’m choosing to leave the last of the fall foliage and have not pruned the tip growth (this is pretty much just how it came into the shop off the bench) to create a tight silhouette like I have in years past. I’m hoping to create a more “natural” show look.”