Here’s a look back at a Vine Maple clump collected in 2020, assembled on a slab in 2022, and how it looks now in 2024.

With John Eads, back in the days when he was an apprentice and would agree to take two hours to wrangle a maple out of the rocks. The collecting day post, Collected Vine Maple.

Close up of the clump base. 

2022, setting up the vine maple at a possible planting angle.

After “potting” on a Corian slab. Here’s the assembling post, Cantilevered Vine Maple on a Board, with photos of how we put it together.

In fall 2024, how this maple looks after putting it on a cantilevered metal stand and after a couple of years of settling-in. In the last year the tall top extension was cut back, a few dangling branches were cut off to the left, and some very straight branches to the right manipulated to mirror some of the curves elsewhere. The large hole in the middle of the clump needs cleaning out again, as it has mossed over and is a key feature.

On the whole it’s an odd one. Visitors tend to do a double take, cock their heads sideways, and then quietly move on to something that resembles a bonsai. 

For my own part, I’ve a beef with Vine Maple. I love the species for its quirky, viney forms, but in the fall the wonderful colors come so fast and the leaves fall off so fast that it seems best to camp by the bonsai with your camera and hope you get the optimum 5 minutes for your shot. Otherwise you’ll be gluing the leaves back on. 

That aside, I still enjoy this one. And visitor’s reactions. 

Bulletin Board October 2024

• Join me at the Pacific Bonsai Expo! If you don’t yet have a copy of Bonsai Heresy or Post-Dated, please find my vendor table. I’ll be signing books. Two years ago I had a great time visiting with folks I’d not seen in years. It was, as Jonas Dupuich said, like a family reunion. I was a juror this time and have to say, this show is terrific. Really looking forward to seeing all the bonsai in person. Hope to see you there! October 26-27, 2024, Oakland, CA