Western Hemlock is my featured bonsai for the day.
This is a beautiful evergreen tree. Not very common for bonsai, because it is not an Asian tree. I have learned it is excellent for bonsai because of the small clustered branches and needles. In the Pacific Northwest, this tree is a native species, so it grows very easily with little maintenance.
These two photos below were taken on April 19, 2020. The tree had started to open it's buds for Spring. Very tightly clustered yellow-green needles.
The older needles are dark green, and they will last for many years on the tree.
Now it is April 25, 2020.
Here is what the tree has evolved into in almost a week.
Soon this tree will be ready for some pinching.
I like to see the stem extend out three centimetres or so before I start pinching. This gives the stem a chance to establish some strength, and adhere stronger to last year's wood.
Pinching will help the tree to redistribute energy to parts of the tree receiving less growth energy.
When all the buds have been pinched back to a short stem-length, all growth areas are more likely to receive even amounts of growth. This helps needles to form all at the same small size. Pinching can also promote new buds to form along the branches, increasing the the nice clustered branch density that fits the nature of this tree.
My goal for this tree is not totally set in stone.
Maybe I will develop some draping branches to weep down over the sides. I've already got a nice low branch hovering over the ground, and I would like to see some more branches cascading down under the rightward trunk. Certain buds can be allowed to remain unpinched to allow this to happen.
ID: 0030
Nickname: ??? (Unnamed)
Type: Western Hemlock
Age: 2 years
Grown: bare-root (from nursery stock)
Last repotting: February 2, 2019
Last Wired: August 20, 2019
More articles displaying this tree:
Thank you for viewing my tree from my personal bonsai tree collection. It hasn't been shared very often because I rarely work on it. Truly it has taken on an artistic shape to be appreciated. Do you think it is a lovely tree too?
Photos in this post are all #originalworks by 
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#western-hemlock #conifer #evergreen #green-needles #green #needles #branches #miniature #native-tree #native-plant #creative
