This Cotoneaster has been in my collection since I dug it out of a garden in 1995. It’s nothing special really and I’m not overly happy with the shape of it. I even consider removing all branches and starting again. What I do like about it is the flowers and the deadwood I’ve created.
This was it back in a garden in 1995.
And here in 1996.
and again in 1998. Shortly after this photo a root died causing a narrowing of the live vein and the death of a few lower branches.
Bonsai Eejit 
Are ou kidding it’s amazing if it was mine I’d be well proud of it!
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Other peoples bonsai always look better than your own. When you see them every day you tend to focus on the faults and how to correct them. You’ll find this out for yourself. I think we can safely say you are hooked 🙂 Wish I started bonsai at the age of 15!!
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I love this tree! Maybe that is true of others specimens. I really have issues with just about everyone of my trees except for 1 that i collected. I started when i was 17…2003. Enjoyed every experience( good and bad) since then in the bonsai world. I learn everyday and has alot more to learn, obviously.
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Thanks Mitch. I started at 23 (now 40) but there was a period in the middle when I didn’t do much and I look back on that with regret. It was a missed opportunity to move trees forward. I’m trying to make up for that now 🙂
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what jamie said! this looks awesome! i dug up a cottoneaster stump at the start of the year. i’m just letting it grow for now. i’ll probably bring it along to a work shop next year.
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There you go, that didn’t take long at all. A flowering tree dug up from a garden 😀
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Lookig from where you started I think you have made quite a nice tree.
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Thanks Dave
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Looking at the tree again as a suggestion from a mere novice the left hand branch appears a bit heavy to the rest of the tree. As I said I’m a mere novice and would be very satisfied to have such a tree in my collection.
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Hi Dave, Novice or not, you are probably right 🙂 That branch has 3 layers of foliage, but in flower they are hard to see and it probably makes it look even heavier. I have considered shortening the branch as well.
The first branch on the right died in the Winter about 2 years ago and the current one was a back branch brought round to the right side. I now have a new shoot coming in the right place and I’m letting it extend and possibly fill that spot. By shortening the heavy branch I may actually encourage the tree to back bud further. I plan to look at these options after flowering has finished. I’ll keep you posted.
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