Cornus mas_Cascade_Winter silhouette 2017

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Cornelian cherries are one of the most attractive deciduous trees for bonsai.   Not easy in terms of development ( I should really take some deshi time at Maros's ) and they will always look a bit rough.   But in any other aspect they are just great.  At least for me.   ( Well, one should not take this too seriously. As my wood guru said: "If there is not the timber  I love,  then I love the one that is available here".  )

The wood of  Cornelian cherries is extremely hard. Dense and Hard.  Difficult to carve but very resistant to the rot.  It means the deadwood is a quite natural feature.  

The flowers are quite special.  First the flower buds are formed into small but distinctive balls that makes this tree look through the rest of the season different from any other species in our region.    The buds are formed in the summer and they are really very keen to show their unpretending beauty as soon as possible once the first winter snow starts melting.  

I do love the red colour of the fruits.  It varies from straight red to purple one ( some varieties are yellow though ), tastes bitter but there are some domesticated forms that are quite sweet.  The wild boars love them.  And not only them.  The well ripened fruits disappear quite quickly.  Then you will find around the tree only small heaps of the fruit stones...
Anyway the fruit are delicious to make a jam but the labour to make it  is awful...

Apart from the jam, the fruit can be used for  much more usable product - a spirit.  At least in our Slav region.  Other nations were more practical using the excellent quality of the wood to make weapons such as spears etc.   Very practical indeed.  With a good spear you can have all the jam and spirit you like if you like...

So, grab the Cornelian cherry if you have a chance...


It is time to get a new pot for this little guy.  Some more time for fine tuning and we are there.  Well, nearly...  One or two, perhaps three more seasons? Who cares, bonsai is about the change and about the constant search for the best angle:) 


Cornus mas, yamadori, bonsai, dřín, deadwood

Cornus mas, yamadori, bonsai, dřín, blossom buds
Some flower buds in a starting block for next season

Cornus mas, yamadori, bonsai, dřín, deadwood


Initial article about this tree here

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