lol! Tom,
My name for this tree is 'wrist rocket' 'cause it looks like a slingshot with an offset, contoured handle.

This tree has evolved with me on the bonsai journey and the twin branches are the result off novice ignorance.
I wouldn't design/style a tree like that now, but I've invested too much time in this one and I've grown to actually like the way it looks. She's like a childhood friend.... I've lived with her flaws so long I hardly notice them.

It's not as noticeable while it's in leaf so I don't see it to think about but a few times a year (most of the time, if I want to see it bare even the winter, I have to pull the leaves my self- they won't fall off in the winter 'till the new leaves push them off.

I'm sure other people see the slingshot too.

Thanks for your input; If I, or the tree, was younger I would do like you say except I'd take out the left branch and really get some motion it the trunk. It wouldn't take all that long to rebuild it.

Thanks,
 Jay

Ken,
I do enjoy playing with the natives. That's all I grow except for a couple of citrus.

I'm slowly learning how to bonsai some of them.....

The elm group is in a state of flux this year. Two of the trees in it died last year and I took the main tree out to grow separately in hopes of thickening the trunk. Whats left has just been trimmed like a hedge just to keep it in basic shape.

I'll probably put it all together next spring, but it won't be the same as before.

Thanks,
Jay

Yes, I have a few larger/different ones. I'll work on posting something on them soon.

Jay

Very nice tree Jay!  You alluded to thinking that this tree has taken a long time to develop...I noticed it was collected in 2003...6 years!  looks like great progress to me!  I also just collected about 50 of these from a swamp in SC...fully knowing that they can be a challenge but, like you, I look forward to the journey   Thanks for posting...

One question...do you remember when you did the first defoliation..(I hope I didn't miss that date in your posts)

Thanks,
John

Jay, from my experience with red maple you've done a great job.  They just don't produce lots of short internodes, and leaf size reduction isn't as much as we'd want either.  But they are wonderful trees, with their own unique characteristics.  Thanks for posting a great photo of a very nice red maple.

Zach