A bonsai artist must face during his apprenticeship, like in any art forms, a high level of failures before mastering its techniques. Today I share one of those mistakes so that I do not repeat it again.
Even if Beeches tolerate full sun, they largely prefer to grow under the canopy, protected from the scorching sun by the other established trees. I was lucky until today but the last heat wave burned my tree.
I should have remembered what I learned reading this excellent book on the Beech (written in french), that resumed precisely the fragility of the Fagus genera.
Le hêtre est une espèce de l’étage montagnard. Chez le hêtre, la vapeur d’eau s’échappe par les stomates mais aussi, en quantité non négligeable, au travers des surfaces qui séparent ces pores, ce qui est exceptionnel. Il transpire deux fois plus d’eau qu’un chêne et ne tolère donc pas les forêts plus sèches, le temps chaud et sec et le soleil violent.
Il n’aime pas les espaces découverts et préfère déployer tranquillement ses jeunes branches à l’abri des autres espèces.
I moved the tree in a shaded corner next to the Eastern Hemlocks where it will rebuild strength.
The lesson I learned is that we must never play dice with the health of our trees. Soon or later, a disaster will happen. We must anticipate.
On the contrary, this Black Pine seems to enjoy its sun bath.
