About a dozen members of Midori Bonsai club enjoyed an instructional Master's Workshop with Gary Marchal of Louisiana.  Gary is an expert in the design of Bald Cypress, but he's equally versatile with some of the more common bonsai species Gary Marchal's home page and more information about Bald Cypress can be found at his website.. Doug Philips peers through the branches.

Developing a twin-trunk bonsai required some significant creation pruning and wiring

Larry White applies cut paste to the newly carved top of his Bald Cypress. it will require approximately three years for this cut to heal completely.

Doug Phillips, Gary Marchal and Seiji Shiba look over a bald cypress in order to further refine the tree.  The top has already begun to heal from the first major cutback.

 Just after the initial pruning and carving, the top of the tree is shaped as shown. The small stub of wood at the top will heal over and make the trunk taper more naturally.

Here you can see the results after one full season's growth.  The new bark had begun to roll over the cut edges as the tree grows vigorously.  Probably at least two-three years more will be required to completely heal this area.

John Thompson is using a die grinder to carve away at the top of the tree. Bald Cypress wood is very resistent to disease and decay, but it is surprisingly soft wood.  John's got a light coating of sawdust already.

The whole gang benefits from Gary's critique of this Chinese Juniper. Gary pointed out that the design's influenced by Penjing or chinese bonsai sensibilities and that it was appropriate to the sinuous trunk and branch placement.