Ilex
(Ilex vomitoria)
I bought two Ilex vomitoria as shrubs at our September 2005 Bonsai Club meeting, where we had a workshop on making a "hard cut" on them. It was a lot of fun, and a lot of work, turning shrubs into nubs!
The one on the right, above, is Ilex 1, and the one on the left is Ilex 2.
Ilex 1
This is Ilex 1. I think it has better root structure, and the twigs that we left on it already have some taper.
Ilex 2
Here's Ilex 2. I didn't think he is as cute as Ilex 1, but I may be proven wrong!
May 23, 2006 R.I.P. - Ilex 2 didn't make it... I don't know why, as it was situated right next to Ilex 1, but for some reason it is quite dead. This is actually my first loss..... So, from now on, we'll be referring to the remaining tree as "Ilex" rather than "Ilex 1."
September 11, 2006 R.I.P. - Ilex 1 seems to have joined Ilex 2 in that big forest in the sky....
The Ilex gallery can be found here.