Patience

So this is what bonsai is all about. There is maybe 6 weeks between each image, starting on the right as a shaggy unkept tree, to almost total defoliation - removal of most of the leaves, to the more refined image bottom left. Work with a vision and apply the right techniques at the right time.
Removing almost all of the trees leaves is incredibly stressful, it's the food factory of the plant so the preceding months are about building that health and assessing it. The reward is smaller leaves with more fine branching and a better image of the tree.

This process will not be repeated next year to give the tree a break but will happen again year after as is the cycle of working with living art that wants to be 30ft tall!

This tree will be on display shortly at a local exhibition.