Rather big Azalea that got reclassified as 'bonsai material' last year. I'm enjoying this tree and learning the patterns of Azaleas - if it keeps doing as well as it currently is, it might even turn into something decent one day, with some mindful attention to it's needs.
Needed a trim so I could review branches. Defoliation time, it won't be making flowers this year.
Left a few small leaves on however it's already budding all over and on old wood again this spring. Has some inverted taper in the base of the trunk, but that can be resolved with a little Carving. Waiting to see where the vigor of the tree takes it, then I'll help it along. The exposed roots are just as it was originally in the ground - some are dead, some are alive. This will be part of the 'carving' process down the road.
