This is the tree May 2012:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzpfo78mP2xbQDYrDb_XgvlzBBTf0VZDD-9pUAiCdY6pqLk_I1pv0qnG9DdR5OqeRKCQpQLDWe5cX8pfcRHBbWCuqY0mHz3XQaHoj9zIESyUBGQQP9HRlu9f0hSoEKwpkfKXXr474p4Ws/s320/Celtis+1.jpg)
From the start the tree portrayed a windswept feel, and I decided to pursue the style. I had to do a lot of research because windswept trees are very difficult for me to visualize, especially the branch and twig structure.
I did not want to have a tree with defined pads like this:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifdPSXifpJgi0FKYInGCCQhsbrgEOoWoxtct_jGhyphenhyphen_ryx6u0zzlOYXcEB6T_aOrssiVm_AYWxJ3RmGbQ7pifk8vjg-J3zJ4N1V-o_DTidaBy7wBAf2X0Esks6i1QYYEtHY6w-9C09zgY0/s320/wndswpt.jpg)
Looking through hundreds of pictures on the net I found this real life windswept tree and did a virtual of my tree next to it:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMRfO35U-H5U2NnmuJMrhEKUt1aeFo5iyiOEkrZqAo3muNldC6OXy5DI5jj8fhyKfk_14Gz4gjT3cT8WqEzsZLqSMVPu6YaY4MeiNf91cKkKK6U8pC_2jGEoUx_kav9DtGQLstuwe29FA/s320/wind+blown+tree+virt.jpg)
I liked this image and was convinced that broadleaved trees, like my Celtis, can look like this. I studied branch and twig structures of other windswept bonsai and I like this:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5chI5m-BVPIpMXVa669t-U6kLBYcGxZfdynjP91ZPWZ79ZUrnGurKYk5lhD5v0jjwPR4IOV-eL7_sq_Uh4yiV_pZq8VdIyIe1ipgIe67ZHzKrueUGIQK5nFbW7KggaFuhPm1-78sEog4/s320/Windswept-cabang.jpg)
Drawing inspiration from guys like Robert Stevens and Jun, I decided to give it a try.
I decide to get rid of this branch because it was straight and very close to the upper branches (August 2012):
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgzzTNbfBM1rc61xYAD_VdAf8XKaVkPVc7KRowCYI4_rYbgf1Gi1RRRj-rLr4of8ofPles8PpwyHxmT-wRaDWNeYmpsMuFWx2M9qP87mprmOMu-qkOF3Y_m-XYzAqmFlDeltvyHfiGoaE/s320/August+2012+virt.jpg)
The tree from the other side:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggCl_mRbN8hW5EPExsx-xRvm1DXfnh7sKYGwxlZzOatwuuaFE88vsxHQjqOhM-BIL3Kc-4F1MQc2BqaHSwwPAmF7yDUDekUKa27vp-XlsgDMUryjmIgfggzscCM91w3JyWbzcIdY_fkbA/s320/August+2012+virt+b.jpg)
Looking at the above image there may be some deadwood incorporated into the design.
This is the tree October 2012 after some heavy cut backs:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN1zSZEcZQDJ-6pzVLPRRjqDBcV8niUekTZvSAo3gGYTIm1foEz5cKkBjcjT-ihWttFMEoKPT9epfoIbwVpy_kvi7gXzBionDolXs2y7rcJtIKEq5tEr1Q7k_VR7zMS6x3G92mA-4reK4/s320/oct+2012+b.jpg)
From there I left the tree to grow freely. It got a bit dry in the beginning of the growing season but no harm done. This is the tree yesterday at a nursery where we showed and worked on some trees:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcGQz6F-sZBi3_bNkK8Eu81IFgh5sTHw2eS5YCnCzBUbMUvrX0OgyqgerOouynvTwvuuK3qntdiLKh9RC5fItfxMT0BOcWdg6241DiIv2sQ30JApBZecbldp4Z8ynLHn3bAC9_4FpXkj0/s320/celtis+windswept+before+November+2013.jpg)
Defoliating the tree and wiring every branch and twig took me about 5 hours! After wiring the tree and styling it this is how it looks now:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaPvNVRjewZq8WsyFcjs-BROtrBXe0Wxg_U1CY_Nkkq8BUdCuFDJAeDHMHXkpgHREDdx2hKYRJMcVnSp9IKRIt6PbVcnsm2ub05by5md_8qrT7pLRe1NR5buAcxXYVuor88EDk-CW4eZY/s320/windswept+celtis+nov+2013+after+ab.jpg)
The other side:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRxybHvzze-r7R2kBCUMGBn3g19BfZvKqN05uw92t1ZpbgImsE9qqsWdyRYLxnvKus6JpxZRBQEgs2tG4-EHfMBUARtv6M5yEm5gY7tSOrN25DUIj79vD8spUHrgT_qkkx7vN3b6dtq2w/s320/celtis+windswept+after+nov+2013+b.jpg)
Being my first real windswept I am happy with the outcome.
The nebari is covered by a mulch and the tree is in one of my ugly Rockset pot creations.
The crown seems a little bit crowded by all the branches, twigs and the wire accentuate this.....maybe I should thin it out a bit?
The tree does look to be too vigorous for a struggling tree?
A friend, Amith, from SABonsai, did a virt for me showing another option: