Azalea HARD CHOP, as well as help indentifing.

[Rfranco]

Hi just got this azalea, I have read that the best time to cut the plant is after flowering, as well as before the bloom. my question is where to cut and what to cut i want to devlop a good trunk line thinking Rock over root found this on the sidewalk (LAST TWO PICS) I need help identifing any input would be great. Thanks

[JTred]

It's kind of tough to say, because it splits into so many trunks so low. I would pick the best branch (ie best movement, good taper, good branching) and take it down to there. It looks like it already has the beginnings to a good nebari. It's really hard to tell from the pictures, but I would probably choose the large branch on the far right in the right of the 2nd picture. Wither that or the one that comes toward the camera and to the left in the same picture. As for the other plant I can't help you, but you might be better off using some older material for your interesting rock. That plant looks to have leaves that are too large for bonsai.

[Marsman]

Looks like a dogwood to me.
_________________
"Trees are poems the earth writes into the sky."
Bonsai Enthusiast
Hardiness Zone 6

[bewildered_nmsu]