Those came from the ground. Which is how azaleas are grown for bonsai too. It just takes time, the right species (!) and climate.

leatherback wrote: Those came from the ground. Which is how azaleas are grown for bonsai too. It just takes time, the right species (!) and climate.

Most that I have taken care of here in central FLA have been spindley sticks that have been in the ground for 10-30 years. I got some potted ones that looks a lot fatter at the base.

Auk wrote: ...Azalea is basally, not apically dominant, how come it has such long trunks without side branches..

Well, I don't know the history of Leatherback's azalea, but the (old) ones I've been looking for come from hedges, so most of them have long bare trunks; the younger ones do have good ramification close to the trunk, but they (the trunks) are thin for a good bonsai.
Still searching...

Update... flowering nicely this year. New branches are forming, lower on the trunk, but not really at useful places. I'll need to reduce the longer branches in the top - once it's done flowering.

1 year ago vs. now:

Still in love with that movement of the trunk and nebari. You've got an amazing tree