tmmason10
Omono
Looks good Brian, thanks for the progression. I like the look of the large Jin protruding from the back. Peter is Peter Warren?
Itoigawa juniper Stock
- Thread starter Brian Van Fleet
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- bvf itoigawa juniper progression
Brian Van Fleet
Pretty Fly for a Bonsai Guy
SNIP...
The branch was about 3/4" in diameter (and made 6 good cuttings...BTW, Vance, last year's big pruning resulted in 15 cuttings that are doing very well now!). It represented about 1/4 of the total foliage mass.
The branch was about 3/4" in diameter (and made 6 good cuttings...BTW, Vance, last year's big pruning resulted in 15 cuttings that are doing very well now!). It represented about 1/4 of the total foliage mass.
Brian Van Fleet
Pretty Fly for a Bonsai Guy
Present state:
The trunk diameter is about 2", at 1" up. Height of foliage is 16", and to the top of the jin is 21".
I'll let it go this year, and then start to define some secondary branches into pads next spring.
The final planting angle will be somewhere close to the first image. Second image just shows the base a bit better. It actually flares out nicely to over 3" at the soil.
The trunk diameter is about 2", at 1" up. Height of foliage is 16", and to the top of the jin is 21".
I'll let it go this year, and then start to define some secondary branches into pads next spring.
The final planting angle will be somewhere close to the first image. Second image just shows the base a bit better. It actually flares out nicely to over 3" at the soil.
fore
Omono
Nice work from a challenging piece of material Brian. When do you plan on repotting it?
misfit11
Omono
Great stuff, Brian. What is the time frame here from the first post pic to the present? You've created a very nice image. I also like how you pulled off the slow reveal ala Smoke. Reading this thread is like going to a burlesque show. 
Brian Van Fleet
Pretty Fly for a Bonsai Guy
Thanks. I got the tree in August '10 (from Evergreen Gardenworks). The first photos were from then, and the last photos were from this weekend. 2 years exactly.
Fore: I just repotted it this spring, so I will probably wait until '14. It was pretty packed into that 1 gal can, so I worked the roots pretty hard. Since it's still draining very well, I'm not going to push it too hard. It will also give me time to find an appropriate pot...though I do have a nice chocolate brown nanban that might do the trick...
Fore: I just repotted it this spring, so I will probably wait until '14. It was pretty packed into that 1 gal can, so I worked the roots pretty hard. Since it's still draining very well, I'm not going to push it too hard. It will also give me time to find an appropriate pot...though I do have a nice chocolate brown nanban that might do the trick...
Brian Van Fleet
Pretty Fly for a Bonsai Guy
Thanks. For shimpaku cuttings, it's just about as easy as getting the right end in the dirt. Make a good clean cut on semi-lignified, or hardwood shoots 4"-6" long, with 1/8-1/2" diameter, most any time of year works, though spring and fall seem best. Ive used dip-n-grow and Rootone, but not sure how necessary it is. I have a plastic crate used for shipping table grapes; its perforated on the bottom and sides. The soil is peat and perlite, and I keep it in the shade, out of wind, and misted every time I walk by them. The ones I strike in spring are ready to pot up into individual cans the next spring. Those that are started in the summer/fall stay in the crate for the current year and all of the following year.
I use rootone or dip-n-gro at about 10%.
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Ang3lfir3
Omono
Really awesome progression Brian .... always love seeing these from you (i just know there is gunna be something good!) ...
october
Masterpiece
kicked around your tree in photoshop...
View attachment 25643
perhaps, it might help with some ideas ???
If the tree turns out like the virt Stacy created Brian, perhaps you may want to send it to me..
Actually..hold on a second...nope, can't do the virt... It looks like a full size tree in nature...and this is bonsai...lol
Rob
Brian Van Fleet
Pretty Fly for a Bonsai Guy
Thought the new present shape might appeal to you, Rob... ;-)
october
Masterpiece
Hi Brain..Absolutely!! I just noticed it and I like it better than the virt.. Man, that is the type of bonsai that I love,,The subtle natural curve, a decent size trunk and a nice natural, but simultaneously has a crafted look to it. This tree will be amazing when it is near completion.
Rob
Rob
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Brian Underwood
Chumono
Nice movement. This tree has been through a lot and come a long way in two years! Good stuff Brian!
Brian Van Fleet
Pretty Fly for a Bonsai Guy
Quick update...worked on this with Bjorn a little a few weeks ago. We extended the Shari down the trunk, and did some branch selection.
I also reoriented it up in the pot to match the planting angle with the styling, but did no real root work. It needs to grow this year, but is headed in a good direction and even showing some mature foliage this spring!
I also reoriented it up in the pot to match the planting angle with the styling, but did no real root work. It needs to grow this year, but is headed in a good direction and even showing some mature foliage this spring!
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2010- tall and gangly shrub (Kinda)...2013- much shorter, much more powerful, with a pretty nice canopy developing.... Pretty good results for 3 years or so, I'd say. I love the movement in the trunk.
Really nice work Brian - I love what you've done with it.
Itoigawa foliage is gorgeous, isn't it? Mas Ishii gave me a whip when I visited his nursery 4 years ago. I ended up planting it in the ground, and it's slowly growing (from about 1/4" caliper to now close to an inch). I'll probably start taking cuttings too.
Itoigawa foliage is gorgeous, isn't it? Mas Ishii gave me a whip when I visited his nursery 4 years ago. I ended up planting it in the ground, and it's slowly growing (from about 1/4" caliper to now close to an inch). I'll probably start taking cuttings too.
october
Masterpiece
oooohhhhh.. Now we are looking good... Almost ready for you to ship it to me.
Rob
Rob
fore
Omono
Nice work Brian, the movement looks great, and a good start on the shari. Looks healthy and happy too
nip
Yamadori
Great work on this tree, Brian. I noticed you removed about 50% of the foliage during your initial work. Assuming a juniper is healthy like yours and the roots are not worked on at the same time, how much foliage are you comfortable removing at one time? Do you prefer to work your shimpakus in August or was that simply due to the timing of when you acquired the tree?
Brian Van Fleet
Pretty Fly for a Bonsai Guy
All the work shown was done in March, with the exception of removing that primary branch, which was removed in August, 17 months after the initial work.
This year, I may have removed 15% of the foliage (sucker/crotch stuff), and it's growing strongly. Will probably let it go all year with minimal pruning, and then do some detail wiring next spring.
I wouldn't ordinarily remove as much as I did initially, except it was just starting to grow, and I knew nothing had been done with the roots in quite a few years. Timing was right and it would be allowed to simply recover and grow for a full year after.
