Top and bottom trees...stack ranking

[JudyB]

#1. Japanese Red Pine in a nice Tokoname round...don't know the maker or kiln but it is stamped. Purchased about 8 years ago from NEBG as neglected stock. Completely restyled after purchase. This tree has always proven vigorous and forgiving at the same time, and has responded well to everything, good and bad, I've done to it. The bark and shape of the trunk are exceptional, and it's the most refined pine I own. It's been shown several times in local shows, but I eventually want to take it nationally. My hope is to continue to keep this one happy as it gets older and more refined.

Good thing you posted this as your #1...

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Are you selling your ezo spruce Brian?

Already did.

 

[Adair M]

Great thread, Brian!

Somehow, my pictures loaded out of order, this is my second best tree. Right now. Over time, I expect it will be the best. It's still a bit rough. Styled last January by Daisaku Nomoto, it's a twin trunk Zuisho JWP. Imported by Boon from Japan 15 years ago when it still had smooth bark. Left to grow, and now has rough bark all the way to the apex. Originally a graft, the Zuisho has ground layered its own roots, and the old JBP roots have been removed. Never been shown.




You already know my top tree: my JBP. Here's the most recent picture:

It was shown last January at the BIB show in Oakland. Next stop, the Nationals in 2016.

And my third tree is this juniper: Kishu grafted onto a prostrate trunk. Sorry, this isn't a very good photo. I'm planning on showing it at the NC Expo along with the other Atlanta club members.

 

[Smoke]

We should repeat this post for more noobish people, your two prebonsai with most potential and trees you have but have no faith in them but keep on wasting time on...

This country, er.... World already has too much division in it. This is not a contest, I do not understand the constant need to devalue ones worth by making groups to compare to. Surly your crap is as bad as another's crap, and your best while not being the best shown is still YOUR best, period. Please stop trying to push your own work backwards. Continue to be forward thinking and aspire to have equally as good of top threes next time!

 

[fourteener]

Above is what I think is my best tree. It is a Thuja in a Ron Lang pot. I have had it for 5 years as a collected specimen. It's age, driftwood and complicated dead branches make it pretty special. It wasn't ready for the Artisans Cup this year or I would have tried to enter it. I would like to try and enter it in the Nationals show next year.


Above is an RMJ that I acquired from Sara Rayner who acquired it from Andy Smith. I did attempt to enter this into the Artisans cup. I have some good changes coming up including a new front and smaller pot. The dead wood to the right is no longer extending beyond the foliage. It's age, live veins, dead wood make it a pretty nice tree.


Above is a Ponderosa. I have 3 nice Ponderosa's that could deb in the running for third place. What I like about this tree is the height, presence, and flaky bark. It was gathered in South Dakota many years ago by a club member here in MN who sold off a lot of his stuff and moved south. The pot is just average chinese I think.

Here's my bottom 10. Pm me for any inquiries. They are all for sale. The Sara Pots are not part of the deal. The fir tree in the tall brown pot is a zone 7 tree. I don't care to give it special care anymore.
Two mugos in a carved out stone, twisted juniper, upright juniper, small tamarack, fir, degroot spire thuja
bottom row: spruce, Alpine currant, Birds nest spruce, chinese elm.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Adair, nice top trees. And since you're studying with Boon, no bottom trees anymore?

 

[MACH5]

TOP TREES:

1
TREE: Japanese maple. Purchased in 2000 from Frank Mihalic. Originally a Japanese import.
CONTAINER: Yamafusa
WHY: Few trees in my collection has this degree of ramification and mature appearance. I like its wide trunk and stout appearance.
NEXT: Currently having a root graft in the front. I plan on submitting this tree to the 5th US National or perhaps the 6th in 2018. I'd like to repot it into a wider container.





2
TREE: Japanese maple "Sharp's Pygmy". Purchased in 2010 from Matt Smith.
CONTAINER: Yamafusa
WHY: This tree has a very natural appearance specially when viewed without its leaves. The Autumn color is superb! This tree won "Finest Deciduous Bonsai" at the 4th US National last September.
NEXT: Currently having a root graft on the back. Plan in using a slightly larger container in the next repotting.





3
TREE: Japanese maple. Purchased in 2009 from Karen Proctor grower in upstate NY.
CONTAINER: Unknown of Chinese origin.
WHY: This maple went from a very average tree to one that has its own unique look and character. I was able to transform this tree through air layering one of its branches and subsequently grafting it to create a multi-trunk maple bonsai. It was featured in the pages of International Bonsai magazine issue no.2 2015.
NEXT: I plan on repotting this tree into a larger and better quality container next spring. It is still under development.





4
TREE: Rocky Mountain Juniper. Purchased in 1999 from Andy Smith who collected it in South Dakota. Aprox 150 yrs old.
CONTAINER: Yixing
WHY: Just knowing how far this tree has come is enough to put it on my top list. I like the open and natural flow of its branches. I am very pleased with its progress. It is still being further developed and refined.
NEXT: Plan on replacing the pot for a better quality and slightly larger one.





5
TREE: Japanese white beech. Purchased in 2014 from Doug Paul from the Kennett Collection in PA. Imported from Japan.
CONTAINER: Granite slab.
WHY: This large and mature forest of a rare species in the US with densely ramified branches puts this one on my top 5.
NEXT: Plan on submitting this piece to the 5th US National or the 6th in 2018. It all depends in next year's development of some areas. Will possibly switch fronts and make the current back the new front... maybe!






BOTTOM TREES:


1
TREE: Shimpaku. Purchased in 2013 from EBay. A Japanese import.
CONTAINER: Tokoname training pot.
WHY: I am not a big fan of these junipers. With that said, I love the twisting trunk and I plan to develop it further. It suffered greatly 2 years ago during a bad winter. It is being let grow and hopefully bring it back to full health.
NEXT: I plan in carving the trunk to hopefully create an interesting shohin design but not until the tree is completely healthy.





2
TREE: Japanese maple Kiyohime. Purchased in 2004 from Suthin.
CONTAINER: Unknown of Chinese origin.
WHY: This tree went from being a top tree in my collection to bottom of the pile in just a couple weeks. Was placed in a refrigerator to stall bud brake. The dry air inside killed all but one branch.
NEXT: Undergoing a complete redesign to make it into a shohin cascade.






3
TREE: Satsuki azalea "Chinzan". Purchased from a private collector. Originally imported from Japan.
CONTAINER: Unknown of Japanese origin.
WHY: I am not a fan of azaleas. I do not know why I purchased it in the first place although I do think it is an outstanding shohin with highly developed and ramified branches.
NEXT: For sale! (Not cheap)

 

[Adair M]

Adair, nice top trees. And since you're studying with Boon, no bottom trees anymore?

Oh, I have some bottom trees. They're so far bottom I don't have pictures!

I do have a few long term projects that look pretty rough.

 

[fourteener]

I need my bottom 5 to look as nice as mach5!!

TOP TREES:

1
TREE: Japanese maple. Purchased in 2000 from Frank Mihalic. Originally a Japanese import.
CONTAINER: Yamafusa
WHY: Few trees in my collection has this degree of ramification and mature appearance. I like its wide trunk and stout appearance.
NEXT: Currently having a root graft in the front. I plan on submitting this tree to the 5th US National or perhaps the 6th in 2018. I'd like to repot it into a wider container.





2
TREE: Japanese maple "Sharp's Pygmy". Purchased in 2010 from Matt Smith.
CONTAINER: Yamafusa
WHY: This tree has a very natural appearance specially when viewed without its leaves. The Autumn color is superb! This tree won "Finest Deciduous Bonsai" at the 4th US National last September.
NEXT: Currently having a root graft on the back. Plan in using a slightly larger container in the next repotting.





3
TREE: Japanese maple. Purchased in 2009 from Karen Proctor grower in upstate NY.
CONTAINER: Unknown of Chinese origin.
WHY: This maple went from a very average tree to one that has its own unique look and character. I was able to transform this tree through air layering one of its branches and subsequently grafting it to create a multi-trunk maple bonsai. It was featured in the pages of International Bonsai magazine issue no.2 2015.
NEXT: I plan on repotting this tree into a larger and better quality container next spring. It is still under development.





4
TREE: Rocky Mountain Juniper. Purchased in 1999 from Andy Smith who collected it in South Dakota. Aprox 150 yrs old.
CONTAINER: Yixing
WHY: Just knowing how far this tree has come is enough to put it on my top list. I like the open and natural flow of its branches. I am very pleased with its progress. It is still being further developed and refined.
NEXT: Plan on replacing the pot for a better quality and slightly larger one.





5
TREE: Japanese white beech. Purchased in 2014 from Doug Paul from the Kennett Collection in PA. Imported from Japan.
CONTAINER: Granite slab.
WHY: This large and mature forest of a rare species in the US with densely ramified branches puts this one on my top 5.
NEXT: Plan on submitting this piece to the 5th US National or the 6th in 2018. It all depends in next year's development of some areas. Will possibly switch fronts and make the current back the new front... maybe!






BOTTOM TREES:


1
TREE: Shimpaku. Purchased in 2013 from EBay. A Japanese import.
CONTAINER: Tokoname training pot.
WHY: I am not a big fan of these junipers. With that said, I love the twisting trunk and I plan to develop it further. It suffered greatly 2 years ago during a bad winter. It is being let grow and hopefully bring it back to full health.
NEXT: I plan in carving the trunk to hopefully create an interesting shohin design but not until the tree is completely healthy.





2
TREE: Japanese maple Kiyohime. Purchased in 2004 from Suthin.
CONTAINER: Unknown of Chinese origin.
WHY: This tree went from being a top tree in my collection to bottom of the pile in just a couple weeks. Was placed in a refrigerator to stall bud brake. The dry air inside killed all but one branch.
NEXT: Undergoing a complete redesign to make it into a shohin cascade.






3
TREE: Satsuki azalea "Chinzan". Purchased from a private collector. Originally imported from Japan.
CONTAINER: Unknown of Japanese origin.
WHY: I am not a fan of azaleas. I do not know why I purchased it in the first place although I do think it is an outstanding shohin with highly developed and ramified branches.
NEXT: For sale! (Not cheap)

 

[Djtommy]

Above is what I think is my best tree. It is a Thuja in a Ron Lang pot. I have had it for 5 years as a collected specimen. It's age, driftwood and complicated dead branches make it pretty special. It wasn't ready for the Artisans Cup this year or I would have tried to enter it. I would like to try and enter it in the Nationals show next year.

I think this pot isnt the best choice for this tree, it doesnt look natural enough, a slab or normal pot would look better i think

 

[sorce]

I think this pot isnt the best choice for this tree, it doesnt look natural enough, a slab or normal pot would look better i think

Seconding that.
The color, and the horizontal/vertical lines are not natural.

The Tree is excellent!

Sorce

 

[sorce]

@Adair M
@MACH5

DAMN!

Sorce

 

[fourteener]

I think this pot isnt the best choice for this tree, it doesnt look natural enough, a slab or normal pot would look better i think

Everyone gets to have an opinion, that's fair.

 

[Adair M]

Fourteener,

I have to say that I too am not a fan of the pot. It may look better in person than it does in the photo. But, "it caught my eye", when I first looked at the picture.

Here are my thoughts:

The tree itself has a lot going on. Lots of deadwood branches. It's kind of "busy". So, in my mind, I'm trying to work out how the deadwood grew, and how it relates to the green foliage of today. As I said, lots going on.

And then, there's the pot. Well, there's a lot going on there as well. It's kind of "busy". Lots of diagonal lines...

Anyway, I think it distracts.

Since the tree is dynamic and complicated, I think a plainer pot would allow the eye to remained focused on the tree.

 

[fourteener]

Fourteener,

I have to say that I too am not a fan of the pot. It may look better in person than it does in the photo. But, "it caught my eye", when I first looked at the picture.

Here are my thoughts:

The tree itself has a lot going on. Lots of deadwood branches. It's kind of "busy". So, in my mind, I'm trying to work out how the deadwood grew, and how it relates to the green foliage of today. As I said, lots going on.

And then, there's the pot. Well, there's a lot going on there as well. It's kind of "busy". Lots of diagonal lines...

Anyway, I think it distracts.

Since the tree is dynamic and complicated, I think a plainer pot would allow the eye to remained focused on the tree.

It was in a plain pot for a while. I didn't like the look of that because you have this wild looking tree sitting in a tamed container. Like looking at a wild animal in a zoo. I didn't like it.

This is always the troubling part of bonsai for me...an endless amount of subjectivity. I appreciate your thoughts though.

It will never go back into a container. A bluestone slab might be a solution.

 

[BobbyLane]

I think a bluestone slab would be a fantastic solution. I think the slab is fine, but the colour contrasts with the bark quite a lot. great tree!

 

[Mellow Mullet]

It was in a plain pot for a while. I didn't like the look of that because you have this wild looking tree sitting in a tamed container. Like looking at a wild animal in a zoo. I didn't like it.

This is always the troubling part of bonsai for me...an endless amount of subjectivity. I appreciate your thoughts though.

It will never go back into a container. A bluestone slab might be a solution.

That is what I was thinking, Fourteener, I like it on the slab, but the red color of it draws the eye to it. A darker one would compliment it more. It is still awesome, I like all it has going on, it makes it interesting to view.

John

 

[Adair M]

Yes, a stone slab would be perfect

 

[Dav4]

Here's my bottom few, in no particular order.

#1. Shimpaku juniper I purchased from NEBG probably 7-8 years ago. It's planted in what I think is a Japanese production grade pot, mainly for training purposes. The tree was purchased on discount due to poor health. It's health has improved greatly over the years, but it is still not strong enough to get where it needs to go. It was the first juniper of mine to contract spider mites after the move to GA, and they have been an issue every summer since. I want the tree to have a minimum of foliage in the canopy, but reducing the foliage always seems to weaken the tree to the point where I have to back off and let the tree recover and grow out, which ruins the design. It's possible that it needs more sun then my back yard can supply. It's still on my bench because this shimpaku has got some age on it which makes it valuable, and the trunk has nice deadwood and movement. The plan is to leave it alone for the rest of this year and re-evaluate next year. If strong enough, I'll de-wire and re-wire and hopefully get it into a more appropriate pot...and I may have a few more trees to take down in the back yard.

#2. Japanese yew, dug from my yard in MA 7-8 years ago. It's planted in a signed yamaaki pot. The picture is about 18 months ago, after it's first major design. Not much has been done to it since, other then having the wire removed. This tree grows VERY slowly here, rarely more then an inch or two a year...so it's development as a bonsai will take decades, imo. It's still on my bench because it's essentially been a "back burner" project since I dug it from the front yard and, other then watering and weeding, doesn't demand much of me. Still, I'm thinking this one will end up in the Atlanta Bonsai Society auction next year...though I'm keeping the pot!

#3. Imported satsuki azalea, unknown cultivar, purchased at NEBG on discount due to poor health. It's currently planted in a large contemporary Chinese pot for training purposes. This tree HAD a great trunk with taper until I realized that it was partially dead due to whatever had made it ill back when I acquired it. It's healthy and growing well now- please note that the picture from above is from a year ago last spring, and the tree has much more foliage on it now. It's still on my bench because it's an imported azalea with a 6 " + root spread and it's healthy. I can't help but think that, with some inspired carving, I could make the hole in the trunk work. I'll give it a few more years on my bench to work that out. If not...make me an offer!!

 

[mcpesq817]

I wish my bottom trees were like Mach5's