A good arrangement?

yenling83

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Matt- nice trees man! I love Larch. I think the general guideline is that odd numbers are more aesthetically pleasing to the eye, up to a certain number of trees and then you just can't tell if it's odd or even. But, really do whatever looks good to you. I think you should get more and make a large forest planting, that would be awesome. You could plant them together for now, then add more in the future.
 

jriddell88

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Love the idea , you seem to pumping out some good material man keep it up. The height difference between the two would be the only other thing that bothers man , plant em close and shorten the bigger tree ?
 

MACH5

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Nice trees Matt. Personally I would not. I think the human eye perceives odd numbers as more dynamic and interesting than even numbers. With three trees you can also have more play and able to create a sense of depth making your composition more interesting. Of course, beyond a certain number of trees it really makes no difference if we use an odd or even number of trees because the eye cannot discern beyond a certain point.
 
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I think you should get more and make a large forest planting, that would be awesome. You could plant them together for now, then add more in the future
Thanks Yenling, I'm starting to agree. Initially I was thinking it would be good to try something different that I don't often see, but now I am thinking that "Mother Daughter" is better when the two trunks come from the same tree. Appreciate the feedback.
Is it the picture or are the barks dramatically different ?
The bark doesn't match well although they came out of the same area. I have some others with better matching bark, I am going to try some different partners with this.
With three trees you can also have more play and able to create a sense of depth making your composition more interesting
Thanks Mach5, really appreciate your thoughts, I am starting to agree, and I don't want to try and be different just for the sake of being different. I thought I had too many collected Larch but I am realizing that one key to good group plantings is a lot of trees to choose from.
 
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Also there is an old wound (shari) made in nature on the main tree that is covered in hardened sap, I would obviously like to clean it up and make it somewhat of a feature. Any tips on how to clean that old hardened sap up?
 

Waltron

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I thought I had too many collected Larch

no such thing!

honestly, my thought on this is that if you thought it was a good idea enough to make a thread and have vision for it, then go with it. you can always evaluate the composition later and change it. if nothing else, combining the trees to one pot makes managing the herd that much easier. just my two cents. I have a collected connected mother daughter larch.
 
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no such thing!

honestly, my thought on this is that if you thought it was a good idea enough to make a thread and have vision for it, then go with it. you can always evaluate the composition later and change it. if nothing else, combining the trees to one pot makes managing the herd that much easier. just my two cents. I have a collected connected mother daughter larch.
Post a pic of yours! Grouping them together makes watering a tiny bit easier at least. I do think maybe another one with though.
 

Waltron

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haha I just realized I have 2 actually, none of the 4 trees are of the quality of either of these. just raw collects.
 

Leo in N E Illinois

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Really nice collection of larch. The tall one has enough character to be on its own, though I think it is improved being in a group.

Twin tree plantings tend to look best when the smaller is either one third or two thirds of the height of the main tree. Avoid 50% the height of main tree. A suggestion, not "rule".

I do think in the first pair the bark difference is too great for a good match.

Your forest is quite nice, I like the spacing, good variation, irregular enough looks natural. As it matures, style each tree as part of the group, same forces of nature working on all the trees, differences in the trees will be because of different location in the forest. You have a good start, I like it.

Make more forests, you have a good eye.
 

Leo in N E Illinois

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Oh, just a comment for encouragement, don't try to make a "unique" forest, at least until you can turn out a "traditional" one. There's a lot to learn from creating a "traditional" forest, learn the rules so you can later deliberately break them. It isn't easy doing a good traditional forest, they are not boring because so few are well done.

Nick Lenz, Kimura, and almost all the artists famous for setting new trends first learned the traditional "rules", and were very deliberate and intentional in their rule breaking.
 

Waltron

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I think the forest he posted is an exceptional attempt at a traditional forest, no? as far as the subject trees, though the barks do not match, I think the heights could easily be manipulated to make it more 2/3rds than half. I think these two trees would work well even as un connected, with contrasting bark.. maybe differnt planting heights to simulate differnt elevations which could explain the different bark textures, maybe throw a rock in there, I think more, or an odd number of trees is often better, its just different, but Matt has so much material maybe he wants a twin style in the collection, I would understand his desire for variety at least.
 

M. Frary

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though the barks do not match,
The bark of trees in nature don't always match.
I don't think it's that big of a deal.
These two could also be the largest in the planting so with other smaller trees included it wouldn't be as obvious because those also would have different bark.
 
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Nick Lenz, Kimura, and almost all the artists famous for setting new trends first learned the traditional "rules", and were very deliberate and intentional in their rule breaking.
Thanks guys good points, I think this is especially good for me to hear. I suppose a well done "traditional" forest isnt all that common anyway, no one seems like they want to wire all the trees and I happen to really like wiring.

The subject main Larch would be good as a main tree in a forest @M. Frary . It is pretty big maybe 36'' or so.
 
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