I could sit and look at this tree for hours. In first person, the deadwood almost looks like stone - like the live vein is climbing up a stone cliff face and the tree is growing from a stone outcropping. The deadwood is not heavily treated with lime sulfur so it is very natural-looking and has lichen growing on it.
It does look sad and lonely... but that is one of the reasons I like it.
For some reason I don't like the pot very much for this tree (I love the pot on its own). It is very busy and I think fights with the tree a little. A minor criticism that may just be due to lighting. I would prefer something a little more subdued.
I agree the tree is amazing. I've never seen such a design, even remotely close, and so powerful (well, Kimura did something like that, but only with junipers).
I really hope that Bob and his son, Zack, can preserve that fragile deadwood, so that this tree can last for generations and be shown as a masterpiece of American bonsai.
