Thanks much. That sounds like a goods plan...Chappy, I am linking my response to your question about Hidden Gardens in the General Discussion forum...
Hidden Gardens holds workshops every Saturday morning, so you could bring your tree and have a local expert, Mark Karczewski, offer his styling advice.
By example, this taken directly from the Hidden Garden website:
Saturday Morning Bonsai
• Evaluation • Repotting • Pruning • Styling
with Mark Karczewski
9am - Noon
Bring your own tree, or purchase one at the Hidden Gardens, Mark will evaluate your tree and guide you in taking it to the next level. Whether it needs repotting, pruning or styling Mark will help you make your tree better.
Cost: $20 for the first tree and $10 for each additional tree. Repotting and wiring is extra.
You just have to call and let Jeff Schultz at Hidden Gardens and let him know that you're interested.
$20 seems like a pretty good deal to me... especially considering you'll be able to hold an actual in-person conversation with Mark and other experts (including Jeff) about your tree.
Noah
Side note on this tree: look at the shot of the tree in 1995 in the round drum pot. See how awkward it looks? and the next photo in 1997 in its new pot. What a dramatic difference. In the new pot, it looks balanced.Check out Walter Pall's Scots Pine nr. 3 - my favorite scots. You could do something like this with your tree. I also point out that Walter started this pretty much as @Dav4 described. You can see this in Walter's progression.
Yes, indeed.Side note on this tree: look at the shot of the tree in 1995 in the round drum pot. See how awkward it looks? and the next photo in 1997 in its new pot. What a dramatic difference. In the new pot, it looks balanced.
What he saysThere's a straight section of trunk in the top half of the tree that can be clearly seen because there's no branches there... I'd suggest removing everything above that spot, creating a jin there, wiring up a new leader that emphasizes the nice movement you've got in the base, and go there. Nice stock.
I would say that is just winter coloring. Most of my Scots pines do that.It looks like the tree has some health issues, with yellowing needles throughout, but especially at the apex. My guess would be that it has been in that pot too long and is root-bound. Normally, it is desirable to style it first so that when you put it in a bonsai pot, the planting angle and front are established, but in this case, I would repot now and style it next spring.
Not an expert in any case. Nothing close to that...... ...I'd appreciate any ideas from you the experts.