32 year old Acer Rubrum

[dbonsaiw]

Every time I see this tree I am amazed by the ramification and internode distance.

 

[ABCarve]

This is the reason to start defoliation now. The smaller inside leaves will turn yellow and fall off if the larger leaves are not removed. Take a look at the internodes.

 

[A. Gorilla]

Cuts glass.

 

[penumbra]

I am always happy to see the development of this fantastic red maple.

 

[ABCarve]

I'm playing with two different display stands.........any thought??

 

[Orion_metalhead]

Top stand for autumn display, bottom stand for summer display.

 

[rockm]

Neither. Both are distracting and too "busy" visually. The top one with the glass top and burl base looks odd. The second one is too fussy in its details and too tall.

With such a nice old dynamic trunk, the supporting cast of characters, pot, stand should be more subdued. The pot is good, but a simple lower stand with simple line would work well.

 

[Shogun610]

The black stand just doesn’t pair up with the heaviness of the tree.
The driftwood stand also doesn’t look sturdy because of the glass

 

[NaoTK]

I like the idea of the drift wood stand, it feels cohesive and new age-y with unique pot and tree, except that the stand and pot color are too matchy-matchy.
The 2nd stand feels too tall and busy but I like the dark color contrast

 

[rustygarden]

I like the first one . New and different.

 

[rockm]

I was going to say the driftwood table is retro--as in 1970's shag carpet retro. I was there back then, I remember. Lot of driftwood and glass furniture around to bang your platform shoes and bell bottom jeans into.

 

[Gabler]

I was going to say the driftwood table is retro--as in 1970's shag carpet retro. I was there back then, I remember. Lot of driftwood and glass furniture around to bang your platform shoes and bell bottom jeans into.

It all depends on the timescale.

 

[ABCarve]

Thanks all for your feedback and appreciate you taking the time to respond. All opinions are valued. I should have probably given some of my criteria for each. Given my contrarian nature I’m not much into a traditional looks. Odd stand for an odd tree. As for the tall stands, most shows stage trees on standard 30” banquet tables, so unless you’re 4’ tall you’re confined to look down on the tree with short stands. I like the tree closer to eye level even if it sacrifices some visual weight. It’s about looking at the tree.

My concern with the driftwood is that it’s just too massive. A 28” top for a 18” pot. The matching color of the pot I found to be a plus.

The black stand is inspired from the strong vertical/horizontal lines of shoji screens often seen as a background. I’m not sure I agree with the busy comments. Shadows in the photo may be contributing to that look.

This is a stand I use for photography that is short and simple. I need convincing to use this because of what I said about short stands.

 

[Colorado]

Personally I love the driftwood stand with this particular tree. It feels like a cohesive composition to me. Bravo!

 

[Gabler]

I didn't like the driftwood stand at first, but it's growing on me.

 

[NaoTK]

Thanks all for your feedback and appreciate you taking the time to respond. All opinions are valued. I should have probably given some of my criteria for each. Given my contrarian nature I’m not much into a traditional looks. Odd stand for an odd tree. As for the tall stands, most shows stage trees on standard 30” banquet tables, so unless you’re 4’ tall you’re confined to look down on the tree with short stands. I like the tree closer to eye level even if it sacrifices some visual weight. It’s about looking at the tree.

My concern with the driftwood is that it’s just too massive. A 28” top for a 18” pot. The matching color of the pot I found to be a plus.

The black stand is inspired from the strong vertical/horizontal lines of shoji screens often seen as a background. I’m not sure I agree with the busy comments. Shadows in the photo may be contributing to that look.

This is a stand I use for photography that is short and simple. I need convincing to use this because of what I said about short stands.

View attachment 500700

I like this pot the best. My heart skipped a little, that's how you know. The deeper pot is cool but its not the right pot for this tree imo
edit: could also be winter vs summer aspect

I didn't like the driftwood stand at first, but it's growing on me.

I didn't see the branch at first, and then it hit me
.

 

[MHBonsai]

Thanks all for your feedback and appreciate you taking the time to respond. All opinions are valued. I should have probably given some of my criteria for each. Given my contrarian nature I’m not much into a traditional looks. Odd stand for an odd tree. As for the tall stands, most shows stage trees on standard 30” banquet tables, so unless you’re 4’ tall you’re confined to look down on the tree with short stands. I like the tree closer to eye level even if it sacrifices some visual weight. It’s about looking at the tree.

My concern with the driftwood is that it’s just too massive. A 28” top for a 18” pot. The matching color of the pot I found to be a plus.

The black stand is inspired from the strong vertical/horizontal lines of shoji screens often seen as a background. I’m not sure I agree with the busy comments. Shadows in the photo may be contributing to that look.

This is a stand I use for photography that is short and simple. I need convincing to use this because of what I said about short stands.

View attachment 500700

This stand with simple 12” legs would be my vote. Needs a little height.

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

I'm playing with two different display stands.........any thought??

You could put that sweet acer on top of anything and you'll be golden. I'd put it on a old garbage can so it doesn't distract from the tree. Nice tree whatever you decide is my opinion.

 

[ERClover]

Thanks all for your feedback and appreciate you taking the time to respond. All opinions are valued. I should have probably given some of my criteria for each. Given my contrarian nature I’m not much into a traditional looks. Odd stand for an odd tree. As for the tall stands, most shows stage trees on standard 30” banquet tables, so unless you’re 4’ tall you’re confined to look down on the tree with short stands. I like the tree closer to eye level even if it sacrifices some visual weight. It’s about looking at the tree.

My concern with the driftwood is that it’s just too massive. A 28” top for a 18” pot. The matching color of the pot I found to be a plus.

The black stand is inspired from the strong vertical/horizontal lines of shoji screens often seen as a background. I’m not sure I agree with the busy comments. Shadows in the photo may be contributing to that look.

This is a stand I use for photography that is short and simple. I need convincing to use this because of what I said about short stands.

View attachment 500700

The simple elegance of this stand I feel suits and supports, both literally and figuratively this magnificent tree best. Evocative of the bench so many spend their lives on, but elevated and refined as befits the tree of which the same descriptors apply. I’m not sure how you solve the height problem while maintaining that feeling but something about this combo is just gorgeous. Maybe it’s the red in the buds and the reddish finish on the wood but I just love it. As others have said though, this tree could be put on anything and just sing.

 

[Wood]

I wonder how much of the difference comes down to seeing a photograph vs. seeing the display on a table. A photograph removes the below-eye-level perspective issue and reduces the utility of a taller stand