Another Itoigawa

[Brian Van Fleet]

Just finished a new post with more pix and details:
https://nebaribonsai.wordpress.com/2015/05/29/a-day-of-work-on-a-shimpaku-with-bjorn-bjorholm/

 

[Gary S]

Brian, what type of soil do you use for your Shimpaku? TIA

 

[JudyB]

Great Blog post Brian.

 

[october]

Brian, did you see this yet? Your tree is featured on Bonsai Bark.

Rob

http://bonsaibark.com/2015/05/29/bo...unk-bark-deadwood-size-pot-overall-feel-more/

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Brian, did you see this yet? Your tree is featured on Bonsai Bark.

Rob

http://bonsaibark.com/2015/05/29/bo...unk-bark-deadwood-size-pot-overall-feel-more/

Ha! Thanks, pretty cool!

 

[fredtruck]

That's a pretty complete transformation, Brian. I wonder if Harry or Marco would recognize the tree? Even if they did, I think it's better now by far.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Brian, what type of soil do you use for your Shimpaku? TIA

This one is Akadama and lava, 2:1.
This spring, I replaced the top inch or so of crusty soil with akadama and a little pumice and river sand.

 

[Eric Group]

Just finished a new post with more pix and details:
https://nebaribonsai.wordpress.com/2015/05/29/a-day-of-work-on-a-shimpaku-with-bjorn-bjorholm/

Thanks Brian, very valuable info there and a detailed progression that really tells the story of the tree... Between that blog post and this thread, I feel Like we all know this tree very well! It has always been a good looking tree, but truly thrived under your care and with this most recent re-style is easily one of the best Shimpaku ever posted to this forum, and deserving of being in any show in the US.

 

[MACH5]

Yes! Fantastic work on this juniper! Very fine tree and as Eric mentioned can/should be displayed at any major exhibit including the US National. It also illustrates clearly that in order to create quality bonsai, extensive detailed wiring is a must. Thanks for sharing Brian!

 

[Eric Group]

I just love the details about the process! The steps involved... Prune, then wire, set and prune again is basically what I came away with and I think it shows people how to do things the right way to get that "finished" look... Obviously you have to have the vision to accomplish an image like this and you have to have good material to start with... But hopefully some of us can use the info here to improve our own work with junipers. Very appreciative of the time you took to explain it here and on your blog Brian!

Something as simple as seeing different close ups of the branches to see how he accomplished the well shaped pad on many by combining multiple tertiary branches into one pad, instead of wiring just one into place and waiting for it to fill in... Those are the kinds of techniques that I struggle with when making decisions sometimes while wiring my own trees, and I think just seeing such detail about how Bjorn and Brian did it here has helped me better understand how get closer to that look in the future!

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

I'm sure I'll need a few more sessions to start to improve my pad-building, bit it was really cool to wire out a branch, then start to build the pad and watch it transform into a very neat, tidy mass of foliage right in front of my eyes. He made it look easy.

I did go ahead and submit it for the Cup, so we'll see if it is accepted, guy-wires and all. Thanks for all of your encouragement. Working on finding a better container...

 

[barrosinc]

took the extra out....

 

[Dan W.]

So glad you submitted it to the Cup! Maybe I'll see it/you there?

 

[Adair M]

BVF,

Good luck with the Artisan's Cup submission. I submitted my JBP as well.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

BVF,

Good luck with the Artisan's Cup submission. I submitted my JBP as well.

Nice, thanks. Good luck to you as well.

 

[Jason]

Amazing tree, Brian. Hope to see it in Portland.

 

[Paulpash]

Lovely tree. The cost of getting Bjorn to work the tree is worth it not only because of the finished product but because you can see his technique & process. Refinement is, in my opinion, one of the major things that separates amateurs from professionals. Each pad is broken up into multiple mini layers and his placement is outstanding. Out of interest Brian how long did it take him to wire and set the tree?

 

[barrosinc]

Out of interest Brian how long did it take him to wire and set the tree?

8 hours of steady work. We started at 8:00, and finished about 4:30, with a quick break for a bite of lunch.

 

[KennedyMarx]

You guys really took it to the next level. There will be a lot of high quality trees at Artisan's Cup, but I could easily see this taking home an award.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Thanks. Just purchased this Gyouzan pot for it...just in case. Perfect match.
It came from Kei Suzuki: http://keibonsaipot.jugemcart.com check him out. Nice guy, great service (paid Tuesday, arrived Friday), and he has been most enjoyable to chat with over the last few days.