Bilbo's juniper #3

[Craigm]

G'day mate,
I like the overall appearance however feel the Tree could definately be shorter to maximise the smaller sized Trunk.
A small Tree will make the Trunk look bigger and create a more powerful tree in the long run, just an idea hope you
don't mind. Clearly an amount of time will be needed to create backbudding in some key areas..
good luck through Winter,have Fun.

regards Craig.

 

[bilbocannon]

G'day mate,
I like the overall appearance however feel the Tree could definately be shorter to maximise the smaller sized Trunk.
A small Tree will make the Trunk look bigger and create a more powerful tree in the long run, just an idea hope you
don't mind. Clearly an amount of time will be needed to create backbudding in some key areas..
good luck through Winter,have Fun.

regards Craig.

View attachment 109718

Dont mind at all. I appreciate the virt i do really like that idea. And do agree that the trunk is a little on the skinny side. That is definately an option for the future.

If i wanted to keep the same design but thicken the trunk im assuming i would just plant it in the ground and continually maintain shape
?

 

[Craigm]

If i wanted to keep the same design but thicken the trunk i'm assuming i would just plant it in the ground and continually maintain shape
?

As I don't ever ground grow there are prob better people to answer but

Yes to planting in ground

No to continually maintaining shape.

A sacrafice branch maybe located as a possible leader for later. This would kill 2 birds with 1 stone.

Letting the tree run free to maximise full growth whilst maintaining small branches in key locations
for later which could be used to re'design the tree as it appears now

 

[bilbocannon]

As I don't ever ground grow there are prob better people to answer but

Yes to planting in ground

No to continually maintaining shape.

A sacrafice branch maybe located as a possible leader for later. This would kill 2 birds with 1 stone.

Letting the tree run free to maximise full growth whilst maintaining small branches in key locations
for later which could be used to re'design the tree as it appears now

View attachment 109726

Awesome cheers

 

[Vance Wood]

I can't tell if this is a legit comment haha. As mentioned this is from google.

Here is the photo in question as posted, it is over pressed with water marks and other identifiers to hinder copying.

 

[bilbocannon]

Here is the photo in question as posted, it is over pressed with water marks and other identifiers to hinder copying.


View attachment 109762

I dont really know what you are trying to say? I can see the water marks. I know what water marks are and the purpose they serve. That is the only photo i could find at the time to suit what i was trying to convey.

 

[Redwood Ryan]

Here is the photo in question as posted, it is over pressed with water marks and other identifiers to hinder copying.


View attachment 109762

Vance, it's a stock photo. Stock picture companies put watermarks on their pictures to make you pay for them. When you pay for them, you get a non-watermarked picture.

 

[Beanwagon]

G'day mate,
I like the overall appearance however feel the Tree could definately be shorter to maximise the smaller sized Trunk.
A small Tree will make the Trunk look bigger and create a more powerful tree in the long run, just an idea hope you
don't mind. Clearly an amount of time will be needed to create backbudding in some key areas..
good luck through Winter,have Fun.

regards Craig.

View attachment 109718

So you virt nearly made the cut... i was planning on using that design up until lastnight when i decided to try something drastic/risky.
My idea was that if it failed and did not die i would attempt to revert it back to the virt that you designed.

Anyway here are some pic's



I completely flipped the tree 90 degress to the left and mounted it ontop of a rock that i found on the beach to created a cascade/root over rock, the rock has holes in the centre that i threaded the roots through.


I am slightly concerned that the rock is salty from being in seawater and could kill the tree. I washed the rock so hopefully that prevents this.

I also cut a V into the trunk to bend it as it had gotten to thick.

Any thoughts, ideas or advice?

 

[Vance Wood]

You should take the time to educate your self a little more than having an awareness that a thing can be done.

 

[M. Frary]

You should take the time to educate your self a little more than having an awareness that a thing can be done.

That needs to go into the Vance Wood quote archives!
Not only is it excellent advice for bonsai Vance. It works well in real life.

 

[Vance Wood]

That needs to go into the Vance Wood quote archives!
Not only is it excellent advice for bonsai Vance. It works well in real life.

Thank you. Sometimes as we get older we have the opportunity to get wiser----if we continue to educate ourselves. I thank bonsai for that, I really don't know what I would do if I did not have bonsai, and the opportunities for personal goals to learn more stuff. A hungry mind is a growing mind.

 

[Beanwagon]

You should take the time to educate your self a little more than having an awareness that a thing can be done.

Can you elaborate a little more?

I enjoy education through trial and error, especially when it comes to bonsai. I like the saying "you either win or you learn".

You can read something 1000 times (which i have) but until you put it into practice you will never really know or truly be competent.

 

[Beanwagon]

I also must add that risk adds a level of excitement/arousal that can help solidify knowledge. You will remember something a lot more if it is attached to a fear response. In this case i fear that the tree may day. Ultimately i do not care if it does because i will have learnt something.

Fear may be too strong of a word. Anyway Some of you open minded people may get the point i am trying to make.

 

[Vance Wood]

Can you elaborate a little more?

I enjoy education through trial and error, especially when it comes to bonsai. I like the saying "you either win or you learn".

You can read something 1000 times (which i have) but until you put it into practice you will never really know or truly be competent.

A lot of times we tend to do something simply because we know it can be done and don't have the slightest idea how to do it successfully. With the technique of cutting out a wedge from the trunk in order to bend it, there are several things that must be done carefully and accurately or the process will fail and you may lose the tree. As to planting the tree on a rock harvested from a salt water source is generally considered a bad idea. You don't ever seem to get all of the salt out no matter how you wash and soak and fool around with the rock. Generally speaking the only rock artistically acceptable will be rugged having many furrows and caverns in it. These places will harbor salt and may not be salt free in either of our life times.

 

[Beanwagon]

A lot of times we tend to do something simply because we know it can be done and don't have the slightest idea how to do it successfully. With the technique of cutting out a wedge from the trunk in order to bend it, there are several things that must be done carefully and accurately or the process will fail and you may lose the tree. As to planting the tree on a rock harvested from a salt water source is generally considered a bad idea. You don't ever seem to get all of the salt out no matter how you wash and soak and fool around with the rock. Generally speaking the only rock artistically acceptable will be rugged having many furrows and caverns in it. These places will harbor salt and may not be salt free in either of our life times.

Cheers i agree with everything you have said and took this into account with my design. For me the possibility of the final design outweighed the risk of loosing the tree.

 

[Beanwagon]

Apart from misting any tips for aftercare?

 

[Vance Wood]

Cheers i agree with everything you have said and took this into account with my design. For me the possibility of the final design outweighed the risk of loosing the tree.

I understand that as well however; the possibilities of a final design should be bolstered by sound technique, otherwise what good in the design?

 

[music~maker]

G'day mate,
I like the overall appearance however feel the Tree could definately be shorter to maximise the smaller sized Trunk.
A small Tree will make the Trunk look bigger and create a more powerful tree in the long run, just an idea hope you
don't mind. Clearly an amount of time will be needed to create backbudding in some key areas..
good luck through Winter,have Fun.

regards Craig.

View attachment 109718

I like this approach, but for this species, I wouldn't try to get there any faster than, say, 5 years from now. I'd let it grow unrestricted for a season, then evaluate for potential sacrifices, maybe prune a bit, then let it grow for another season, etc. If you want any trunk development, you'll need to let it mostly grow, but to do so in a somewhat directed manner.

If you pick a new sacrifice each season or two, it will definitely add some character. It's not going to double in size or anything, but 5 or so years of more growth than pruning will definitely add a little something something to the trunk. Then start reducing it further back to the image you drew should yield something very nice.

These back bud very well as long as you keep them growing strong and don't remove too much foliage all at once.

 

[Beanwagon]

Double post

 

[Beanwagon]

I understand that as well however; the possibilities of a final design should be bolstered by sound technique, otherwise what good in the design?

How does one gain sound technique? Through practice and study combined with trial and error, which is what this is for me. I am taking a risk of loosing a $16 tree which would suck but is not the end of the world. Regardless i will gain better technique and learn more about the art through doing this.

A curious mind is key to continued learning and this is satisfying my curiosities