Blueberry bunjin

[Jay Wilson]

I thought I'd share this blueberry. It's been through some rough times and has ended up with a live vein on deadwood that is more reminiscent of a conifer than a fruit tree.

It has a few berries on it and I was hoping to get a picture with the berries mostly ripe, but the birds get to them as quick as the turn color. Oh well, birds gotta eat too.

I hesitate to clean up the deadwood because it has some nice lichen growing on it though either the live or deadwood needs to be cleaned up some so the vein shows up better.

This one has some potential if I don't kill it.

 

[PaulH]

I like it. You should remove the straight dead section above the point where the trunk makes the 90 degree bend.

 

[stacy allen muse]

???????????????

 

[Victrinia Ridgeway]

Without trying to be unkind, I have to respectfully disagree with the assessment of this tree. It is to a bunjin what it is to an informal upright. You could apply that term loosely, but not accurately. Honestly it's a tree with some interesting character, which with some development will be a more interesting tree... but to call it a bunjin is to take down what is rightly one of the most difficult forms in bonsai. If someone has a quirky somewhat thin-ish (relative to height) tree, they label it bunjin. But really it's a quirky tree that isn't really in need of a category... it simply is... and that you enjoy it is enough. But to call it a bunjin would be like calling me a fashionista... I don't think so. lol

Yours most kindly,

Victrinia

 

[gergwebber]

I have always thought that blueberries had some merits that lend great character, like cool flowers, and good fall color, but I have never stuck with them and end up putting them in the berry patch! maybe when they get old and weak for fruiting I will have a good bonsai! kudos for sticking with yours!

 

[Jay Wilson]

Without trying to be unkind, I have to respectfully disagree with the assessment of this tree. It is to a bunjin what it is to an informal upright. You could apply that term loosely, but not accurately. Honestly it's a tree with some interesting character, which with some development will be a more interesting tree... but to call it a bunjin is to take down what is rightly one of the most difficult forms in bonsai. If someone has a quirky somewhat thin-ish (relative to height) tree, they label it bunjin. But really it's a quirky tree that isn't really in need of a category... it simply is... and that you enjoy it is enough. But to call it a bunjin would be like calling me a fashionista... I don't think so. lol

Yours most kindly,

Victrinia

Vic, you are not unkind, just honest and real..
I usually don't label trees as to style etc. because I just don't know that much about 'Styles and Forms'.... I just call them 'trees', but I slipped up and labeled one in this instance.
Honestly, I used the word 'Bunjin" 'cause I didn't want to try to spell 'literii'
Thanks for sharing your insight

 

[Jay Wilson]

Paul and Stacy,

Thanks, and thanks for your thoughts on the deadwood. I had intended to include in the post that I planned to reduce/carve/cut off or do something to it.

I fully agree it is distracting as it is. I'm not a fan of the bright white deadwood either....it would take a lot to make me even try it lol.


gergwebber....I've quite a few berry bushes I started to try to bonsai. They're back in the berry patch now too.

 

[stacy allen muse]

?????????????

 

[Victrinia Ridgeway]

Thank you Jay for truly understanding my intentions... I would not wish to discourage you in any way... for my part I love the live vein and think it'll be interesting in the long run. Bunjin is difficult because it's so rare to find a tree worthy of that style. I don't even have one... and yet I wish above all else that I did. I *nearly* had one sculpted by the hand of God alone... but it didn't survive collection. I was deeply sorry to lose it - and be the cause of it's death.

There is something difficult to put ones finger on when it comes to bunjin that I can only think of as high-mindedness... it can evoke contemplative thoughts and whimsy, great age and endurance, a fragile elegance that is venerable. So you can see... when I attach so many (though doubtlessly romantic) concepts to it, why I wanted to share these thoughts with you.

When I find one though... it will be a great treasure to me. I hope you'll find one for yourself.

With respect,

Victrinia