Box store San Jose Juniper

[RJG2]

Well, if you are going to a workshop, the instructor may ask you if you have a style in mind for the tree. If you do or you don't, that's alright. You may want to prop the tree up at different planting angles and step back and look at it from different angles and see if a design jumps out at you. I do this with every new tree. I also cover with a cloth, branches that may not be part of the final design. Just spend a lot of time just looking. I design by feel, in the moment. That may take a day or a month...........or even a year. Ah, but what is time to a tree?

I'm very much in the (very slowly) design as I go, phase. I don't quite have the "eye" to just see the final result ahead of time.

I think that's okay though; it's similar to "go with what the tree is telling you" mindset - I'm just slower at it!

I guess I just didn't want to do too much prior to a workshop, as I'd be worried I'd have nothing to do while there!

 

[Dabbler]

I've never been a fan of this species but this one is quite the find and progression

 

[RJG2]

I've never been a fan of this species but this one is quite the find and progression

I was just looking for anything (cheap) with a decent trunk my first year doing bonsai. Got lucky that this was mostly scale.

Still not a fan of the scale foliage though - I may bite the bullet someday and graft, but I'll give it more time.

 

[RJG2]

Attended a workshop with Suthin at the Northeast Bonsai Association (first time attending a club event).

Suthin thought the long branch I had extended down and out was too heavy, and that was turned into a jin and wired down further.

We decided to rotate slightly counter clockwise.

The apex was raised a bit, and everything remaining was lowered and moved to the right slightly.

We had also discussed shari, and he agreed on my plan - so I did that during a "zoom" meeting today.

I'm currently conflicted on whether I personally like last year's image better, or how it is now - but all in all, a very positive experience for my first workshop/club gathering.

Last year as reference:


Shari during a meeting (will expand in the future):




Current, post workshop:


View of the heavy branch Suthin suggested jinning and lowering:

 

[Paradox]

Wow you should be thrilled with the scale foliage that tree is giving you
Very nice

 

[RJG2]

A couple photos from the workshop (not my trees).

 

[Deleted member 47471]

Nice Shari work addition to the tree, looking healthy like gangbusters