Carpinus turczaninovii redesign

[vancehanna]

I've had it since a seedling in '93 and am planning on repotting this Spring to one of my pots I have in inventory. Slight angular offset to the right and some moved branches (today's wire and chopping). better show of nebari in the shallower pot as well. I've lengthened (it will grow out...LOL) the left branch to balance the tree in this setting.

 

[pandacular]

I like the virt a lot. The shallow pot really emphasizes the strong base. I wonder if you’ve considered removing one of the first left branches and bringing the branch above down some into it’s space.

 

[vancehanna]

Thank you , actually I have considered that idea a few times . I saw a deciduous years ago in a Japanese magazine with a very low (on the trunk line) and stretched way out. It hit me then as it hits me now…
However by chopping this low branch and moving to the one above (and yes, pulling it downward) the tree become “another” nice traditional semi-upright.
So for the moment it will stay.
Thanks for your fine comment.

 

[19Mateo83]

Another fantastic Vance Hanna composition, well done!

 

[pandacular]

Thank you , actually I have considered that idea a few times . I saw a deciduous years ago in a Japanese magazine with a very low (on the trunk line) and stretched way out. It hit me then as it hits me now…
However by chopping this low branch and moving to the one above (and yes, pulling it downward) the tree become “another” nice traditional semi-upright.
So for the moment it will stay.
Thanks for your fine comment.

I like the low branch and agree that the length makes it work. I really can’t say whether it would be better without the first left branch or without the second left branch, but currently I think the thicker second branch is out of balance with the thinner lower one.

Make no mistake, this is a nitpick of an excellent tree! I should have emphasized that more in my original post.

 

[Kievnstavick]

I agree with the idea that something needs to be addressed with the two lower left branches. It seems to empathize a strong left-ward movement that is is at odds with the quick and angular movement of the trunkline to the right. I think if the second branch was a little thinner, it wouldn't be as off-putting with the overall image. Giving the tree a slight rotation left or right might change the perceived thickness of the second branch.
I did a mock up virtu (I would say quick, but I had fun with it) showing the tree with more of a tilt (using your logo as a frame of reference for how much I tilted it) and shifted it more to the right. I also "cut" back some branches. I also kinda played with a almost two crowns (or one big crown in leaf). I am not super happy with my mock up for the top right side, but it puts the idea out there.

 

[vancehanna]

Kiev !
I can go with that in that it returns the tree to more of its original longitudinal location and some degree of rotation. Shorter and more full branches are hopefully on the horizon. Also I do plan on moving it more to the RH side as you have noted!
Thank you for your insightful comments

 

[Kievnstavick]

I'm glad that you took something helpful away from it

Good luck with your future development of this tree!

 

[vancehanna]

Here is a trim, wire session and the new pot proposal which is longer and shallower

In another couple months I’ll repot to the new one!

The second photograph is the preferred frontal view.(change 15degrees)

 

[vancehanna]

When all the leaves drop I'll do a bit of wiring and minor trimming. But all in all she's looking best yet

 

[Orion_metalhead]

Great trunk character on this tree.

 

[vancehanna]

Thanks J, it's gaining more character each season... I'd purchased 3 seedling from a vendor at the first MABA show in Des Moines* and I also recall that for the first time in the US there was a Chinese Vendor with various accouterments including gorgeous daiza along with pottery. Whoa, I purchased a mame stand that I've not yet used as I have only a few started about 4 yrs ago as they require such attention during the season that It has always scared me to think something might be dry....and here in the valley of CA...dang that's a for sure thing. Harry Tomlinson was the Master in Residence for the show.

*I was one of the workshop leaders along with George Randall, rip (phono shot in '13 a few years prior to his passing) he's been gone a long time. He was one of the early Michigan bonsai enthusiasts who had a degree in Geology aka: Earth Sciences. During WWII he was a navigator on B52's over Germany. Great guy, learned a lot from George and bought a few of his collected yamadori from N. Michigan....Which I later sold prior to my move here as too much to move so I only hope some of them are still going....

I do have to say that the next year Four Seasons Bonsai Club of Michigan sponsored the MABA 2000** event and the Consul General was very involved in getting Masahiko Kimura (first time in the USA) to attend as top Master. The show held in Detroit brought folks from Europe, Japan, and So Africa to name just a few.....

As long as I'm reminiscing here's a nice piece that the Consul General Japan Midwest/Michigan/Detroit region did with regards to events. The Consulate was a very busy place in those days entertaining celebrity folks from industry and educational institutions, Naoto Amaki was quite the guy as Consul General, he asked if he could take a few beginner lessons in bonsai and oh my we had fun! Nate was working on a small juniper and of course his wife was seated near and under tones in Japanese were spoken to him as she was 'semi directing' the lesson and after several hours, finally a bust of high speed Japanese was blurted out and she became very quite.....he looked at me with a sheepish 'grin' and we both silently smiled. Mr.s Amaki-San did not speak a word the balance of the lesson...

** pin for the event which I designed and had made for the club and MABA

 

[Baron von Smoogle]

During WWII he was a navigator on B52's over Germany.

Did you get your numbers mixed up? B-52's didn't fly until 1952. Maybe a B-25?
Anyway, a cool anecdote about Nate and the tree is looking great.

 

[vancehanna]

Thanks for the correction it was a bomber as I’m not a history buff of the war. But he was a navigator on board American bombers.