Dip "Your" Toe Discussion Page

[Smoke]

Post your dicussions here.

 

[michaelj]

I like the firethorn, Smoke. How much time between the before and the after.

 

[Smoke]

Two years.

 

[barrosinc]

 

[Smoke]

See my grin....

 

[qwade]

Hey barros inc
Not sure if your comic was a discussion of my tree. I may have been confused with the topic of the thread. I thought it was relating to " trees that you make in the backyard and put into pots but maybe not show them to people because they have flaws".My tree has not been styled in anyway, and has only been in my care for a short time.
Anyway, Maybe I am confused as to your comic. So if you could elaborate as to the meaning. Maybe frame by frame. Smoke grinned,so he must have got it. Maybe he could chime in. Apologize in advance for my ignorance of your otherwise nice sketch.

 

[barrosinc]

I thought it was a continuation of the other thread (erics awesome juniper) and realized later in the day it wasn't... Sorry Al.

 

[qwade]

Whatever, Barrosinc. Still don't get it.
However, to continue the discussion, I find Bobby's Privet amazing. Not just great carving but a great find of material.
Brian's trees, are likewise a stunning transformation.I can't believe he turned that Pyracantha shrub into a world class tree. Hard to judge who has the better Pyracantha. Smoke's tree also simply amazing. Both collected---free. I'll be on the lookout for those. Although don't know if I can pull off the same results

 

[PierreR]

If I might... I'm floored by the transformation of trees showing in a few threads lately! Going from what looks like a stick to downright beautiful trees, in a few years!

I don't know may people here yet, but I will say the ones I have spoke to, have offered their help quite willingly. The overall spirit here is good. Thank you!

 

[michaelj]

Smoke, your work on those Californias is outstanding. Again, I'd love to know the time difference between these before and after photos.

 

[Smoke]

Most of the Ca's were dug between 2001 and 2004. Most were first styled a couple years after, the tall twin trunk was just styled last year. I still have two more not posted.

 

[Smoke]

I must say I am super pleased to see the variety of trees and the working of the forms. There are indeed some very talented people here and I have enjoyed the tree exhibit. I know there are plenty more and I hope they get posted for all to enjoy.

 

[Smoke]

Paul, I am amazed at how much change in that trunk. Its so much more powerful and probably all due to being in a pot. I know its obscured , but how did you handle the jin at top? Where did it go, just cut back and make a live top?

 

[Smoke]

Dav4, in the photo Satsuki azalea, this becomes a good tree for discussion of this process. Since the thread was started to be a page on trees from raw stock or urban or mountain collected trees whats your thoughts on trees imported as pretty much stumps but have obviously been grown for bonsai?

I think this part of bonsai keys in more towards what Gary Wood was trying to say. How much credit is awarded to that person, which usually has no name, as part of the bonsai? I have many trees I have not posted that were nothing when I got them, but were obviously grown as bonsai, I'm not gonna call them totally mine because obviously someone else has worked them.

In my opinion, the trunk is always the soul of the tree, and if I didn't create that, its hard for me to take the credit. Mother Nature is up for grabs. Of course my pyracantha's were pruned by Donald Trump Mexican landscapers for decades, but I'm stealing their thunder.

 

[PaulH]

Paul, I am amazed at how much change in that trunk. Its so much more powerful and probably all due to being in a pot. I know its obscured , but how did you handle the jin at top? Where did it go, just cut back and make a live top?

The jin is gone and the chop at the top is almost completely healed over now. I don't know about you but most ten jins at the top look pretty contrived to me so I've eliminated a lot of the ones I made earlier. The natural jins on my collected junipers is another story though. I try to use those.

 

[Dav4]

Dav4, in the photo Satsuki azalea, this becomes a good tree for discussion of this process. Since the thread was started to be a page on trees from raw stock or urban or mountain collected trees whats your thoughts on trees imported as pretty much stumps but have obviously been grown for bonsai?

I think this part of bonsai keys in more towards what Gary Wood was trying to say. How much credit is awarded to that person, which usually has no name, as part of the bonsai? I have many trees I have not posted that were nothing when I got them, but were obviously grown as bonsai, I'm not gonna call them totally mine because obviously someone else has worked them.

In my opinion, the trunk is always the soul of the tree, and if I didn't create that, its hard for me to take the credit. Mother Nature is up for grabs. Of course my pyracantha's were pruned by Donald Trump Mexican landscapers for decades, but I'm stealing their thunder.

Interesting question, Al. On the one hand, by labeling it as an import, I am giving some credit to that nameless person or people who started this tree/trunk decades ago and grew it out to develop thickness, curves and great taper. On the other hand, I feel acquiring imported stock like this is no different then collecting urban or wild trees for bonsai stock. They still have to be evaluated by me for potential, deciding if the base, trunk and branches are worth working with, and then you actually have to make something good out of it. The trunk on my collected yew was formed by callous hedging by my father and law along with decades of deer grazing. I didn't make the trunk, but I had the experience to realize what I could do with it. I know you know this, but for those who don't, it IS possible to buy a sucky imported tree. I would see tons of them at NEBG when I visited there on a regular basis...and they all eventually get sold.

 

[Smoke]

True that

 

[Smoke]

The jin is gone and the chop at the top is almost completely healed over now. I don't know about you but most ten jins at the top look pretty contrived to me so I've eliminated a lot of the ones I made earlier. The natural jins on my collected junipers is another story though. I try to use those.

Thanks for the clarification.

 

[BobbyLane]

Great thread, some really inspiring transformations....Im still learning the hobby myself, having been enthusiastic about bonsai just over 3 years now, the Privet I picked up in Oct 2014 and my vision was to style it like an old Oak tree, similar to image inserted..its in the branch thickening stage and hasnt been pruned yet, just letting it grow unrestricted for a couple seasons..

I have a Shohin Olive from raw material ill be posting in a few days..