I may have chosen the wrong front on this Pro nana!

[Vance Wood]

Hey, no need to apologize. I have been keeping Bonsai since a child, I have never taken any classes, or learned from any masters nor even joined a club. I own one old soft cover book about Bonsai from Sunset publishing. I have never shown a Bonsai in a competition and I admittedly am nowhere near up to date on new techniques or innovations related to Bonsai. Until I found this site last fall I had no reference to Bonsai technique or what is new and to be honest I never dreamed there were so many accomplished artists in America or on the web. What I am saying is that compared to people such as yourself and many other learned and accomplished Bonsai artists who frequent this site I could be described as a long time Bonsai novice.

One question about the comment you made on removing the top and creating an apex, I plan on opening up the top as I wanted a windswept appearance on this tree, I do not like the crackerbox, or common look of seperate foliage pads. This tree has some strong branches growing horizontally from left to right looking at the side I planned as the front. I hate to cut this main branch yet, although I have tossed the idea around for the last two years of doing just that and jinning the branch. You said to plant it at a more acute angle, did you mean leaning more or straighter up, I wanted it leaning a tad more anyway is why I ask, I have been waiting for the roots to develop before moving it as when I lean it more I will have more roots above ground which will hopefully be able to survive.

I will post a picture under the canopy if you or anyone else had any suggections they are greatly appreciated.

ed

You do not need to have "crackerbox seperate foliage pads" as you put it, but IMHO a bonsai does not start to look like someting until it is opened up enough so that the branch structure plays a role in the design. How you get there depends on your artistic sense. As it is now it simply looks like a tree from a big box store that has been sitting on your bench for a couple of years. I know I risk making you angry with that comment and that was not my intent but it is none-the-less true in my opinion.

 

[edprocoat]

You do not need to have "crackerbox seperate foliage pads" as you put it, but IMHO a bonsai does not start to look like someting until it is opened up enough so that the branch structure plays a role in the design. How you get there depends on your artistic sense. As it is now it simply looks like a tree from a big box store that has been sitting on your bench for a couple of years. I know I risk making you angry with that comment and that was not my intent but it is none-the-less true in my opinion.

No, it does not make me angry as you have stated that as a critique which you believe is true, and having seen your trees I know you are qualified to make such an assessment . In fact I could take it as a positive thing meaning the tree looks healthy.

What I see as the problem with the tree is the branch structure, at first I was happy with the strong growth, I was able to get close to what I wanted over the years, then some branches did not follow what I wanted them to do, and having not been exposed to the radical methods of twisting or moving branches I have seen employed here I had no idea how to accomplish what I wanted too do. I know the top protrudes too far to the right, that branch is also the thickest less pliable upper branch I have on the tree. I really do not want to twist it either, I have been thinking of shortening it with some jin at the end, yet I don't know how that would look? Also, I can not envision an apex in the tree either. I used to have a picture of the tree I was trying to ape with this juniper but I lost all my tree photos over a year ago in a computer vanishing trick.

ed

 

[Smoke]

Yes, I was thinking the "back" looked more natural to me too. I wanted to show the small bit of deadwood/bare wood on the front that is why I opened it up and removed the extra branch, I guess I could wait and see how its filling out first as it has tons of fine growth and a bunch of little cones growing on it, so the front or back would not make much of a difference till then.

ed

In the case of this juniper, whatever cultivar it is, could you elaborate a little about what you feel makes the back more natural than the front.
I'm very interested about this natural feeling. I don't see it but maybe you can help change my mind?

 

[edprocoat]

@Smoke... The back of the tree looks a lot like the way the trees are formed along the coast of Florida, lower and spread out and very bushy. Its not what I wanted though.

This is a drawing of the tree I wanted to mimic with my juniper, I had a nice picture I took of this tree from the top of an old barn roof I was repairing in Kentucky years ago. It was growing in the distance off a ledge that had a small river or creek running between the two ledges, it looked like the wind had topped the tree and it fell to be supported by the lower branches and continued to grow. It was some type of pine tree. This tree has since toppled or was removed as I was by this place 2 years ago and its gone now, probably from the heavy snows we had about 5 years ago.


clifftree by edprocoat, on Flickr

Ah-scuze my drawing as I am no artist!

ed

 

[cascade]

Hi,

I started a very similar material like yours about 5 years ago. Here is how it looks now:



Best,
Dorothy

 

[edprocoat]

Hi,

I started a very similar material like yours about 5 years ago. Here is how it looks now:

View attachment 25065

Best,
Dorothy

Very nice tree, I love the styling, good job.

ed

 

[edprocoat]

Well, I have missed 3 nights sleep tossing and turning and just not able to sleep. So last night I decided about 3:30 am to go out and mess around with this tree. I started moving the branches looking at what I might cut or wire. To my surprise I found three cocoons made out of the foliage in different branches and one little ball of webbing with something inside, I removed them all. Then I started seeing where many of the inside branches were suffering from being covered from the light, browning in places and other that had near died. I know it was as it was way to thick to get sunlight or even a good drying air. I wound up, now remember I was suffering from sleep deprivation, I removed almost two thirds of the branches and foliage from this plant. I wired everything to allow it all to be exposed to the light too, where everything is open. I will get a picture so you guys can get a good laugh in a day or so.

ed

 

[jkd2572]

I did that a while back on one of my tridents. Decided to wire it at 2:00am after a night of cocktails. Broke of its main branch an then decided to start carving. Still don't know if the tree has any direction from what I did to it.......

 

[edprocoat]

This is what is left after the carnage, i needed to do something as it was suffocating itself as it was.

Front, still not sure...

Juniopen by edprocoat, on Flickr

Back

Openback by edprocoat, on Flickr

This is looking at the side that leans towards the pot edge.



juniside by edprocoat, on Flickr

Be nice!

ed

 

[sean f]

At least now you can see the structure of the tree

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

I've done far worse after a few cocktails...
Kind of like the 3rd photo as a front, although I know you're going for a a windswept/slant.

 

[edprocoat]

I've done far worse after a few cocktails...
Kind of like the 3rd photo as a front, although I know you're going for a a windswept/slant.

Yea I was looking the side after trimming as a front also, problem is most the growth would be pointing right at me when viewing it from that angle. Right now I hope to let it grow back out which this has always been a prolific grower especially on back budding, this time I will be more selective on what I allow to grow. I am letting the little piece at the bottom grow out to bulge the trunk down there a bit.

ed