Input Please

[Mac In Oak Ridge]

I planted two junipers of some kind beside a 1200 gal. water garden about 8 years ago. I don't know the variety of this plant. I don't think it Procumbins or how ever you spell that, I do remember buying the two trees and being happy that they were something other than that, but memory fades.

I dug it up today and put it in a cascade pot. I had to build a corral for the pot to keep the cascade from tipping it over.

It stands 24" from the top edge of the pot and if you measure from the peak of the top to the end of the cascade it is 72".

I would really like a little input as to what to do with this.

I can cut off the going up part and make some jin with the remains and then develop the cascade part.

I can cut off the cascade part and perhaps leave a hint of a semi-cascade or just remove it all together and grow it as a semi-upright style.

It has the possibility of making the upper part in a windswept style, either living or as jin.

And I am sure there is other options. Y'all jump in and give me some ideas and suggestions.

 

[Vance Wood]

I don't mean to be picky but if you could get some better photographs with the trees shot before a neutral mono-tone back ground, grey or black and from more than one side I am sure you would get some pretty good advise. They look like decent material but offering suggestions and ideas is not possible for me, I can't speak for others.

 

[Mac In Oak Ridge]

Heck Vance, I don't mind anyone being picky. Dark now but tomorrow I'll move the tree to a different location and try and get some better photos. My camera is acting funny, sometimes in focus and sometimes blurry and I'll see how it feels tomorrow. The wind on a mountain top blew it off a rock ledge when I was doing a self portrate of myself and son two weeks ago. It hit hard after about a five foot drop.

 

[bonsai barry]

Although the busy background does make it difficult to fully appreciate and critique this tree, it looks like there is some potential with proper training. I think there are two things I would do to bring out the cascade style your after:
1) Plant it in the pot at more of an angle so that the trunk extends further down rather than into the air.
2) Remove some of the growth to reveal the branch and trunk structure of the tree.

Good luck, I look forward to the new photo.

 

[Mac In Oak Ridge]

New Photos

My camera is not focusing properly because of a bounce on a rock in the Virginia mountains. But here are some more photos and hopefully better than the first ones.

Again, it is 24" from the top of the pot to the high tip and 72" from the high tip to the end of the cascade branch.

 

[Dav4]

With the first pick, I see a descent upright trunk...I'd hate to chop that off without some serious thought as that, in my opinion, is the best part of the tree that can be seen with the pics given. I don't know about windswept...maybe a literati type with foliage cascading from the top of the tree. Nice material. I'd definitely consider buying a new camera to take better pictures of it .

Dave

 

[Mac In Oak Ridge]

Thanks Dave, I can send the camera off and get it repaired for about $150. Trying to decide if I am going to upgrade or send it off.

 

[Chris Johnston]

Is the cascading branch an extension of the main trunk line or a low branch? This looks like spectacular material regardless of variety. If the foliage is too course, grafting shimpaku to replace it is a pretty good technique.

I can't wait to see some better pics.

P.S. When you see the "Boys," say hi for me.

 

[Mac In Oak Ridge]

Chris, Here is a close up of where the cascade branch leaves the main upright trunk. There is some lichens green growing on it and it makes it kind of vanish in the other photos.

What "Boys" are you talking about?

Mac

 

[Chris Johnston]

Hmm, in that case, I see maybe two tree in this pot. I'd consider air layering that low branch. The rest of the tree is a beautiful literati in waiting.

What boys? Why the Oak Ridge Boys, of course!

 

[anttal63]

hey mac great material it looks like a juniper squamata to me.

 

[cascade]

Solution..

..
I would really like a little input as to what to do with this.
..

"Mac",I think you should sell it..

Seriously,you have some nice material to play with.Wish you fun!

-dorothy

 

[FourMileMarc]

Dude, Oak Ridge Boys!, Chacka bra.

 

[Mac In Oak Ridge]

I thank all for the good comments. The only suggestion (other than selling) so far is to cut off the cascade branch and work with what is left. So I guess I know what I am going to do tomorrow.

 

[Mac In Oak Ridge]

hit looks like a juniper squamata to me.

anttal, I did a Google on what you suggest and it sounds like you have hit it on the head. Now that I read that I remember something about, "Blue Star" when I bought the two plants.

As soon as I get my new camera I'll take a photo of the other one and put it on this forum. It has grown something I think quite unusual. There are two trunks coming up from the ground and about 18" up a branch from one crossed over the other trunk and has grafted it's self there. So I have two trunks with one top. Kind of different looking. I'll have to dig it up in order to get a good photo of it, it is kind of hard to see where it is planted.

 

[cascade]

Cascade branch

"Mac",if you cut off the cascading branch,you will end up with "just another" juniper.

As far as I can see from the pictures,this is GREAT literati material.(Selling to ME...that's what I meant.. )

If you ask for advice,do you really don't how to style the tree,or do you anticipate technical problems in how to achieve a good result?

-dorothy