Itoigawa Juniper Shohin Progression

[Colorado]

That's a cool little tree!

Thanks! It’s one of my favorites

I also struck some of the cuttings for more future itoigawas!

 

[Hartinez]

This juniper gained significant density and vigor this spring! I decided it is a good time to work on it. The tree had strong runners extending all over the tree:
View attachment 443654

I started by removing all wire because it was biting in, severely in places. Here is the tree sans wire:
View attachment 443655

Next I pruned the tree. I removed the runners and cleaned up the bottoms of the pads. I added one piece of wire in the back of the tree. And back on the bench!
View attachment 443656

It really is a great little tree TJ. But I still can’t help but feeling like you’re not going far enough with the styling! Bjorn just released an update video on a small shohin Juniper. It reminds me quite a bit of what I think you could do with yours. Dive in bro!

 

[Colorado]

It really is a great little tree TJ. But I still can’t help but feeling like you’re not going far enough with the styling! Bjorn just released an update video on a small shohin Juniper. It reminds me quite a bit of what I think you could do with yours. Dive in bro!

Danny, I appreciate your feedback as always! I actually just watched that video. The really challenging thing about this tree is how small it is. The tree in Bjorns video was probably at least twice as tall as this tree! Makes it really tough to achieve the definition.

Now that I’m done making excuses, I will have to try to up my game and do it more justice next time I work on it!

My plan is to continue compacting the foliage this summer with pruning and then I will re-wire it later this year.

 

[Hartinez]

I

Danny, I appreciate your feedback as always! I actually just watched that video. The really challenging thing about this tree is how small it is. The tree in Bjorns video was probably at least twice as tall as this tree! Makes it really tough to achieve the definition.

Now that I’m done making excuses, I will have to try to up my game and do it more justice next time I work on it!

My plan is to continue compacting the foliage this summer with pruning and then I will re-wire it later this year.

Its def not bad work Tj! I just think there is more in there. It could be I’m think of a more refined look, but it could also be that this tree does not need that.

 

[Colorado]

I

Its def not bad work Tj! I just think there is more in there. It could be I’m think of a more refined look, but it could also be that this tree does not need that.

No, I think you’re totally right. It’s a really interesting tree with a lot of potential. I don’t think I’ve maximized yet what the tree can be! But I’m having a damn good time trying!

 

[Colorado]

I recently had the opportunity to have one of my trees analyzed by professional Jennifer Price at the Rocky Mountain Bonsai Society October meeting. I decided to bring this tree! I gave a brief history of the tree and mentioned that it was designed in collaboration with my good friend Danny Hart, aka @Hartinez

Jennifer was tremendously complimentary of the tree. I believe she mentioned that it would fit nicely in her carry-on luggage for her trip home

For her analysis, Jennifer suggested compacting the left side foliage, and embracing the length on the right. This is consistent with Danny’s original virtual. She also mentioned a very slight tilt to the right to give the tree and trunkline a more dynamic design. Finally, she suggested allowing the apex to extend in height very slightly, maybe a half an inch.

I am so thankful to both Danny and Jennifer for their help on this tree! Looking forward to putting these ideas into action next year. It is just now reverting back to scale foliage from juvenile after the heavy work, so I haven’t really done any work on it since the updates earlier in this thread.

 

[Colorado]

Snowy morning in the garden

 

[Colorado]

Evening light



I didn’t do much work on this tree last year as it was throwing a ton of juvenile foliage and I just wanted to get it to calm down a little bit. This year the new growth is all scale, so I am planning to get it spiffed up sometime this spring.

 

[Colorado]

I was feeling inspired by the juniper post that @yenling83 posted the other day. So I pulled up the drawing that @Hartinez did for this little tree awhile back and got to work!

Here’s Danny’s drawing for the tree:


And here’s the tree after recent work:


Next I am going to work on expanding and cleaning up the shari!

 

[yenling83]

I was feeling inspired by the juniper post that @yenling83 posted the other day. So I pulled up the drawing that @Hartinez did for this little tree awhile back and got to work!

Here’s Danny’s drawing for the tree:
View attachment 499563

And here’s the tree after recent work:
View attachment 499564

Next I am going to work on expanding and cleaning up the shari!

Great work on the progression of this tree!!! You've taken it along way, looks awesome!!!

 

[Colorado]

“winter’s blanket”



P.S. - you can see some little Rocky Mountain irises poking out of the snow in the bottom right of the photo

 

[Colorado]

This little juniper is doing great this spring

 

[Deleted member 47471]

Fantastic little shohin. Nice rounded crown also.

 

[Colorado]

Hard to believe I have been working on this thread for about 3 years already! Seems like I just got this tree

I let it grow all spring. Lookin bushy! Lots of runners.


Now, a quick trim and a couple wires.


Planning to do some shari work later this summer

 

[Colorado]

Hunkered down for the first snow of the season!



I do bring this tree into my garage when it gets really cold, but I like to leave it outside as much as possible.

I love the snow so much….looking forward to a great winter

 

[Hartinez]

Hunkered down for the first snow of the season!

View attachment 573263

I do bring this tree into my garage when it gets really cold, but I like to leave it outside as much as possible.

I love the snow so much….looking forward to a great winter

Dayum! Yeah we are getting some great cold but not freezing rain. Great way for the weather and trees to transition into winter.

 

[Colorado]

@Hartinez Yeah it’s been a nice gradual fall season up here. I think we are turning the corner though, because it’s still coming down and supposed to snow pretty much all week!