I know! That’s been bothering me, too! I might have to rewire it!
Japanese White Pine JWP Literati progression
- Thread starter Adair M
- Start date
dirk hoorelbeke
Omono
Difficult to feel if the low right branch is a must without full styling. When in doubt always keep is. I find literati more powerful/ tempting/ vulnerable when the trunk is fully exposed. It might work with the fuller style you aim for in the beginning.
Here’s an update. Wired out the lower right branch. Seen edge-on it seems denser than the left branch. It might be a little, but when viewed in person, it’s not. Photos can be deceptive sometimes.
And for you thumbnail fans:
Next, we’ll move on up to the top section.
And for you thumbnail fans:
Next, we’ll move on up to the top section.
0soyoung
Imperial Masterpiece
A notion that pops to my mind, with all these regularly spaced branches, is to make it an image of a 'Stairway to Heaven" (hat tip to Zep.).
And what does that look like?
0soyoung
Imperial Masterpiece
A sequence of horizontal branches and horizontal pads (getting smaller going up the trunk, of course), right, left, to a shapely/heavenly apex. You do the shapely/heavenly apex thing to a 'T'. The stairs, though, should be amateurish/noob-like (which might to be a real challenge for you to make).
It is quite unlike your inspiration, but as I said before, I like arty literati.
... just a thought.
It is quite unlike your inspiration, but as I said before, I like arty literati.
... just a thought.
Well, that’s pretty much what it used to look like! The branches were pretty much horizontal with defined pads.
To my eye, that styling made the tree look too young. When I happened across the picture of the “inspiration tree”, and it had a similar trunk and apparent branch placement, I realized that actually, the branches originate much higher up, drop, then the foliage fans out at a lower level. So, it has foliage at about the same places mine does, but it looks MUCH older. The bark is part of that (which only time can fix), and the drop branches bring a lot of character to the tree.
So, while we wait for bark, I thought I could start bringing the branches down. Will it work? Don’t know. I’ll keep posting my progress.
Leo in N E Illinois
The Professor
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@Adair M
Those dropped branches we admire in literati originate out of a need to put foliage where no branches exist. Your tree has the great luxury of well placed branches. Doing the "drop branch" routine on it looks somewhat contrived. You have a very nice tree as is. If it were mine I'd keep the branches more horizontal, and try to make them more compact, more dense and keep them shorter rather than as long as they are now. In 20 to 40 years, after the bark has formed all the way up the trunk, or if an accident kills a low branch, then it would be time to make the drop branches.
Yes, it looks a bit young, but even with dropped branches it will look young, the curse of smooth bark on jwp.
At least that is my opinion.
Those dropped branches we admire in literati originate out of a need to put foliage where no branches exist. Your tree has the great luxury of well placed branches. Doing the "drop branch" routine on it looks somewhat contrived. You have a very nice tree as is. If it were mine I'd keep the branches more horizontal, and try to make them more compact, more dense and keep them shorter rather than as long as they are now. In 20 to 40 years, after the bark has formed all the way up the trunk, or if an accident kills a low branch, then it would be time to make the drop branches.
Yes, it looks a bit young, but even with dropped branches it will look young, the curse of smooth bark on jwp.
At least that is my opinion.
Yes, I agree, but...
Pine trees, at least the ones around here, seem to grow tall, and only keep the upper branches. In a forest situation, they only have upper branches. The trunks are tall, thin, taperless, and branchless until the very top. The odd tree growing on its own may keep lower branches, but they sweep downwards of their own weight.
I’ll get a picture of one I see every day, you’ll see what I mean.
My amateur eye can see it different. I really love the elegant tree shown in post #5 that you chose to follow. Thanks for that I saved that picture, developing one taller mugo...
In my opinion, bending branches down like you're doing will add not only a feeling of age. But it'll give you some more space for letting the tree grow, 'cause I think it still needs to be grown out. Except of this opportunity there's not too much room for new growth, maybe filling up the top right portion of tree for achieving visual balance. I'm watching, definitely.
Adair, will you deploy sacrifice branch(es)?
In my opinion, bending branches down like you're doing will add not only a feeling of age. But it'll give you some more space for letting the tree grow, 'cause I think it still needs to be grown out. Except of this opportunity there's not too much room for new growth, maybe filling up the top right portion of tree for achieving visual balance. I'm watching, definitely.
Adair, will you deploy sacrifice branch(es)?
No need for sacrifice branches, it doesn’t need a thicker trunk. Zuisho trunks thicken up pretty well, even in a pot. It just needs age to get a rough bark.
Literati usually have relatively thin trunks. And usually branches in the top 1/3 of the tree.
There’s different kinds of literati, some are more jagged with lots of zigs and zags, while others are more elegant and feminine. With this tree, I’m going for that feminine look. (Next week I’ll be messing with the other kind!)
Thank you, Adair, that's good Zuisho trunks develop so good. I wish my mugo would.
Yes, I know and that's why I like this specimen tree. Keep on doing good job.
M. Frary
Bonsai Godzilla
It will. Once it realizes its constrained by a pot and is fooled into believing it cant go no further it will start to bark up.
I believe that when you start restricting a trees roots in a pot it's been fooled into thinking its mature. Maxed out. The distance between growth rings is lessened dramatically just as if it has reached maturity in the wild. Like a yamadori is small but has aged bark. From having its roots constricted.
Yeah, Mike, thanks for supporting. I can see some bark aging on my tripple trunk mugo, but it's older than my literati. Patience. But enough not to steal this thread.
This is the last update until next week, probably. I’m teaching bonsai today, and tomorrow my son and I are riding a double header steam locomotive train excursion!
I was able to wire the middle right branch down.
I was able to wire the middle right branch down.
jeanluc83
Omono
This is going to need a thread in the tea house!
just.wing.it
Deadwood Head
Liking it more and more with every branch!
Hartinez
Masterpiece
Can I assume all of the branches I. The crown will be wired in the some downward trajectory as the rest? Am I just being impatient with my question?!?! Probably! But I wanna see!!
Patience! This is a “progression” thread!
Meanwhile:
I’m just starting to wire the apex.
