Juniper - opinions?

[Eric Schrader]

I've been working on this juniper for a few years. It was collected from an old garden by a friend who then decided to graft shimpaku onto what was originally a procumbens. After that I bought it from him when he got out of bonsai and started working on it. It's been my plan to make a cascade or semi-cascade out of it for a while now but when working on it last night someone suggested what I have considered already a few times - to remove most or all of the lower branch. It would be easier from a styling perspective to just remove it.....but I can't decide. If I keep it then I need to let one of the upper branches grow out enough to approach graft lower on that branch to change the rest of the foliage to match.

Usually when I can't decide I just let the tree grow for a while, but this time I thought I might ask for more opinions.

 

[Kevster]

I don't know what to say other than WOW! That is unique. In a good way. I like it the way it is. Looks wild and crazy. In my opinion something you might see out in the elements fighting a rocky ledge for survival.

 

[Ang3lfir3]

certainly a fantastic piece of material..... very dramatic and thought provoking .... in that vein I enjoy the lower foliage ... I would prefer it up a little higher and grafting new matching foliage would definitely be required (that lower section is still procumbens right?)

while removing it makes it easier it does however lose a lot of its charm and what makes it special... (besides being bizarre to begin with) .... the flow of the lower deadwood would also seem strange with no accompanying movement lower ....

I love the arm that reaches out to create that lower section and by bringing foliage closer I believe you could really focus the viewers attention on the deadwood and branch structure that make this tree so special.... I don't think you need much there ... certainly less than the current volume of the lower section... you could then reduction the lower jins and have a nice delicate finalization to the foliage (does that last part make sense) ....

now that all being said.... it will would still be a great looking tree without it... and you can always decide to kill it off later if you were to make the changes I mentioned .....

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Great material, very dynamic. My first thought was that you'd never miss the lower branch if it was gone. Second thought was to always use as much of the tree as you can. Can you introduce enough bends to raise the branch up, like Eric suggested, so the bottom of its foliage pad is about even with the lip of the pot? Almost to give the illusion it's coming off the main wave of deadwood.

 

[JudyB]

I'd miss the lower section if it were to go. It draws the eye. But it does look a bit conflicted... Maybe if it were a bit sparser? Or allowing the top foliage to go lower? Not to fill the open space, but to lessen it a bit?

 

[bonsai barry]

If I had decided to remove the lower branch, I would take some chances. For example, I would try to carve a large and asymetrical hole into the deadwood.

 

[tmmason10]

I'd try bending the lower branch and then if you don't like it, remove it. Great piece of material man I wish I had a better eye for things.

 

[Eric Schrader]

...

I decided to not do anything too dramatic. I did a little wiring to some of the upper branches to clean up the silhouette and thinned a bit more. I think that the crown could be a bit bigger but it'll do that without much help.

After the wiring I used another juniper that I had just for this type of situation to do 4 approach grafts to the lower branch in different places. Since the foliage down there was still procumbens I needed to graft it anyway. Give it a year and I should have at least a couple that take and then I can start styling it. The new grafts are positioned such that the lower branch can have foliage higher than where it is currently which I believe will make it look more cohesive as a tree. Thanks all for your opinions.

 

[JudyB]

Of course, now I'm oogling the tree next door... What is it?

 

[gergwebber]

holy crap me too that looks like a valley oak!(my favorite tree ever) and probably the best of california's native inland oaks to be purposed for bonsai!

 

[Eric Schrader]

Well, living in Sutter Creek, CA you shouldn't have any shortage of opportunities to collect a Valley Oak or some acorns at the very least. I'll post a separate thread since this is the juniper forum.

 

[jk_lewis]

I like the lower branch, but there is MUCH too much foliage down there. I'd reduce the foliage by 2/3 and I think you'll find you have a more proportionately styled tree. The top could use a bit of thinning, too, I suspect.

 

[MACH5]

Really like your juniper! Lots of character as others have said. Did a rough virt based on the photo provided where I turned it about 45 degrees to the left and brought over the lower branch all the way to the left side. I know you may not want to go so drastic but I gave it a shot to see what if

 

[Eric Schrader]

Wow, thanks, I'll have to go look at the tree and see what's possible. That change in angle would be possible since the lifeline is on the correct side to be buried. Not sure that the upper structure would allow that small of a crown and the lower left branch would have to be bent way around or constructed from scratch.

 

[MACH5]

Eric although I'm not the one in front of your tree, I think moving that lower branch over to the left may be doable since it looks thin enough. I think with some raffia and wire it can be done? Again is always tough to tell from a picture Glad you like the virt though!

 

[Eric Schrader]

It is hard to tell - but all the lower foliage is off that one small branch that descends vertically with the looping bend at the top. I like the branch but it's not super strong - in fact there is a big dead section on the back and I think if I tried bending it that there would be a snap pretty quickly. The tree was a landscape bush for many years and I think that this branch in particular was probably one of the weaker ones. I wish I had a photo of the tree when I got it....