Literati Clump

[jk_lewis]

This is Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Plumosa'. It started out in 2005 in my possession as a neglected and bedraggled potted plant that sat beside the porch steps of a cabin we bought up in the NC Mountains. I rescued it and brought it down slope a couple thousand feet to the foothills.

The only possibility I saw was as a clump style of some sort, and the only clump I could build because of the condition it was in turns out to be a tall one with little foliage.

But wiring some of the limited foliage down and wiring some movement into the tall trunks gave me something I can only call a "literati clump style."

I kinda like it, but I'm not at all certain I've invented an emulatable style.

What say you?

 

[Nybonsai12]

I like it. Only thing i find distracting is there may be too many trunks or too much foliage on the right side. And while i like the pot, i'm not sure i like it with this tree. Thanks for sharing!

 

[jk_lewis]

Thanks. The pot is a mica training pot. It is too large for the tree, which isn't really ready for a "final" pot yet.

 

[Cadillactaste]

I like it...though...when I think literati...I think of less foliage. Keeping the foliage where it's at...just thinning it more. So it's not so lush.

 

[jk_lewis]

THIS is lush.

 

[Cadillactaste]

THIS is lush.

Very true!

 

[Derek91]

I like it as well. I also think too many trunks on right side.and If it were me I might try to give the center trunk a little bit more movement and see how it looks.

 

[Cadillactaste]

I think the left side looks like in my minds eye...had more harsher wind elements at work. So if it were mine...where the red arrow is I would mimic the area that is circled. And thin the foliage on that side. Because there is no foliage down lower on those branches. Which makes me think it's struggled in life...and should be more bare.

Not sure about the right side...only the left stood out to me.

 

[sorce]

I think this is great material. I would love the chance of working this.

Darlene erased the same pad I would. I have Cadillac taste too? Lol

Its probably the pic, but the tall and trunk left of it seem to need a lil separation.

And the trunk right of the tall could use some movement.

The right side could use some separation. Or an entire trunk length jinned. I think it would create enough separation.

A bit more wire. This will be right there!

Cant wait to see it progress. Will be really awesome.

Sorce

After a reread, I haven't really expressed how badass this tree is. Wish it were mine!

 

[Cadillactaste]

Darlene erased the same pad I would. I have Cadillac taste too? Lol

Your a riot!

I agree though...this is one amazing clump style!

 

[jk_lewis]

I think this is great material. I would love the chance of working this.

Darlene erased the same pad I would. I have Cadillac taste too? Lol

Its probably the pic, but the tall and trunk left of it seem to need a lil separation.

And the trunk right of the tall could use some movement.

Both are the photo. The right one's movement is toward and away from the camera. Quite visible in 3-D.

The right side could use some separation. Or an entire trunk length jinned. I think it would create enough separation.

That's what I did yesterday. I jinned a trunk -- after shortening it a bit.

A bit more wire. This will be right there!

Cant wait to see it progress. Will be really awesome.

Sorce

After a reread, I haven't really expressed how badass this tree is. Wish it were mine!

Thanks. I'm gonna look for a pot this weekend at the Carolina Bonsai Expo. LOTS of vendors there.

 

[Cadillactaste]

Sweet...sounds like some added character! Good luck on your pot hunt...and, you have a solid point there. We can't grasp the movement as well in a photo. Indeed a sweet piece of material. Lucky you!

 

[jk_lewis]

Won't have a new pic till Monday at the earliest. Got the Expo this weekend.

 

[Cadillactaste]

Won't have a new pic till Monday at the earliest. Got the Expo this weekend.

Enjoy the Expo...that will give something to look forward to later.Photos of your clump as well as some sneak peak of what you seen there I hope.

 

[DougB]

There were lots of great pots. Please show us that "just right" pot you found.

 

[FromSeed]

So this is what I had in mind when I saw this clump. I feel like this is much more aesthetically balanced. The large gap between the left and right group, I felt, was very distracting and made the arrangement look cluttered.

 

[jk_lewis]

None of the pots struck my fancy, I'm afraid.

Sorry, FromSeed, I'm not gonna go there, but thanks.

Here's the promised picture:

 

[Cadillactaste]

I definitely like that right side better job well done! Looks more natural on the right...balancing the entire clump.

 

[thumblessprimate1]

If I may add my opinion, there's something about the movement of the individual trunks that I find distracting. I don't get a sense of harmony.

 

[Cadillactaste]

If I may add my opinion, there's something about the movement of the individual trunks that I find distracting. I don't get a sense of harmony.

I guess I see trees that have struggled against the odds. I've done research on literati though far from grasping the entire just of the design. Having contorted and twisted trunks that have taken a beating from Mother Nature. The Jin in the clump shows this...I think the more sparseness he created helps pull it more together. It definitely looks better since his first styling he shared of literati...I also know that bonsai doesn't grasp ones entire desires in just a few stylings. But it's coming along nicely.