My shimpaku shohin.

[JudyB]

That is certainly some impressive deadwood. Cleaned up nice!

 

[Adair M]

What color pebbles are you going to use this year?

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Love the tree... not a fan of that austere pot.

 

[Dav4]

Adair, I was thinking about going with a sifted layer of smaller sized purple gum drops...

 

[Dav4]

Bnut, so you would use a more ornate pot? I actually have a carved Bigei rectangle that might fit this one....but I really like this pairing. Anyone else think there's a better pot out there? Suggestions?

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Bnut, so you would use a more ornate pot? I actually have a carved Bigei rectangle that might fit this one....but I really like this pairing. Anyone else think there's a better pot out there? Suggestions?

I think the size and the depth are correct. I think your tree has a lot going on - a lot of deadwood and character. It is definitely a masculine design, but I would normally use your pot on a formal black pine or similar. It is sooo clean that it distracts (in my opinion) from the energy of your design.

Maybe take a photo of the other pot and I can whip up a side by side virtual comparison.

Plus, I've been thinking about it as a show tree. You want the pot to stand on its own as one element of several. In my opinion it is just too... plain. I know it is a powerful pot but it needs a really formal tree.

 

[Dav4]

Ok, I'll post some pcs of the other pots in the AM. Anyone else who likes has thoughts on the pot/tree pairing feel free to comment.

 

[M. Frary]

I really like plain pots like this. For me the pot represents the Earth. This one does that really well.

 

[Dav4]

Ok, here's the Bigei. As with most of his etched rectangles and ovals, half is etched and half isn't.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Nice pot, it will be a tight fit, but probably very good if the live veins are shined up just a bit for show.
Very good cleanup and wiring, except that tuft sticking up at the top. I want to bend it toward the front right corner of the pot.

 

[Nybonsai12]

I dig the bigei pot and think it would look great. I don't necessarily dislike the pot it is in but maybe wish it was a tad darker and had something to break it up, feet, raised strip around it etc. I may retract that thought though after the season gets going and new green growth starts to fill in.

 

[Dav4]

Nice pot, it will be a tight fit, but probably very good if the live veins are shined up just a bit for show.
Very good cleanup and wiring, except that tuft sticking up at the top. I want to bend it toward the front right corner of the pot.

Yeah, the tree is having an "Alfalfa" moment...slightly heavier wire will take care of it.

 

[M. Frary]

I used to have Alfalfa moments. When I had hair.
I care to wager there are a few people who read this and wonder who the hell is Alfalfa.

 

[Dav4]

I used to have Alfalfa moments. When I had hair.
I care to wager there are a few people who read this and wonder who the hell is Alfalfa.

Google is their friend.

 

[JudyB]

I too like the Bigie pot. I wonder if it's too much action for the tree, but maybe the back side would be perfect. Course that's probably sacrilegious to turn the front of the pot to the back! And the tree is so strong, it can hold it's own, so I would try it.
Maybe we should take a poll about who knows what Alfalfa is. And who can sing the Howdy Doody song.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Relief carving should be out front!
And I know who alfalfa was...though it was before my time for sure. I'm closer to Eddie Murphy's SNL Otay, Buh-wheat! version.

 

[Adair M]

Dave, I'll share a little something I learned about shohin display from Diasaku Nomoto. Diasaku has won at Kokufu, and is a Board member of the Shohin society in Japan.

For the "box top" trees, typically a JBP or shimpaku that will be displayed on the top of a shohin box stand, it's really important to have the lowest branches of the tree be really low. That's because since they are sitting up high, the viewer will actually be looking up at them. From underneath. Having really low first and second branches makes the tree look better. If the branches are placed in the "normal" position, when viewed on the top of the box, it makes the bottom of the tree look bare.

Diasaku spent quite a bit of time explaining all the "rules" of shohin display. A quote, "There are no rules... But..." And he went on to describe which positions should have this or that type of tree, etc. And he gave us a photocopy of his winning Kokufu display.

So, when making the final "tweeks", keep in mind the height this will be displayed. (Also remember you're a tall guy!)

 

[Dav4]

Dave, I'll share a little something I learned about shohin display from Diasaku Nomoto. Diasaku has won at Kokufu, and is a Board member of the Shohin society in Japan.

For the "box top" trees, typically a JBP or shimpaku that will be displayed on the top of a shohin box stand, it's really important to have the lowest branches of the tree be really low. That's because since they are sitting up high, the viewer will actually be looking up at them. From underneath. Having really low first and second branches makes the tree look better. If the branches are placed in the "normal" position, when viewed on the top of the box, it makes the bottom of the tree look bare.

Diasaku spent quite a bit of time explaining all the "rules" of shohin display. A quote, "There are no rules... But..." And he went on to describe which positions should have this or that type of tree, etc. And he gave us a photocopy of his winning Kokufu display.

So, when making the final "tweeks", keep in mind the height this will be displayed. (Also remember you're a tall guy!)

Thanks Adair. If you look back at the progression photos since changing fronts a few years ago, you can clearly see that the main branches have been pulled lower with each styling. I plan on lowering them even more as the tree allows with future growth.

 

[Adair M]

Yeah, I saw that. I was just sharing some new knowledge I just got last week.

I was figuring out my display this morning. March will be here before we know it!

The only tree of mine showing any signs of waking up is the chojubai.

 

[Dav4]

Yeah, I saw that. I was just sharing some new knowledge I just got last week.

I was figuring out my display this morning. March will be here before we know it!

The only tree of mine showing any signs of waking up is the chojubai.

Yes, my quinces are all flowering and some are pushing leaves despite having been frozen solid just yesterday. I've been going back and forth on what to bring...this one has cleaned up better then some of the other chuhins, so it's at the top of the list...for now.