Did I miss who you said your teacher was? Was just curious?Forgot to update this thread when I wired it out back in June. Here's a pic from the front we chose. Did we make the right choice?
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Hope to visit it again in January.
Scott
Did I miss who you said your teacher was? Was just curious?
I would have to see this tree with the new style from different angles to see what is going on up top... for me personally I think you have a pretty challenging piece of material to try and get into a cohesive design... And I am not quite sure the style you currently have solves the issues...
So, I have to then ask... does one really need the continuation of the trunk with the leader you have wired up? Does the tree need to be any taller? I don't feel it does... I think this would take years upon years of growth to even get to a width that is even close to the size of the trunk, and until that time it will always have a toothpick feel. For me it is not needed... less is more. The foliage directly to the left already would make a perfect apex height.
If one follows the line established from this foliage down to the foliage on the lower right hand side of the tree, you will find this line directly flows with the line of the lower crossing over section of the trunk I previously mentioned, adding stability... and balance to an otherwise chaotic piece of material.
In nature patterns don't regularly happen... however the human mind and eyes like comfort and symmetry... one can have a very wild off the top design as long as there is some form if this symmetry.
Lastly, I think you can bring down the left branches a bit to further compact the trees design.
I think you are leaving to much of the very straight section of the trunk showing. With this much real estate, the tree's trunk begins to loose interest. You have a really nice bit of movement in the section crossing over the front of the trunk from right to left about half way up. This helps break up what would otherwise appear to be an even straighter trunk. Visually, what this does is act as a stopping point for one's eyes going up the length of the trunk. .. it then takes your eye visually to the left and onto the foliage... problem is that one's eye immediately wants to then return to continue following up the remaining portion of the trunk...
The problem here, is I think one needs to ask oneself do you want our eyes to return to see the rest of the trunk? And do you need them too? I don't think you do...
I would almost like to hide this area above the crossing over section with some foliage and allow the deadwood bits to pop out above the top.
Yeah see... with the this photo the tree takes on a totally different sense of scale! This is why I said I would like to see it from another angle. Seeing the tree from this different angle changes my view of the overall height of the tree. I now don't mind it as much, but do feel that perhaps if some of it was removed and made a little shorter, I can see how even left in it's current position, it would still work with the design that I spoke of. The leader covered at the base in this photo with foliage takes away the transition form a large trunk to a small continuation of the trunk that I previously spoke of... so, I would try and keep this in mind with your original front. If you can position some foliage where it obscures this section, it works.Thanks for such a long and thoughtful post Sawgrass. Generally when I post a tree I get a comment or two and it disappears until the next time I update it. I REALLY appreciate your feedback.
I have a lot of teachers, but I work with Boon on this tree.
I only have one photo from a slightly different angle. Here it is:
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Scott
Is there a way to leave the leader where you have it, and yet be able to grow out instead a branch that would serve the same purpose, that being another branch on the right hand side? If so, than it would be definitely a safer route forward on a piece such as this with some age.It's a good point - the plan Boon and I discussed was to lower that apical branch way down to be a new branch on the right and to use the foliage you mentioned as the apex. This has to be done with care because it's the only foliage supporting an important live vein. Two challenges prevented us from doing it on that visit. First, Boon felt the branch was weak and second, there is a fair amount of deadwood that will have to be carved away to lower it. So we decided to leave it upright for now and let it gain strength. I'll try and lower it this winter.
This is a great point. Looking at these pictures in retrospect, it is of course correct. I'll definitely lower them some more on my next visit.
Scott
Is there a way to leave the leader where you have it, and yet be able to grow out instead a branch that would serve the same purpose, that being another branch on the right hand side? If so, than it would be definitely a safer route forward on a piece such as this with some age.
Not a problem... cool tree!Sure, I think so. And grafting is always an option if I don't get something to branch out there. I definitely don't want to lose that live vein - very important for the tree. It's good to go slow with an old tree like this. Helpful that it's in one state and I'm in another. When I visit in January I'll see what my options are.
Thanks again for your thoughtful feedback.
Scott
Not a problem... cool tree!
Did a virt for a possible path forward in the post above.
Good luck, keep us updated!
The crossing deadwood does not bother me as much, I just think you need to try and break up some of the view of the trunk above it. This helps bring the overall size of the look of the tree down. and actually makes the tree feel smaller, even though I left it the same size.Really like what you did on that virt and helpful for me in seeing your meaning about obscuring the crossing dead wood. Thanks for taking the time - excited to head back and work on my trees there.
Scott
Did you collect this tree?! Awesome tree, what made you choose the current front?Here is a western juniper yamadori of mine. It was collected about 4 years ago and showed very strong growth this spring. I started work on the tree early this summer by removing the old bark and deadwood cleanup. I think enough of the old bark has been removed so that the location of the live veins are apparent. I'll repot, removing more of the field soil in January. My teacher and I took these pictures during the work while we were deciding on the front. There were a number of possibilities that we discussed and we took pictures from some of the angles that we liked the best - the options are written on the box. I ask you - which front do you like and why?
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Scott