Projects from TJ’s Backyard
- Thread starter Colorado
- Start date
Colorado
Masterpiece
Late season update on a few long-term deciduous projects in development.
Japanese White Birch
Aspen
Quince over rock
Trident trunk chop
Japanese White Birch
Aspen
Quince over rock
Trident trunk chop
IzzyG
Shohin
I love this insight, Shady! Funny you suggest embracing the weeping nature. @Hartinez also made a similar suggestion awhile back! I think it’s really an interesting idea.
A couple weeks ago our club had a live Zoom Q&A with Ryan Neil. Ask him whatever you want about bonsai. I asked a question about “weeping style” RMJs. He basically poo-poo’d the idea. This has me really torn because I really admire his work and follow his teachings/techniques quite religiously, however I feel like perhaps he was being a little bit closed minded. Conversely, perhaps I am just being ignorant
Anyway, “so emo it practically prunes itself.” Can we make t-shirts with this quote?I’m imagining a “Brand New” album as this tree’s accent piece
Was at Eisei-en last week and Bjorn said he might no longer accept RMJ work because of this exact reason. The foliage is exceptionally tedious to work with; droopy and doesn’t like to hold its shape. I have one of his RMJs that he tried to graft itoigawa on (but all 30+ grafts failed) and he outright advised me to keep the foliage juvenile unless I like suffering
Colorado
Masterpiece
Interesting, thanks for sharing! Glad to know I’m not the only one that finds it challenging at times. I will say that I do have/have had a few other RMJs that had better foliage. Definitely some are better than others.Was at Eisei-en last week and Bjorn said he might no longer accept RMJ work because of this exact reason. The foliage is exceptionally tedious to work with; droopy and doesn’t like to hold its shape. I have one of his RMJs that he tried to graft itoigawa on (but all 30+ grafts failed) and he outright advised me to keep the foliage juvenile unless I like suffering
Looks like you have some great trees, by the way!
IzzyG
Shohin
Some definitely have better foliage! I have a couple of each native junipers and it’s pretty amazing to see how varied their foliage can be despite being the same species.
Thanks! Definitely added a few too many trees this year but it just meant I had to learn things quicker too. Been enjoying the updates to your garden! I’ve been making some to mine as well as the collection grew so getting ideas/inspiration from your thread. Absolutely love those benches with the smaller stone. I’ve been unable to locate them locally. Or at least not at a reasonable cost(Home depot has a similar sized one that was $900 but would only build 1.5 benches at the height I want lol). Do you have a local source with better pricing?
Colorado
Masterpiece
All of my bench materials came from Home Depot. I’ve built the benches incrementally, so perhaps that’s why it didn’t seem too expensive at the time! Ha. If I were to do it on a larger scale, I think I’d try to find another (cheaper) source for the block.
I might go a block taller next year.
I do appreciate the modular system. It works really well for my small space. I just disassembled for the winter. I can use the block and lumber to make a bit of a little “cold frame” of sorts that provides a little extra protection from the elements.
luvinthemountains
Chumono
I like that image a lot. Many birch I see by mountain streams grow like this. Well done.
Colorado
Masterpiece
Thank you! It has been in this pot for 3 seasons now, planning to repot in the spring. Thinking something a little shallower and wider.
Ranitomeya
Sapling
These pictures really don't do your trees justice TJ, but they still look fantastic. The sillhoute on that Aspen is so delicate, I love it. What are you planning for it down the line?
Colorado
Masterpiece
Thanks for the kind words! For the aspen, I’m planning to pot it into a shallow oval in the spring. Once I find the best combination of base and line for the front, I think I’ll need to reposition some branches with wire.
Then, I’ll see how vigorous it is after the repot. I may prune it in June or July if it’s very vigorous, or I may go hands-off next year and let it just settle into the pot.
In the coming years, I’ll continue to prune secondary branches back to 2 buds through the growing season to generate ramification.
Colorado
Masterpiece
Here’s a humble Chinese elm mallsai. It has the dreaded S-curve but I’m having fun trying to make a literati out of it. Could always chop it back to the base, but for now I’m having fun with it!
Thoughts? Keep experimenting with literati form, or chop it back to the first branch?
Thoughts? Keep experimenting with literati form, or chop it back to the first branch?
ShadyStump
Imperial Masterpiece
I'm leaning toward the literati idea right now.
Wood
Chumono
Best of both worlds? Layer at the orange line to keep the literati and get rid of the s-curve. Then chop back to the blue line and build off the base. I really like the literati part you've built, but the s-curve feels very different for some reason
I’d leave it like this and experiment with it.
Even though it has the S at the base still looks good.
The best thing to do in bonsai, somethimes, is to do nothing (some old bonsai master once said
)
Colorado
Masterpiece
Honestly this had not even occurred to me. Love this idea! I will have to strongly consider this, thanks!
Colorado
Masterpiece
I’d leave it like this and experiment with it.
Even though it has the S at the base still looks good.
The best thing to do in bonsai, somethimes, is to do nothing (some old bonsai master once said
Thanks! And totally agree about doing nothing sometimes. Can always come back later and “do” the thing if it still seems like a good idea.
This tree is actually inspirational for me, I have a similar S malsai supermarket bought elm.
Was thinking what to do with it.
Will take it next spring in a similar direction.
Colorado
Masterpiece
Awesome!
Colorado
Masterpiece
We had a little study group with myself and @Ranitomeya this weekend to get a much-needed winter bonsai fix 
I don’t usually do much work on my tropicals in the winter, but this buttonwood was so vigorous that it had to be pruned before the strong shoots completely disempowered the finer ramification that is forming. I also placed a couple pieces of wire to redirect a couple branches.
Before:
After Cleanup:
I don’t usually do much work on my tropicals in the winter, but this buttonwood was so vigorous that it had to be pruned before the strong shoots completely disempowered the finer ramification that is forming. I also placed a couple pieces of wire to redirect a couple branches.
Before:
After Cleanup:
Colorado
Masterpiece
Well, as 2022 comes to a close I can’t help but think back on a great year. I added new trees to my collection, found new homes for other trees, and had a great time along the way. And I have never been more excited and passionate about bonsai!
Can’t wait to see what 2023 brings….I know that it will bring some new projects to my backyard and to this thread
Can’t wait to see what 2023 brings….I know that it will bring some new projects to my backyard and to this thread
