Projects from TJ’s Backyard

[Colorado]

I love the verticality and drama of this tree. Those two lower jins really stick out to my eye because they're going the wrong way. Do you have a plan for them?

Thanks! Right now they are just handy guy wire anchors, but I do agree they should be removed or shortened in the future.

 

[LanceMac10]

I love the verticality and drama of this tree. Those two lower jins really stick out to my eye because they're going the wrong way. Do you have a plan for them?

Wrong way? Describe your experience with conifers growing in the front range of the Colorado Rockies.

 

[LanceMac10]

Worked on the ficus from post #12 again this week. I did a minor repot to correct the planting angle to bring it a bit more upright, to adjust the aerial roots, and to move the trunk slightly off-center in the pot. Now it will be ready to stay in this pot for 2-3 years to allow the roots to scale the akadama.
View attachment 391335

I also busted out the dremel for a bit of work on the shari. This was a rough go at it, will refine over time. Will apply lime sulphur this weekend.
View attachment 391336

Fig "wood" is pretty punky to begin with....score some crack, a ball-point pen and a chore boy....and a torch....shield with some foil and put deadwood to flame....crack be for confidence.

 

[Colorado]

Fig "wood" is pretty punky to begin with....score some crack, a ball-point pen and a chore boy....and a torch....shield with some foil and put deadwood to flame....crack be for confidence.

what else would I be doing on this fine Saturday?!

I am expecting it to deteriorate over time into a deeper and spookier hollow

 

[Colorado]

Here’s another upright tree I’ve been working on. The dreaded Dwarf Alberta Spruce.

Purchased Fall 2019, potted into shallow grow box Spring 2020. Here’s what it looked like then:


It exploded with growth after the repot so I did some branch selection summer 2020. First wiring spring 2021 and again it exploded with so much growth that it was ready for the wire to be removed and rewired by August 2021. That’s what I did last weekend. Here’s the result:

Just a little too tall for my white backdrop at 50”!

Apex detail:


Branch detail:


I plan to pinch in Spring 2022 to begin refining the foliage. Bonsai pot Spring 2023.

 

[Shogun610]

Here’s another upright tree I’ve been working on. The dreaded Dwarf Alberta Spruce.

Purchased Fall 2019, potted into shallow grow box Spring 2020. Here’s what it looked like then:
View attachment 391566

It exploded with growth after the repot so I did some branch selection summer 2020. First wiring spring 2021 and again it exploded with so much growth that it was ready for the wire to be removed and rewired by August 2021. That’s what I did last weekend. Here’s the result:
View attachment 391581
Just a little too tall for my white backdrop at 50”!

Apex detail:
View attachment 391582

Branch detail:
View attachment 391583

I plan to pinch in Spring 2022 to begin refining the foliage. Bonsai pot Spring 2023.

This tree looks like it’s set up for a good future. The design and promotion of back budding…… following…

 

[luvinthemountains]

You did a fantastic job, TJ. The image reminds me of the tall, narrow spruces I have seen in subalpine zones in the Rockies. I hope to start a similar project next spring.

 

[Hartinez]

Here’s another upright tree I’ve been working on. The dreaded Dwarf Alberta Spruce.

Purchased Fall 2019, potted into shallow grow box Spring 2020. Here’s what it looked like then:
View attachment 391566

It exploded with growth after the repot so I did some branch selection summer 2020. First wiring spring 2021 and again it exploded with so much growth that it was ready for the wire to be removed and rewired by August 2021. That’s what I did last weekend. Here’s the result:
View attachment 391581
Just a little too tall for my white backdrop at 50”!

Apex detail:
View attachment 391582

Branch detail:
View attachment 391583

I plan to pinch in Spring 2022 to begin refining the foliage. Bonsai pot Spring 2023.

Spruce looking good TJ! I think it’ll def work if you can really let that wire set over multiple years. Just got back from northern NM where I saw lots of trees just like the direction your headed!

 

[Colorado]

Spruce looking good TJ! I think it’ll def work if you can really let that wire set over multiple years. Just got back from northern NM where I saw lots of trees just like the direction your headed!

Beautiful photos! Trees like that are the inspiration here. I am headed up to the high country soon too!

 

[Wood]

Wrong way? Describe your experience with conifers growing in the front range of the Colorado Rockies.

Fair enough, I haven't actually seen any conifers on the Front Range in person. I had assumed that old, desiccated branches would have originally been growing downwards instead of upwards, due to snow weight among other things. For my general knowledge, why would a broken off branch be growing so steeply upwards?

 

[Colorado]

Fair enough, I haven't actually seen any conifers on the Front Range in person. I had assumed that old, desiccated branches would have originally been growing downwards instead of upwards, due to snow weight among other things. For my general knowledge, why would a broken off branch be growing so steeply upwards?

Old leader that died off tends to look a little better higher up on the tree, though. We’ll see what happens with these ones!

 

[Wood]

Old leader that died off

That makes a ton of sense to me, though I would have expected a little more sideways movement in the trunk where the replacement leader took over. The point about location on the trunk makes a lot of sense

 

[LanceMac10]

Fair enough, I haven't actually seen any conifers on the Front Range in person. I had assumed that old, desiccated branches would have originally been growing downwards instead of upwards, due to snow weight among other things. For my general knowledge, why would a broken off branch be growing so steeply upwards?

No offense meant. Not really the wrong way, but should be reduced in length. And a lot depends on the story you want to tell. As the tree grows from a seedling, the same snow loads take a toll on the young branches. They'll just leave the small stub, not so much as shown. A young branch can't withstand the same load as a more mature branch so it will be a bit more "upright" as it'll break long before the weight brings it to horizontal or more...

 

[Colorado]

Shohin cascade mugo pine.

Picked this up spring 2021 for maybe $20 at my wife and I’s favorite nursery. Repotted and wired the trunk spring 2021. Now, roots are growing crazy out the drainage holes so I went ahead and performed the first styling.

 

[Colorado]

Moss

 

[Colorado]

Gollum Jade



They say that jade cannot make good bonsai - perhaps they are right. But I do not have the heart to throw this one into the compost heap as it has been with me for a few years now. We will keep chugging along!

Repotted yesterday into this unglazed round. Ceramic is by a Rocky Mountain Bonsai Society member. I had purchased a Chinese semi cascade container with cloud feet but it was too small and the drop branch too heavy to stay stable. I think it worked out pretty serendipitously.

 

[Colorado]

Here’s a photo from this weekend. Not overtly bonsai-related. But it is relevant here because this is where I find much of my inspiration for styling trees. The Colorado High Country.

Had a great time enjoying the fresh air and studying some beautiful trees. Everyone knows aspen have beautiful white bark; the craggily, fissured, black bark at the base often goes unappreciated. Looking forward to working aspen more and more as a bonsai subject.

 

[Colorado]

My tropicals moved inside a couple weeks ago. Tonight I broke out some photography lighting to experiment with for the first time.

Trops!

Ficus benjamina ‘Wiandi’


Mallsai Ginseng Ficus


Buttonwood!


Ficus microcarpa ‘Tiger Bark’


Ming Aralia


Tiger Bark rooted cutting in a @Pitoon mame container!


Some of these need wire, which I’ll be working on over the next few weeks.

 

[Colorado]

Here’s another project: Japanese White Birch. I am not sure whether to call this a “clump” or a “forest.” I don’t think it is technically a clump because the trees have distinct root systems. But I think of the design more as a clump than a forest. Like a clump of birch you’d find in a river bottom.

Anyway, the left trunks decided to drop leaves before the right trunks. I think the half-wired pic is kind of a fun contrast. Will finish it up in the next few days.



Moss and deadwood detail


Wire and bud detail

 

[Colorado]

Here are some teaser detail shots of one of my favorite Ponderosas. Not ready to post a full photo of this one yet

Deadwood detail. Note the tearing in the Shari indicating significant age.


Sam Miller container detail