Sculpted Rock Planting - Update

[FoldedFrog]

This is just an update. Some of you may remember the rock sculpture I made last year. This year I planted some Chinese garden junipers into it. I’ll let them get settled for a season, then I’ll start shaping them.

 

[Plantermunn]

You nailed it. That is going to look great.

 

[armetisius]

Like it.

 

[FoldedFrog]

Thanks for the nice complements and encouragement!

 

[GrimLore]

Very nice indeed. Could you link the thread on the sculpted rock please

Grimmy

 

[FoldedFrog]

Here you go.

http://bonsainut.com/index.php?threads/rock-sculpted-from-concrete-experiment.16442/#post-220332

 

[FoldedFrog]

Here are some images of the progression of the rock sculpting:

 

[GrimLore]

Here are some images of the progression of the rock sculpting

Thank you very much! Again a super job! I thought others would appreciate it more knowing the "full" progression to date!

Grimmy

 

[FoldedFrog]

Thank you! It was allot of fun but I had to pop some backache pills to get through it!

 

[johng]

I must have missed this the first time around!! Good stuff Frog!!
As a self-proclaimed rock planting aficionado I think you did a fabulous job on your stone!!

Now we just need to get some trees on there to match the character of the stone!!! No insult intended, really good material for stone plantings is hard to find and takes time to develop. It is hard to tell from your photos but it looks like your junipers are very young...perhaps they are older and just very healthy?? You probably have this planned already but ultimately I think a lot less foliage and more exposed twisted and tortured trunks and branches would really up the game on this composition.

If it's not too presumptuous and you have not seen some of this already, here is a link to a playlist of my rock plantings.

John

 

[brewmeister83]

Awesome work, can't wait to see how it develops! Followed the links and just bought the DVD. Thanks for posting this, don't know how I missed it before....(the teenage model builder in me from yesteryear is grinning )

 

[FoldedFrog]

I must have missed this the first time around!! Good stuff Frog!!
As a self-proclaimed rock planting aficionado I think you did a fabulous job on your stone!!

Now we just need to get some trees on there to match the character of the stone!!! No insult intended, really good material for stone plantings is hard to find and takes time to develop. It is hard to tell from your photos but it looks like your junipers are very young...perhaps they are older and just very healthy?? You probably have this planned already but ultimately I think a lot less foliage and more exposed twisted and tortured trunks and branches would really up the game on this composition.

If it's not too presumptuous and you have not seen some of this already, here is a link to a playlist of my rock plantings.

John

WOW! That is some FANTASTIC stuff!! I had not seen them. Thanks for sharing. I now have some great inspiration that I can look to. You are correct, these junipers are young. I actually have some small Shimpaku that I am traing. I may ultimately use them in this composition (if these don't work out). Meantime, I hope to develop these in the rock with some good deadwood. Otherwise, you're right, it's just a nice planter for some nursery plants.

Thanks for the good review! No insult taken. I have Dan Robinson's book sitting on my desk!

 

[FoldedFrog]

Awesome work, can't wait to see how it develops! Followed the links and just bought the DVD. Thanks for posting this, don't know how I missed it before....(the teenage model builder in me from yesteryear is grinning )

There you go! My other hobby is wooden model ship building. It adds a whole new dimension when you form the rock with your own hands Thanks.

 

[FoldedFrog]

BTW - My avatar shows another sculpture - I carved this out of actual granite! Going for the jungle look with a ficus. I went through allot of shaping bits with it. Don't think I'll do granite again.

 

[FoldedFrog]

Here's an update on the rock sculpture/planting. After allowing a season for the baby junipers to get established I did a little shaping to get the basic design going. I didn't want to remove a great deal of foliage at this point, just establish where the pads will be and the movement in the limbs. Ultimately, I have to get some jins worked in there, but that will take some more development and thought.

 

[thumblessprimate1]

Pretty cool. I love the rock. Does it look realistic as it does in the photos, because it looks so good.

 

[FoldedFrog]

Thank you. I'm always disappointed with the results of a 2D photograph when it comes to bonsai in particular. I'm sure others have experienced this when they photograph their trees. To me, it's truly difficult to gauge the realism in something of your own creation because you were there for the entire process and tend to see flaws that others don't. All I can say is that it "fools" others into thinking it's natural rock when they see it.

 

[Alain]

Nice job!

 

[Cypress187]

I like the lighter color of the "progression4" more then the dark one, but it most likely is because of the final protection layer spray of some sort.

 

[Robert E Holt]

Hey great work! I like the sculpted rock planting as will as the granite head.both look really good.