Shimpaku thoughts critique feedback

[crust]

I looked at your tree and was struck by its individuality and strange power. And started to read the feed back and immediately had to respond. To me, the elbow branch at the top of your tree is the amazing attribute. All design needs to consider it. I would display and magnify it and plot its future around it. There are a million hum-drum mid-sized shimpos out there--don't covert this into one, even though you could. Oh and the price was a steal.

 

[crust]

I would grow this as a very unique wind savanna type tree with flat tops, and angular branches--no foliage poofs and no gentle wiring. I'd seriously flatten and thin tops and lower area would be made sever and flat--balancing with other horizontals. Change angle--loose Asian theme pot. Mr. Stevens does this so well so check him out. I am crazy for this shimp--compared to the usual sated and colorless ones.

 

[Adair M]

I give workshops at Plant City a Bonsai.

I was talking with Steve Cratty, the owner, and he mentioned that there is a possibility we could get Peter Tea in this fall to do a juniper workshop. Sometime in the late October thru November timeframe. This would be an excellent tree for a workshop with Peter.

To prepare for this, I would buy copper wire from Jim Gremel, a spool in every size from 20 gauge 20 to 6, and remove the existing wire.

Go ahead and get the copper wire. You can leave your wire on until the Peter Tea workshop is confirmed.

 

[Derek91]

I give workshops at Plant City a Bonsai.

I was talking with Steve Cratty, the owner, and he mentioned that there is a possibility we could get Peter Tea in this fall to do a juniper workshop. Sometime in the late October thru November timeframe. This would be an excellent tree for a workshop with Peter.

To prepare for this, I would buy copper wire from Jim Gremel, a spool in every size from 20 gauge 20 to 6, and remove the existing wire.

Go ahead and get the copper wire. You can leave your wire on until the Peter Tea workshop is confirmed.

I would be more than honored to have peter work on my tree don't get me wrong here.however I am really nervous about makeing any drastic calls on the tree in one day. I have never been to a workshop and will definitely come to this one if he has it.ill bring the tree and get the wire and if y'all are willing to let him use my tree with out doing any major work I'm good with that. Just let me know if so and when it takes place.
I'm been meaning to join the Atlanta bonsai society And go to some of the events.i have some pretty decent material I have acquired and been working on the last few years but they all have there own "head scratchers" for me.

Thanks for all the virtual shots that have been done.i have seen allot of options that never dawned on me.i thought I would add a picture of the tree from what I started with. Problem is that I lost the phone that had all the pics on it and all I could find is this tiny mess of a pic that I dug up from a email on the auction I won it from.

 

[Derek91]

To be man honest I'm ignorant to exactly how a workshop works. Like I said earlier up until now I've just been learning what I can from reading,videos ,looking up questions I run into. then trial and error from doing. Not realizing how much bigger the bonsai community really is.forgive me for my stupidity lol

 

[crust]

Saddly, my experience is, at least in the states, workshops essentially are when a group bonzo fanatics hire a bonzo expert who feverishly rotates around the group designing up all their trees. They impose the design, do the manipulations sometimes you are instructed to prep them or apply wire--then watch their magic. The bonzo experts are really good and know the hows and whens. One can learn allot. For me it is not collaborative enough and don't want my trees designed by them.

 

[Derek91]

Makes sense now. I'd like to go to any workshop and get advice. I need more experience in bonsai all around.ive spent a crap load on material the last couple years and trying to "self teach" myself.i need to join a club and hit some of these workshops

 

[Derek91]

Makes sense now. I'd like to go to any workshop and get advice. I need more experience in bonsai all around.ive spent a crap load on material the last couple years and trying to "self teach" myself.i need to join a club and hit some of these workshops

 

[larlamonde]

Hi guys,
I'm new to the forum although I have been reading some post her and there for a while. I've been tinkering with bonsai for about 6 year although I still probably just know enough to get me in trouble. Cause trouble still happens allot! The last 3 years I have really became obsessed with bonsai. And I have about 20-30 trees in different stages. I have never been to any exhibitions,workshops, intensives or anything like that. I have purely read books and allot of online.
Anyways I am posting my best tree that I have had for about 3-4years. I would like to get some feedback, critiques ,thoughts on my best shimpaku. I purchased it about 3 years ago and have trained it allot. For myself I am pretty happy how it has turned out and progressed.i payed $330 for it which was allot for a beginner bonsai but I saw so much potential and it seamed like a steal. My wireing is not the best to say the least but it has worked.i think the pot it's in is a little short by about an 1"1/2. I repotted it out of a training pot this year and it was better than what it had. I'm not sure if I should have put the hollow in a shimpaku mabey that might be a mistake to some but it was a ugly saw mark that was cut flush and it just looked like it fit. I have been debating weather or not to join out the second branch but haveing a hard time doing it yet. When I got this tree this branch was 90 percent of the foliage left of the tree. And I cut it back to just a couple small pads to keep it living and had to shave it down around the back and sides to make it smaller to fit the other two branches. Then wired the two other branches in position and they have filled out pretty well as these are grafts.
Pictures are hard to take.i can't get good pics of this. It's frustrating. The top of the tree has three defined branches and not flat looking like the pics.ill keep trying
Thanks for looking
Derek

Derek you already have a great tree on your hands. I would not do any drastic changes to be in accordance with bonsai rules. When I first saw the tree I loved it. Then as everyone dissects it and reveals the flaws you say hmmmm. You will ruin the tree and make it look like so many shimps out there if you try to conform. I would however have an expert look at it and if they offer small refinements then consider.

 

[MrFancyPlants]

I'm agree with Sawgrass and larlamonde. That hollow in the middle is pretty sweet. Any chance we can get another couple angles? Remember that movement softens with time, so that zig zag will only get better.

 

[Derek91]

I would have to agree with u sawgrass on pretty much with most of what u are saying.i like the style of this tree how it is and I just want to face the problem areas on it the best possible ways. The issues u mentioned are the biggest problem to me as well. I have brought that Shari down twice now.i have done so in very small increments but since the tree has bigger issues Up top than that I have held off.i do think something drastic needs to be done with the top of the tree but any decision has been way out of my comfort zone on my own without input from more experienced people looking at it . I have fought to make it flow up top keeping the main branches that it has. Not only does it to appear to have reverse taper it's just over all too bulky to me. There are actually 4 main branches up top.you can't see the one that shoots out the back. I have tried my best to bring down the bottom right branch for the same reasons you mentioned but it is to risky to try again as I split it a little at a fork trying,which is why I have that heavy gauge wire in the center of it to prevent it from getting worst. The middle branch however has enough play to come down somewhat. I am thinking about doing a Video on this tree to give the best angles and views of this tree I can without actually seeing in person.
Like I said I really want to keep the overall style of this tree and fix/hide the issues it has.