Switchback Trunk Juni

Bonsai Nut said:
Not at all. You can break this rule... but it needs to make natural sense. Trees grow upwards - ALWAYS. If a tree cannot grow upwards because of environment or injury or competition or a moose eating it, it will find another way to grow upwards. That is why you will NEVER see a bonsai with an apex pointing down. It would be unnatural. Even cascades are trees that are styled to appear to be trees on cliffs - always reaching upwards and outwards, but being pulled down by the weight of their limbs and gravity. The apex of a cascade ALWAYS points up - because that is how trees grow. The apex of a literati always points up for the same reason.

If a tree has a nebari pointing one way because the tree as a seedling was being blown by the wind, and the branches all face one way because they were blown by the wind, you don't have an apex facing the other direction because it would be unnatural.

So the zig and zag rule tends to apply the same way. If a tree starts out growing one direction and then something happens (like a big branch falls on it and almost crushes it, or it gets crushed by an avalanche), when if recovers from the injury it will usually grow in the same direction as it was growing as a seedling. It is a "rule" and can be broken... but only if there is a reason to break it that makes sense in the eye of the viewer. Because otherwise the design will appear unbalanced and unnatural.
Click to expand...

Explanation made sense. However no part of this tree aimed upwards:rolleyes:.
 
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thomas22 said:
I finally got around to picking a angle and doing the first wiring on this tree. I am about 90% happy with it. I will post better picks in the next few days. I feel it needs more deadwood mixed in with the foliage but that will come in time. What do you think about the left branch that crosses the trunk? I didn't plan that before I started but I thought it worked.View attachment 172641
Click to expand...

How about under trunk insteado_O?
 
Bonsai Nut said:
It doesn't have an apex?
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It has, or will have a rounded apex. There is a lot of strong new growth that is popping right at the top that will help form the apex in a few months. I'm not saying this is the best plan but the rounded apex brought down as tight as I could get it to the trunk is what I saw for this tree.
 
thomas22 said:
I finally got around to picking a angle and doing the first wiring on this tree. I am about 90% happy with it. I will post better picks in the next few days. I feel it needs more deadwood mixed in with the foliage but that will come in time. What do you think about the left branch that crosses the trunk? I didn't plan that before I started but I thought it worked.View attachment 172641
Click to expand...
Well done! I'd prefer the branch crossing the trunk be behind the main trunk. This is better than any of the virtual designs. Will be great to see the process over the next 5-10 yrs!
 
just.wing.it said:
Beautiful tree, nice job.
I really dig it.
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Thanks Just.Wing.it
chicago1980 said:
Well done! I'd prefer the branch crossing the trunk be behind the main trunk. This is better than any of the virtual designs. Will be great to see the process over the next 5-10 yrs!
Click to expand...
Thanks. I will think about the branch coming from behind. It's a good possibility.
Dorky_gearhead said:
Wow I'm jealous! This tree really speaks to me. I wish i could own some thing like this one day. Being in central California I really need to get out and scout some junipers
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This one I inherited from my father but he never got around styling it. Your best bet is keeping an eye out for people removing juniper hedges as well as Lanscape Nurseries.

Here is a day pic and the opposite side of the tree. I know that one branch with the green tape is way off. I looks dead straight in the pic. I will adjust that over time.
20180101_123717.jpg 20171231_124308.jpg
 
I get the feeling it liked the repot, foliage seemed to pop up bit, a good sign I like to see. Great material to ponder!

Again not a master, and maybe its the lighting, but live vein vs. deadwood is not as noticeable, but again, maybe the lighting.
 
I like it. TENSION

IMHO, the bottom left side of the canopy competes with the movement the right side does in dropping down carrying the eye that way. At first glance my eye goes back and fourth with the competing weights. Maybe some virtual lightening the weight on the left may improve the feeling
 
BE.REAL said:
I get the feeling it liked the repot, foliage seemed to pop up bit, a good sign I like to see. Great material to ponder!

Again not a master, and maybe its the lighting, but live vein vs. deadwood is not as noticeable, but again, maybe the lighting.
Click to expand...
BE.REAL said:
I get the feeling it liked the repot, foliage seemed to pop up bit, a good sign I like to see. Great material to ponder!

Again not a master, and maybe its the lighting, but live vein vs. deadwood is not as noticeable, but again, maybe the lighting.
Click to expand...

Good observation about the deadwood vs live vein. The live vein has faded grey and the deadwood has also faded so there is not much contrast. In the previous pics which was right after I worked on the trunk there is probably too much contrast. I will fix this in next spring. After a repot I didn't want to shake the trunk around too much.
 
Bananaman said:
I like it. TENSION

IMHO, the bottom left side of the canopy competes with the movement the right side does in dropping down carrying the eye that way. At first glance my eye goes back and fourth with the competing weights. Maybe some virtual lightening the weight on the left may improve the feeling
Click to expand...

I'm also not a master by any means. I think I get what your saying. That left branch and the foliage directly above could possibly go away or jined some day so the movement goes in a constant direction correct?.
 
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