defra
Masterpiece
i think this tread is awesome! 

They are procumbens junipers - 7 of them or so I think
Well thanks Sorce, the trees were all collected this spring and I wish I took a little bit more time thinking about lay out. Since they were all collected this spring they haven't seen any wire yet but I plan to do some light wiring in the spring. The wiring will really make a difference. It's good to hear that you liked the layout, I actually had no plans to change it until this thread. Now I'm not sure I did some sketching of changes I could make to the forest this sketch would include adding 2 trees and moving one. Thoughts?Don't.
It's nice...
It creates imagination.
That is exactly what it is supposed to do.
Less is huge.
I think the right two trees need to be wired more....(.......shape, like the left....
The small one may need more than wire, like flipped around...
But the placement of those trunks is exactly why I really like it, it's the first thing that hit me as correct.
Sorce
It's probably 3ft+ from end to end - it's on a 2ft wide stand. The rock is probably 75+ lbs. I can get some others angles for ya later.Amazing, they look as tho they are an actual Mountain setting in Japan...could you show the Setting from different angles ??? What are the dimensions of the Setting including the Rock...Sorry to be such a PIA but I really am interested in your Bonsai Setting of Junipers...
Well thanks Sorce, the trees were all collected this spring and I wish I took a little bit more time thinking about lay out. Since they were all collected this spring they haven't seen any wire yet but I plan to do some light wiring in the spring. The wiring will really make a difference. It's good to hear that you liked the layout, I actually had no plans to change it until this thread. Now I'm not sure I did some sketching of changes I could make to the forest this sketch would include adding 2 trees and moving one. Thoughts?
I am planning to make a large slab or tray planting imitating a small island partly covered with conifers and with lots of negative space. Here is a little island in the mountains where my kids and I spent some time. I think if I use some collected spruce with straight trunks and nice bark I could make a reasonable imitation with some rocks and under planting shrubs. Any suggestions about how to go about it? Just for a variation on the forest theme.View attachment 125363
Really good inspiration photo, I like using a deadwood tree upright like in your photo. I personally would not use Spruce but that is personal taste, I just think they always look to christmas tree like. Go for Larch!Here is a little island in the mountains where my kids and I spent some time.
Here was my first forest...it was my second bonsai, started in 1994. It was originally a 5-tree hawthorn group, which I rearranged until I killed 2, and it became the 3-tree group pictured here in 1995 before I killed it altogether.
View attachment 125374
I've had better results with my second hawthorn attempt.
View attachment 125375
I wouldn't use nursery Alberta spruce for this, as you are right, they do look too Christmas tree-ish. I'd most likely use collected white or black spruce from wet areas. These tend to have dense branching and flaky bark that I would want. May also use larch or alpine fir, depending on what is available to me at the time. If I'm going to try this, I'd like to start with collected trees of good quality in order to create a really convincing image.Really good inspiration photo, I like using a deadwood tree upright like in your photo. I personally would not use Spruce but that is personal taste, I just think they always look to christmas tree like. Go for Larch!I also like your idea to incorporate a lot of negative space, maybe put some rock that fits in nicely and sticks out of the moss in places.
Yup. The back row is a bit too much of a row. I agree. Kept stuffing in skinny ones in hopes of giving more depth. Two in center and one to far left. Good fun and practice.@Underdog the layout seems to look a little "squared off". Not sure how to explain what I mean. The back edge of the pot seems to have a row of trees of similar thickness planted a similar distance from the back edge of the pot. If this one dies because it was done out of season you can use it as a learning lesson I guess....
in hopes of giving more depth.