Fletch

To misquote somebody on SNL "Rules? We dont' need no stinking rules!....."

You can always break the 'rules', and if you do there is no bonsai police out there waiting to pounce. The 'rules' of style and compostion and care and .... are there only if you want to follow them. They are probably the result of someone else's breaking rules at some time and from their experience developing guidance for themselves and others that over time gets accepted as general wisdom and ultimately become rules themselves. I am sure some anthropologist could explain the process of experimentation and new experience becoming rules or norms or whatever you want to call them, but for me they exist and are generally beneficial to both newcomer and master in developing trees that are healthy, interesting and pleasing to the eye. Until someone has a better idea, tries it and the beginning of a new rule is born...

My two cents for what it's worth

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Regards
Fletch