bnsaijim

Bart,

This tree has many more moons before it is a refined bonsai...
Nothing has to be done today, after the deadwood weathers you may see a new image. The one that Shinji had in his mind...

You can leave that live branch on the right to help the tree's recovery. The tree might just grow into all this that seems "bothersome" right now.

I always weigh in someoene's advice with this in mind. Does this person have "the vision", what this tree is going to look like in 5, 10, 15 years, or is their suggestion based on the current stripped down image?

When you cut something off a juniper, especially the larger branches and jins we're talking about here, you'll be left with a hole. Junipers will never really callous over. Typically you'll end up with a dead sap path, i.e., shari, there and a bit of jin might just be the eyestopper, the bit of character needed. But dang, I cut it down like it was an elm...

I see the "debate" coming also...

You could "cookie cutter" the tree- turn it into something that will please and amaze your friends or at least the local club members...

Or you can take the precarious path, which will require more from you intellectually and artistically, and develop your own image. I'd suggest hunting down the posts that have Herr Pall's Alp pictures and any other "nature" pictures for inspiration...

Sincerely,

Jim Stone
TX