Been trying to get the time to post my 2cents worth on Brook's critique of Ron's trees (since Ron asked those of us who were there to comment). Brook spent most of his time with this table on the raintree - he did seem to like the tree, but it had a 'pigeon breast' flaw that bothered him (what my Teacher calls it - think of a pigeon strutting about with its breast puffed out - every experienced person I know hates that. Brook didn't use those words, but he pantomined the pigeon very well.
). Brook turned the tree this way and that, looking for a new front or new planting angle that would solve the problem. That he spent that much time on the tree says to me that he liked it and wanted it to be better. In the end, he decided the existing front was close. My bet says Ron will play a bit with the angles next time he repots - but nothing much to be done now. As for the trunk - for a raintree, it is marvelously regular. Somebody posted a link to the North American "mother tree" (Jim Moody's tree)....look at how the trunk "pooches out" at every branch. Most annoying. Compare that to Ron's tree's trunk. His is spectacular. The canopy is suitably tropical. I was paying particularly close attention to this critique because I have a raintree I can only hope will look as spectacular in a few years.... If you've not seen a raintree before, this is hard to describe (their weird trunks). This is very hard to see in a 2D picture on the web.
Aside to Ron: Sorry I kept asking you that gauche bonsai question, "How old is it?"....What I really meant was, "How long 'til my little raintree trunk stops pooching and/or flattening out and starts looking darn near round like yours?" Judging by Jim Moody's tree - maybe as long as I leave branches there!
Brook moved from the raintree to the bald cypress. Brief discussion in Chinese with Karin (assistant/translator) about a brown piece of foilage...Nod. He seemed to like the massive knee & base. Moved on to next tree. I don't speak Chinese, but, reading their expressions, etc. Brook was satisfied that the (unfamiliar to him) tree species was doing its normal fall foilage color thing.
To be honest....I didn't follow the critiques on the other trees on this table that much - I was scribbling notes, and Brook spent most of this table's time on the raintree. This table was near the end of the trees - Brook had about 20min left to get thru this one and on to the last two. (He made it!) My main interest was the raintree.
As for pots - remember, Brook critiqued almost 85 trees in 2hr - as he was asked to do (show sponsors did not ask for an in depth critique of just a few; we show participants eagerly awaited the few comments he had time to make on our particular tree). He had something constructive to suggest on most of them; there were a few he said were too far along (mature) to easily 'fix'. He was honest about that and explained why and how to avoid it next time with a younger tree in development. He had already discussed 'right pot for this tree' several times. So, he spent time here on a new topic ('pigeon breast' flaw, though he didn't use that terminology).
Well - that's what I can remember of the critiques on Ron's trees. I will have some Expo pictures & will post them in other threads later this weekend - when I have time to figure out my new toy (film scanner)
640x640, right Matt?
If I have a good pic of my tree, I'll post it and Brook's critique on it (hint: he didn't much like it).
Oh, well. I know why, and he did offer improvement suggestions. But, this is another thread. Later this weekend. When I do post it - I'll follow somebody's suggestion from one of these threads: Include my critique 'expectations', which are (briefly): Here it is - critique honestly, as brutal as you feel you must. Suggestions welcome. (But be polite.) In return, I reserve the right to accept as little or as much of the suggestions as I see fit. It is my tree, after all. You don't like my design; I don't win "Best Tree" in the show or "People's Choice". (You will note - I did NOT win either of those. LOL) Have at it then, Al.
P.S. I like the new smiley.