By Al Keppler
This follow up essay about the transformation of a collected California juniper is the culmination of three years work towards the beginning of this juniper bush as a bonsai. Make no mistake, there are many decades left in the training of this tree, and I can hardly wait for the next 5 years of growth to see my vision come to life.
The
collection of this juniper began in the spring of 2002.
The first follow up story can be found
here
(
Note: hover cursor over thumbnails for fig. Nos.)
Fig. 1 shows juniper as it was today.
Fig. 2 shows juniper with left trunk blocked.
Fig. 3 shows juniper with right side blocked.
Each of these views has been viewed from different angles and blocks placed under the grow box for slight variations.
Fig. 4 shows same as previous but seen from a little different angle.
Fig. 5 shows us a different angle for review.
Fig. 6 shows the proposed back of the tree. From this angle it is evident that the trunk shows too much of a right angle in the way the secondary trunk moves from the primary. My initial instinct is to preserve some of the secondary trunk for the one live branch that may be used in the final tree. This of course may be removed at a later date.