"Grand Design" vs "Wait And See"

FlyBri

Morning team!

I was just perusing Andy Rutledge's "ugly" Chinese elm when I was struck by this statement: I was a little taken aback that one as accomplished as Andy would not only adopt the "wait and see" approach to Bonsai, but actually admit it openly!

At this point, I must confess that in my (former) artistic practice, I am (was) a great great proponent of the "happy mistake" - that one dribble of ink, that one misdrawn line, that one spot where I had erased just a little too hard - that could make or break an image.

It should come as no surprise to me to see such principles applied to Bonsai of all forms, given that we are working with so many variables - many of which are largely outside of our control. Nevertheless, it struck me as interesting, and I thought I'd raise the topic for discussion.

Thanks.

FlyBri.

PS: That's a great start to a great tree, Andy!

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Victrinia_Ensor

I read somewhere once that when working on a tree that you cut away those branches which you know must surely go. I always evaluate what I am doing based on that thought. Then style and wire from there. I approach trees differently now than when I started, I have learned to look for the possibilities and the maybes. And have learned the patience of letting the tree teach me a thing or two about what it wants to be. Now of course I'll know I have reached a whole different level when I can take a tree to a completely different end than where it started. I am sometimes perplexed when I see a series of pics for a tree that started as one thing and ends up being completely different. I look back and fourth trying to see what was taken, what was grown, and what was shaped. Eventually I get it, but it never ceases to suprise me how much can be done with the application of good horticulture and an artistic eye.

Yours,

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Ms. Vic

Le belle cose prendono tempo...

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Aaron_K

Hi Fly,

Personally I think a bit of both can't harm the mix at all. It is always advantageous to have a plan or overall vision for the design of a tree, but sometimes we see on very fine bonsai, features that only nature herself can achieve (deadwood, rotted heartwood, old and ragged bark etc) or that the human hand would have great difficulties in producing something as convincing.

I suppose you could almost compare it to the modern styling of a tree (with the use of wiring, jacks, weights etc) VS the Lingnang (sp?) clip and grow technique.

Food for thought anyway.

All the best,

Aaron

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jo schmoo

well, i always would "like" to have a plan, but i almost always end up waiting and seeing what the tree does to react to my wrongdoing. i am happy to say that less and less the reaction has been death.

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RonMartin(deceased)

I always buy trees for a particular purpose or style. Before I walk away with the tree I have a plan. I know what I want it to be.
Hate to say it but if you have to wait for the tree to "speak to you" then it is not a tree that you should have gotten in the first place.

TreeBay

I don't know how "Grand Design" relates to "Intelligent Design" as an option, but I prefer to just water my trees and wait for them to evolve.

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zen

I voted both and neither. I like to have a plan, but you know the old saying "You can plan a pretty picnic, but you can't predict the weather." Sometimes trees change and as such we must change the plans that we had for a particuallar tree. So both and neither.

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PatArizona

For nursery stock...my process starts at the nursery... I look at, and listen to, what the tree shows me (nebari, trunk, branches, general health) and/or tells me. If I get nada, I don't buy it. If I do buy, then, when I get it home, I look and listen more, and more. During this process, extra long branches will be trimmed back, and other cleanup will be done. But, look and listen...do what the tree tells you.

As for yamadori, I'm not an avid collector...leave that to the young whippersnappers. I do however, have a few collected trees. With them, it's pretty much deja vu all over again. I take what Mother Nature has given me, and more than anything, look and listen...do what the tree tells me. All the while keep my focus on having this one look natural. If I encounter a yamadori with a 2-3" trunk or branch that needs to be bent into a "U", this one's not for me...

After all, how can you improve on MN?

Remember, look and listen...do what the tree tells you.

Pat

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THE ONLY WAY: Always remember, and don't ever forget, that whatever you read here is not cast in concrete... the intent of any advice is to help. In no way should you feel that I’m saying that my way is the only way…heaven forbid! I've seen far too much of the "my way or the highway" attitude in bonsai as well as in other areas of life.

saint

I always have an idea of where I want a tree to go when I collect it. Sometimes the tree may sprout in places that I hadn't anticipated or it may grow in ways that lead me to develop another idea.

I have a couple of trees that I styled very early in my Bonsai life and I since have decided that there are better design options.

It's not stone that we are working with so I always hold the view that some flexibility is required.

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Best Regards,

Leslie St. John
Barbados
West Indies


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