A New Project (hopefully)

Mittar

All this is interesting as a forest planting is something I plan on in the near future.

One comment for treebeard on the lovers. I think they look fine together, but the overall direction that they go seems to be out of place. Perhaps they would look better on the other side of the forest? Is that even possible or are the roots all fused already?

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TreeBay

Yes, often flawed, immature, ugly, scarred, one-sided, misshapen, side branching, taperless material often finds its way into forests where its defects can be easily disguised, even become features in the group design.

If you have a tree without these flaws (like two of those trees appear to be excellent broom style bonsai - at least from the angle shown) it is probably a waste to group them as a forest where their interior branches (the ones now interior to the group) will either weaken or need to be removed as a matter of course, and their root systems will lose symmetry in competition with their neighbors.

Of course, maybe these aren't the best trees your friend has, maybe he has a number of even nicer broom style trees kicking around and he can "afford" to do this?

Regards,

Matt

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RonMartin(deceased)

Forest are one of my favorite things. I prefer them over single tree arrangements. But even if they weren't I would not use flawed material in them. Why bother hiding a bit of flawed material. Just chuck it away and get some good stuff.
I don't think that Picasso went to K-Mart to get his paints. He got the good stuff and look at what his work is worth. Not that I liked him that much but he did use quality materials and his painting are called good by most of the art world.
Using flawed trees causes a bad attitude and a bad attitude causes bad art. I like to think that I do reasonably good art. In my little mind at least.
What you start with to a great extent will determine what you end up with. Junk will begot junk.

Jay

Ron you have been doing this 'Bonsai Thing' far longer... and need I say better... than I. But I do wish to slightly change your statement, at least as far as how I would view it.

There is junk.. and then there is less than perfect stock. Some of this 'less than perfect' stock needs time to grow out of its problems or it may be a tree lacking branches on one side, the side that will be near another tree in a forest, in which case it is a good thing. I think your grouping all trees that are not worthy as junk is probably my misunderstanding you, but I am hot and cranky, hope you don't mind my 2 cents.

Jay

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RonMartin(deceased)

In reality there are no JUNK trees. But all are not suitable for the matter at hand.
Most ugly trees can be fixed. I will grant you that.
BUT an ugly , flawed tree in a forest planting is still just another ugly , flawed tree. Sometimes the ugliness is what is needed for the composition. It can be the centerpiece. But it is a planned ugly.
If one starts off with a unsuitable tree for his needs then it will be just another exercise in failure.
Gosh I hope that makes sense

ROBOKU

Here is a zelkova forest put together this time last year.They were bought from a bonsai grower as stumps in a plastic pot

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zelkova forest.jpg (41.8 KB, 62 views)

ROBOKU

Here it is in spring i did not cut any branches ,just let it grow out and recover from the heavy root prune

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zelk sp02.jpg (72.5 KB, 62 views)

ROBOKU

And today after it's first prune

any coment or questions welcome!!

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zelwin03.jpg (57.3 KB, 59 views)

ROBOKU

Would you say that the main tree looks out of place or ads character ??