Trees in a forrest

Bonsaifreak

Is there any minimum or max. number of trees when making a forrest planting? Where does the odd number of trees "rule" come from?

Jorge

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andrew lenden

even numbers are difficult to arrange naturally without creating straight lines and squares, i,d say to qualify as forest you,d need at least 7 trees as opposed to a wood or copse where fewer could be used, as for a maximum the skies the limit as it is in nature. the use of odd numbers is in my opinion irrellevent if you have to actually count the number of trees, regards andrew

RonMartin(deceased)

There is actually no maximum number of trees in a forest planting. Most of the time though you will find these plantings to have between 5 and 9 trees in them.
More than nine trees must be done with care. It is awfully easy to confuse the eyes with too complex a composition.
Odd numbers are just easier to work with. Even numbers can be used but it is a much harder thing to bring off. Even numbers seem to make for a boxy affair.
When I do a forest planting I keep putting trees in it till it looks good to me. Personally I don't count the number of trees that I put in. I am more worried about looks than numbers.
There are however people that are more worried about the number of threes than anything else.

sauce

Hi Jorge, I think the least number of trees would be five to be considered a forest. Groups of two or three can be used but are called group plantings. The name for these plantings is yose-ue.The reason for odd number trees is so the composition will be asymmetrical and esthetically balanced. Odd numbers are more pleasing to the eye than even. It is written that after a certain number of trees (11-15) the odd numbers no longer matter. As far as I know there is no maximum to the number of trees used. There are a lot of discussions about group and forest plantings here if you do a search. Hope this helps.

phithu

Hello,

Making a forest is not an easy thing! The growing is not the problem or at least not the biggest. The planting is the part that will get the picture right or not. An odd number is mainly to avoid the symmetry and to get an impression of nature's work...
The position of each tree is done by getting two points outside the pot; the first (A) will be in front of the pot at a distance where the viewer will be to look at the finished work. The second (B) is on a line from A crossing the pot at one third of its width. The distance from A to B is 5/3 of A to the middle of the pot.
When you plant a tree you draw a line from A to that tree and the same from B. Then no tree can be on these lines.
A little complicated. I'll try to do a drawing to explain it better.

Philippe

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phithu

It might help!

Attached Images

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RonMartin(deceased)

Jorge

I wrote a two part article for the ABS Journal on forest plantings. It covers some of the questions that you asked.
I posted a small excerpt of it to the forum but it was not received well by some here. It was, however, received pretty well by the rest of the bonsai community. If you don't get the Journal and still would like a copy of it then PM me with an email address and I'll send you a copy.
It might answer some of your questions.

Bonsaifreak

Thank you Ron!

I'd love to have a copy of your article. I PMd you with my e-mail but you have exceeded your storage capacity!

I just finished my first forrest planting on a rock pot I made myself. I used 11 ficus benjamina. I think is not bad for a beginner but I am biased of course. My wife seems to like it but she biased as well. I'll be posting a picture soon.

Jorge

__________________
"Always acknowledge a fault. This will throw those in authority off their guard and give you an opportunity to commit more."
Mark Twain

RonMartin(deceased)

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