B. Raintree

dbz12fan

My b. raintree has filled out nicely since the last photo. During Hurricane Frances, I went through and cleaned out any unnecessary secondary branching. Maybe next hurricane I will clean out the tertiary branching.

It is still looking a big shaggy. It will probably take a few more years before this one is show ready.

Attached Images

braintree.jpg (56.3 KB, 246 views)

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Charles Bevan
Vero Beach, Fl

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dbz12fan

Since a common theme of self critiquing has arised, I will try and critique this tree. I am open to everone else's critiques as well, but will not comment on their critiques. Therefore, you can say anything you want without fear of my arguments back. I will be interested to see what other people have to say though.

First, I must compliment the photo. I have finally gone to a craft store and picked up a large piece of black felt. By using black felt as the background, and altering the light with a photoshop type program to make the background completely black, I can create a decent looking photo. I recommend to all who do not have a some sort of set up to invest the $8 to buy a large piece of black felt. It is definately worth it.

Now, on to commenting about the tree. The nebari, which can not be seen from the photo is poor. Ron Martin noticed this immediatly when we styled the tree. Lack of nebari, however is typical of brazilian raintrees. Therefore, it is not a major fault.

The trunk movement/taper is nice, but hidden from the dense head of foliage. The trunk has ribboned well, which is a desired trait on brazilian raintrees.

The scars that came from removing branches have completely healed over, but still stand out considerably. Ron wanted to accentuate the contorted movement in the trunk, so the scars were treated differently than normal.

The foliage is dense, possibly too dense. IMO, birds have no room to fly through. Near the apex, there is an empty hole which needs to be filled.

The branch placement is good, but hard to see. The second branch is a little larger than the first, which would be distracting had it not been covered.

Aside from that, I am undecided on what type of pot to plant this tree in. Round, oval, sqare?

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Charles Bevan
Vero Beach, Fl

Bone-sigh

It looks like you have a nice start with this tree. I'm not sure though that I like the three distinct levels of foliage(upper[apex], lower[first branch], middle[everything in between]). I would try to creat more distinction and variation in the apex, or upper level, to get rid of the three tierd look. It will give it more depth and also a more mature look. To do this create differnt "pads" so to speak in the upper level. I'm sure you know that, just want to be clear.

I have had my B.R. for about six years now (maybe longer, can't remember) so I know how difficult it is to bend old branches. But, if you could do something about your first branch that would be good. It is too straight for me, jutting right out of the trunk. Maybe you can get it to back-bud and hide that feature of the first branch.
I don't know how far down the trunk goes before you reach the nebari, but if you have room try air-layer it. I got better nebari on my B.R. that way. Not ideal nebari, but still better than what it was. It seems difficult to find excellent "ideal" nebari on these species.
Anyway, those are my thoughts. Let me know what you think.

Ryan

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pdbbonsai

Charles!

I would say it filled VERY nicely. I had a BRT and traded it for a couple other trees I wanted....seeing yours makes me wish I hadnt.

Cant wait to see this one in a nice pot.

Paul

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bonsaial1

Just which book did you read this insightful piece of wisdom from?

I can think of many trees in nature that have poor or nonexhistant nebari's and this has never been a reason to excuse a poor nebari on a bonsai. Don't let poor examples in nature taint the fact that a poor nebari will always be a fault.

I have seen many trident maples in the local parks around here, and many of the go right into the ground like a power pole. On that note, should we excuse all poor nebari on trident maples because they may not have them in nature?

Al

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dbz12fan

This came from wisdom of Jim Smith. He said that there is not much that one can do about a poor nebari on a brazilian raintree.

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"Success demands understanding"-Andy Rutledge

Charles Bevan
Vero Beach, Fl

jloeschner

DISCLAIMER: The following is just my lil' ole opinion, and probably not worth 2 cents...

Just because you can't do something about it doesn't mean that it is necessarily excusable (IMHO.) For example, there is not much you can do about the compund leaves on a pecan tree. That doesn't mean that you should bonsai one and just overlook the foliage and call it excusable. The fact that it is unchangeable only suggests that you try and find something that is better, or accept the fact that the tree is faulted. If you accept the fact that the tree is faulted, then you should accept the criticism that will come as a result of showing a faulty tree. If you think you can correct the fault, then do so, or at least try. After all, if you don't try, you will never know and will always have a faulty tree.

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dbz12fan

Good point jloeschner.

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Charles Bevan
Vero Beach, Fl

dbdotdot

Seems to me that we wouldn't call them faults if they were excusable.

Faults are good. Faults represent the hopefulness we can have that there will be a better future.

Air layer the trunk perhaps? Plant it in a box on top of a flat stone? By saying it is excusable, you probably want the tree to be done in two years but know in the back of your mind that a good nebari will take longer. How about a five-year plan instead when, in the end, you can say to yourself that the tree is all that it can be instead of after two years saying that it's nice, but "I forgive it" for its faults?

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