California Juniper, ready for some new work.

bonsaial1

This California Juniper was collected about a year and half ago. It has back budded well and is suitably established at this point. It had a very healthy root ball and suffered negligible damage after collection. Nothing has been done to the tree except what was done the day after collection. A few branches were pruned out, a fulcrum board was installed to bring the left trunk into a line in harmony with the main trunk. The left trunk stuck out more to the left and took the eye with it. I have not taken the turnbuckle off to see if it will stay, but hopefully wire alone will hold it now. The right main trunk had a limb that was an eye poker of sorts and this was jinned and wired up. I had taken the wire off and it stayed.

Other than that work done after the day of collection it has grown only. I think it is time for some new direction. The form of the tree now seems very good, and I am sure many will respond that pinching and a little wireing are all thats needed. I think its needs more.

Maybe someone can Fockerise this thing and give it some dimension and plant it into a pot.

It stands 39" tall and has a 4" trunk at the base.

Bonsai-al

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jportock

Al,
I thought I'd give this a shot. While I'm not experienced at bonsai or virtuals I figured I'd have some fun. Now that I've done the work I almost wish I hadn't but since I did it I'll put it out there. One version seems more masculine and one more feminine. I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts on why these don't work or if something about them works I'd love to hear that too!

JP

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Arnie

Why do I feel like a lamb to the slaughter?

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cbobgo

It's seems a little "sling-shot" to me, with the fork being high and the diameter of the 2 trunks about the same. Maybe you could carve the smaller trunk way down?

- bob

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ethanopia

What do you guys think a full on twin trunk with fluffy pads?

Like this...

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DavidN

This one is for Walter to give styling advice/virtual on. Hope he sees it.

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Vance Wood

It's good to think of styling options, make virtuals, look at pots and do minor wiring but if you are thinking of making major changes you would be best advised to wait at least one more year. If you do this kind of thing too soon you might lose the tree. On collected trees regardless how well they seem to be growing I always wait at least three growing seasons. Hasty procedures make compost.

Style issue that should concern you the most is the reverse taper where the trunk above the ground is larger than the trunk at the ground level. You might want to change your planed front. Often rotating the tree will give you an angle where the trunk does not appear to have this major problem.

Arnie

or loose it then?

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Bone-sigh

Poodles?...oh..umm...sorry...trees...hehe...

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