Juniper repot

mike_p

This is a collected landscape juniper dug up about 20 years ago and over the years, has been subject to many indignities and general torture.
It doesn't usually get a good reception here, but what the hay, like an ugly child, it's still loved by the family.
I repotted today. This Shigaraki pot was on the shelf, so I thought I'd try it out on this tree. Time will tell.
First image is before, and second is after.

Mike

Attached Images

	schooljuniper.jpg (69.6 KB, 69 views)
	schydjuniper2.jpg (65.7 KB, 94 views)

__________________
Learning the mechanics of bonsai is a matter of rote. Over and over again the processes are practiced until the hands and eyes know the moves.
Learning the art of bonsai may be more like water wearing away a stone, or climbing a mountain where the peak is always shrouded in fog and just out of reach.
Persist, and someday you may see the peak in sunshine. You may pick up the stone and it's a thing of beauty.

MP@BBB Studio

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BrianBay9

Mike, we were just having a discussion about your juniper in the chat room. Below is a slightly edited version of that, since you were'nt there to participate.

BrianBay9]: We were talking about MikeP's latest post - juniper.

[ ]: Ah...I've never been a big fan of that juniper.

[BrianBay9]: What do you think about tilting it to the left?

[]: I don't really have any good ideas how to fix it,
either, which it makes it even more frustrating, because it is cool
material. I think it needs to be tilted to the left, for sure. But it needs a lot more than that!

[grampz]: that is what I was saying...but it has grown on me with
time...really love that pot

[]: I thought it was probably a slight improvment
over the old.

[RedPine]: the trunk is way cool

[]: The square pot sets off the base; the other
rugged pot just hid it. You couldn't tell what was pot and what was
base.

[BrianBay9]: Yeah, just the canopy that has problems.

[]: But yeah, I'm not talented enough to figure out
what to do with that tree.

[BrianBay9]: Mike does get creative - sometimes beyond my limits.

[grampz]: i think mike is smarter than that...atm woulg just start
another fight between traditionalists and non

[BrianBay9]: I get the feeling Mike just does what he likes, and the
hell with the rest

[RedPine]: i wish i had the skills to get something as far as it is tho
[grampz]: Mike is a true artist in my opinion...just because of that
fact


[Daytonabonsai]: I really like the rough pot a whole lot
better than the after pot


[BrianBay9]: D - The canopy on that juniper just looks...odd. Can;t
quite put my finger on it.


[Daytonabonsai]: brian , theres no top , you have no way to
disern branches. BUt as a well sculptured tree , i like it . but I
like the old pot and id change angle like you said, also rearainge branches. At that angle , trunk asays windspept but
branching says weeping , id commit more to one or the other

[Daytonabonsai]: 45 degrees more to right would about do it

[BrianBay9]: I would have tilted it 30 degrees to the left.

[Daytonabonsai]: for a semi cascade?

[BrianBay9]: Yeah.

[Daytonabonsai]: interesting , but i think that far right section
would be objectable to the flow

[Daytonabonsai]: id like a more upright type bunjin for tree and
back into the earthen pot

[Daytonabonsai]: well if it was brought to right , that area that has
sticking out at left would be pronounced , but I dont think it would
distract eye and give it character

[Daytonabonsai]: def reduce canopy , id restyle it into more of a
triaglur sl with a low branch from the left section

[Daytonabonsai]: where foliage is you would have only half the
length of lower section , so you wouldnt have z . and youd have 2
more bends in it
[Daytonabonsai]: more trunk to see , more interest , and a better
tree .
[Daytonabonsai]: and I think the base would look better once more
of that right side is buried

[BrianBay9]: This chatroom stuff makes discussing a tree so
much easier. Only thing is, MikeP missed the discussion.
[BrianBay9]: Should we copy the discussion and post it on the
forum?

[RedPine]: i would leave out the silly stuff


So here it is, with some of the silly stuff left out. Hope it's of interest to you Mike.

Brian

Carl_Bergstrom

I'm the [ ] character - Brian was being polite and blanked me out since I wasn't in chat when they decided to post it. Brian, feel free to add my name where it belongs.

Additional edit: When I said "tilted to the left", I was actually thinking to the right. I was that kid in second grade who still had a big L and a big R written on the backs of his hands with magic market.

Cheers,
Carl

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In love with trees

mike_p

Interesting, guys, interesting. At least it's controversial. I'd hate to post a tree that created no feelings other than blah.
I really need to dig in the archives and find a picture from 15 or so years ago. You would all be surprised. The branch that starts downward from the top of the main trunk was perfectly straight, and made it a kengai. About 8/9 years ago, I hollowed out the branch, laid heavy wire in the hollow, wrapped it tightly with raffia, and started the bending process. Took more than a year to get it back to the present angle, and it still needs a guy wire to help support it, because it's very thin at the bend area.
All part of the bonsai learning process.

Mike

__________________
Learning the mechanics of bonsai is a matter of rote. Over and over again the processes are practiced until the hands and eyes know the moves.
Learning the art of bonsai may be more like water wearing away a stone, or climbing a mountain where the peak is always shrouded in fog and just out of reach.
Persist, and someday you may see the peak in sunshine. You may pick up the stone and it's a thing of beauty.

MP@BBB Studio

Aaron_K

I like this tree. I think the trunk flows beautifully, almost like the crest of a wave breaking.

mike_p

Aaron, that's a great analogy!

Regards, and Happy New Year!

Mike

__________________
Learning the mechanics of bonsai is a matter of rote. Over and over again the processes are practiced until the hands and eyes know the moves.
Learning the art of bonsai may be more like water wearing away a stone, or climbing a mountain where the peak is always shrouded in fog and just out of reach.
Persist, and someday you may see the peak in sunshine. You may pick up the stone and it's a thing of beauty.

MP@BBB Studio

grampz

Thought I would also post the first part of the chat that Brian lost...

[BrianBay9]: Hey, have you guys seen the juniper Mike P just posted?
[BrianBay9]: Thread is juniper repot
[RedPine]: so it will be btter,just posted..guess not.
[grampz]: just lookin at it
[BrianBay9]: I'm trying to decide if I like it or not.
[RedPine]: ok,same here...hmmm
[grampz]: have seen it several times...like the new pot...ain't it a beauty
[BrianBay9]: I'm haning in there with the base and the trunk, but the canopy has me hung up.
[RedPine]: i think if the foliage was worked i would like it better but i do think it is cool
[BrianBay9]: Yeah, nice pot.
[RedPine]: the trunk is really cool and original looking
[grampz]: this tree has a tendency to grow on you over a period of time...didn't like it the first time I
saw it...but my opinion has changed
[RedPine]: i don't like the gravel he using..
[BrianBay9]: I think I would change the potting angle. Tilt the tree down about 40 degrees to the left.
[RedPine]: it makes the pot and tree clash a bit
[grampz]: Mike does some really creative 'out of the normal' stuff...I appreciate his work a lot
[RedPine]: the foliage is hiding alot,i would like it better from the side view or if the foliage was worked
to reveal more branchline
[grampz]: yeah but purple gravel is so hard to find

As I stated Mike I was not impressed with this tree the first time I saw it, but have come to like it a lot...I really like the new pot, and the way the foilage is beginning to fill out...Look forward to watching it develop in years to come...I hope you can find those older photos, I would enjoy seeing them...Thanks for the update...

Regards
Behr

__________________
As the Master departed the workshop,
he could have sworn he heard some
one saying rather loudly...
"I thought he would never leave"
San Antonio Bonsai Society, Inc.

mike_p

Thanks Behr. I think it's necessary, as they say, to "push the envelop",whatever the hell that means. Someday I'll find an old picture. It may surprise folks.

Regards and a very Happy New Year

Mike

__________________
Learning the mechanics of bonsai is a matter of rote. Over and over again the processes are practiced until the hands and eyes know the moves.
Learning the art of bonsai may be more like water wearing away a stone, or climbing a mountain where the peak is always shrouded in fog and just out of reach.
Persist, and someday you may see the peak in sunshine. You may pick up the stone and it's a thing of beauty.

MP@BBB Studio

RedPine

Mike,

That is a cool tree.Aaron is expressing my thoughts well as to the trunk.I can look at the trunk for a long period of time considering it is a photo.I do wish I could see more of the wood where the branch is hiding the curve.I also agreed with Carl and the others regarding the planting position.Today was the first time I heve seen the tree,and i say again that is a cool tree.

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