Latest Juniper Project

gilbycantu

Good day people! I finally got my hands on some wire and a juniper that needs a haircut and some refining. I really wanted to challenge myself and see if I could really turn this bushy shrub into something wonderful. I've been doing bonsai for less than a year and this is my first attempt at wiring.

As allways I'm open to constructive criticism and to hear anyone's thoughts. Of course, three hours later when I finished I was able to point out many things I wasn't happy with. Typical.

Here is the first pic...

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before.jpg (38.0 KB, 188 views)

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Gilbert Cantu

Time heals all wounds, unless you pick at them.
--Shawn Alexander

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gilbycantu

That was a before pic and here is an after...

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after1.jpg (28.0 KB, 187 views)

__________________
Gilbert Cantu

Time heals all wounds, unless you pick at them.
--Shawn Alexander

gilbycantu

Here is the other side of the tree. It's about 24 inches tall.

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after2.jpg (31.3 KB, 181 views)

__________________
Gilbert Cantu

Time heals all wounds, unless you pick at them.
--Shawn Alexander

bonsaial1

HI "G",

Heres a short list of quick things that I see that would improve the plant right away.

Red- Lose the short branch under the larger branch. It will be shaded by the larger on and get weak anyway.

Yellow- This branch is way too long for the middle of the tree. In fact I think it is longer than the first branch.

Orange- The trunk has one small curve near the bottom, then is broomstick straight. The trunk is nice, though there is no significant taper, and it would become more beautiful with some more curves in it.

Purple- The apex, or crown would benifit from having all the branches shortened to form a more pine tree like shape. Also the rest of the tree is open and more sparsely branched, while the crown is crowded and could be thinned a little.

Light Blue- The left side of the tree needs a larger second branch. The left side seems more weak than the right, due in part to the extreamly large branch half way up on the right side.

Overall, the design is good. The tree will fill out with a seasons growth, and some of these things will actually correct themselves.

Have you noticed that the left side of the tree has much more movement in the branches. You could think about thinning them and possiby removing all the branches on the right side for a cool windswept look.

Regards, Bonsai-al

Attached Images

after1.jpg (15.7 KB, 179 views)

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Real men don't wear coats with "happi" in the title.

jhill

Hey G
I see a literati in this tree. The trunk is long and the same thickness all the way up. It will never thicken at the base. Wish I could do a virtual.

DavidN

I agree with Al's advice. I also want to emphasize the trunk movement. If you want to keep that height then you need to get movement into the top half of the trunk.

I like what you have done though.

David

gilbycantu

Thanks everyone, and great points Al! I think what bothers me the most is the trunkline. I don't have any thicker wire but as soon as I get some I'll work on the upper part of the tree.

I think this was the most fun I have had working on a tree so far!

__________________
Gilbert Cantu

Time heals all wounds, unless you pick at them.
--Shawn Alexander

FredL

Al, on behalf of all us "lurkers" who profit greatly from the sort of styling lesson that you have just given but don't appear on the thread, "Thank you". Some of what you said was exactly what I would hve said; some of it I had not noticed. Both was of great value because confirmation of what I'm thinking by someone of your experience is just as much help as learning new things.

Fred