lodgepole literati

gregb

This is a lodgepole pine (p. contorta) I collected last May. The root system was so compact it went into a bonsai pot right away. I nursed it after collecting and kept it out of the wind and soon saw strong budding. Its color went from a yellow green right after collection to a bright green indicating it was gaining vigor. I kept an eye on it through the summer and noticed a new crop of fat buds forming on the terminal tips of the branches and even a few buds forming behind these. All indicators I could style it if I was careful.

The direction of the growth of this tree was turned downward and you can see the original vertical portion of the trunk is now a jin. The trunk recovered and grew upright again. The tree now consists of 2 branches. If you look at the before picture, you can see the right branch originates on the left and crosses to the right. The left branch moves away from the viewer and is really growing to the back of the tree.

It was never my intention to make the right branch the left branch and the left branch the right branch, but once I had the tree wired and started to set the branches, that is what seemed best to do. This is just an early light styling and I plan to gradually shorten some of the longer branches and work on inducing back-budding and better ramification.

Please feel free to comment if you have any questions

Attached Images

	literatipineB4.jpg (24.3 KB, 98 views)
	literatipineafter.jpg (27.3 KB, 152 views)

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Ashbarns9999

Hello Greg............ If this were my tree I would progress with the former right hand branch back to its original position on the right. This would give me greater possibilities of taking care of the negative space in a better way. The other branch, I would delete completely. I like the curve of the trunk and think a shortening of the jinned top would be appropriate. These are of course only my thoughts and I do enjoy your work so it really is your decision.

Ash

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weeijk

Since I can only see one side of the tree, before and after, I can only imagine with the explaination you've written. For me, I would remove the right hand branch as it is in the styled tree, cause IMHO it doesn't at anything, without it the tree probably will look better. As said its hard to imagine if this is the best step without seeing the tree in live.

On the other hand, I tend to go with Ash, cause than right and left aren't mixed up, and the right hand branch in the before styling, is strong enough to make your literati convinsing. Less is more, specially in a literati case.

Just my thought,

Good luck, Wessel

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Mcspeed

Hey Greg, I can picture that this tree was trampled down by a winter avalanch. Anywhere close to what you had in mind? I ask this because many times as I am about to induce a direction to a tree, I sit and ponder what conditions "caused" this tree to grow like this. Hopefully if it's the only direction I have with the stock, it's a believable story.

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Bill

rlist

Hey Greg. Good thing you found this before I did, cause I would have snatched it up...

I think I would actually like to see the entire (now) left hand branch removed. It is too full and organized for this trunk. In my mind it causes instablility - like it will blow over in a wind storm (which we know you may very well see happen this winter!). As this long, skinny and somewhat straight trunk has "limited" character (i.e. no major twists, turns, kinks, etc that you would see with many literati), I think you can induce that with the (now) right branch. I would actually like to see lots of movement and even crossing around the left side of the trunk to a position slightly higher on the right than it is now. Oh, and of course I would like to see a shari extend down the front of the trunk a short distance.

I await to see how this tree develops, as it will be a good one!

Stay warm.

ral

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gregb

Ash--thanks for your observation about the left branch that crossed the front I chose to the right side. Had I left it that way, it would have covered or interfered with the most interesting feature of this tree; the abrupt downward movement of the trunk near the top. I agree with you that one or the other of the two branches may have to go at some point in the future.

gregb

So, now it's two votes to keep the upper branch and lose the lower one?

gregb

Bill--I think the reason the top died and the upper trunk was bent back on itself was probably due to a heavy snow load. I found it growing in an area that was essentially flat with no possibility of avalanche. The result I came up wth is a far view of a tall tree, since the trunk is so long and thin. "Avalunched" trees rarely remain tall like this one

Victrinia_Ensor

Greg.... lovely bit of collected material you have there!

I'm curious... do you have any photos showing how that change in the trunk's direction moves?

Also... if the downturn is as dramatic as it seems, is there no pleasing view of the tree where that could be appreciated?

As you said... it is the best feature of the tree.... I hesitate to suggest anything without knowing if that strength can be shown off to best advantage.

But for a first work over... this is a very lovely start on what will be a beautiful bunjin...


Kindest regards,


Victrinia

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