Looking For Some Criticism

midwestbonsai

Looking for some criticism on this Ilex vomitoria 'Shillings'. It is a new acquisition. and I am trying to deside were to go with it.


Thanks Everyone
-Paul

Attached Images

Ilex.JPG (29.7 KB, 154 views)

__________________

Advertisement

bonsaial1

My personal criticisim for the month.

Bonsai should proceed in this order:
1. Look in nursery for suitable plant.
2. find suitable plant by discovering future tree within the nursery tree.
3. Take plant home and make envisioned bonsai with nursery tree.
4. Post finished rough styling here for admiration and attaboys.

From your above post I am left with the feeling that you bought this plant and have challenged yourself to a "convention demo". It might make more sense to revaluate your post and give us some feedback as to just what it was in this stock that made you want to buy it. Then at that time we may have a better understanding as to what your intentions may be.

Good luck, Al

__________________
I been kidding the last seven years.
no.... really!

Bonsai Barry

Al, I had to laugh when I read #2. Between overgrown trees and poor pottings, I have a difficult time finding the "tree within the pot" much less the "envisioned bonsai within the nursery tree."

Sometimes, I make an impulsive buy only to take it home, clean it up and then wonder why I bought it in the first place. It pays to have a plan! I hope as I gain more experience this will become second-nature, it certainly isn't yet.

Barry

__________________
Bonsai Barry

"Our talent lies in our choices."

weeijk

Hi Barry,

I can perfectly understand why you bought it. I also understand Al´s remarks, he´s true by saying look in advance. You know, I have problems to look ahead too.

I like your purchage though, it has already the triangular shape. I would plant the tree at repotting about 10-20 degrees to the left, so that the long branch to the right, really gives the impression that it balances the tree.
I made you a virtual, but I cant get it in the right dimensions at work.

Hope you understand where I would go with yr tree.

regards Wessel

TreeBay

The lower trunk is interesting and it has a knobby and old appearance already. However above that point, and continuing on aboe the first branch it is very cylindrical and doesn't have much interest or taper.

For me, when the movement and interest stop, the pruners come out. Unless I am growing for bulk, I would probably cut it back above the first branch.

Regards,

Matt

__________________

Want to be a seller on bonsaiAUCTIONS? Get authorized today!

bonsaiTALK: Over 100,005.36 Megabytes Served this Month!

pootsie

Ditto what Treebay said. Mmmm, nebari.
then it gets boring halfway up.

I'm still trying to figure out what Al is saying

pootsie

__________________
p.s. My cat is a bonsaiTALK Master.
Columbus Bonsai Society

jloeschner

I may have this completely wrong, but I think Al is say (I meant SAYING ) this:

Decide on what type or species of tree you want and what style you want BEFORE you go shopping for a tree. For example, say you want a cascading Chinese elm. With this in mind, go looking for a suitable Chinese elm that can be styled into a cascade. Look at each individual plant and see if what you have in mind can be achieved with it. When you find one that can be turned into what you envisioned, buy it and begin working to make it look like what you wanted.

Of course, I have only done this on one or two occasions, but it is actually easier to get good results when you know what you want before you go shopping. I still have a problem with impulse buys, especially when I can't find the tree I originally set out to get.

Regards,
John

__________________
Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement.

QUI ME AMAT, AMAT ET CANEM MEAM

Will_Heath

I have no Criticism, you'll get enough of that, instead I have a suggestion for the future of this stock as you purchased it....

Let the foliage grow out and achive ramification, blending the left branch with the upper canopy as well as the right....


Just another view....

Nice start, hang in there and good luck.


Will

Attached Images

idea.JPG (52.6 KB, 46 views)

rockm

I don't think that's what he's saying at all. Going to a nursery (or the wild) with a preconcieved notion of the shape of tree--or kind of tree, you're after is counterproductive and downright confusing. You are likely to overlook, discount or miss alot of great potential in other trees you're not looking for.

Species and end style are at the bottom of my list when looking at stock. The first things are nebari, character and movement. Then I look at the species and consider what style might suit the plant. Nebari can't really be changed, character takes alot of time to develop, lower trunk "movement" is not that common in bonsaiable trees. All these aren't changeable. Style and species are changeable. Don't like the species, find another. Don't like the style, change it or alter it. You can alter nebari (very much), or add alot of character (if there's not some present already). Adding movement takes alot of time in trunk chops...

The idea is to look at a nursery plant, yamadori, with an eye to its basic "bones" and how that basic skeleton can be filled out or built upon. It's not an easy task, but you can get a general feel for where a tree wants to go by starting at the nebari and working your way up along the trunk--discounting the limbs and foliage--they're the most replaceable part of a bonsai.

If there's taper, movement and character in the trunk and it's exciting to think about how to use those characteristics in a design, the tree is worth considering...