My first tree

Carl_Bergstrom

Jose,

I think that you are failing to distinguish between a formal upright and other bonsai styles. Flynhamer's tree is a formal upright; the one you posted is not. Formal uprights, because of their structure, darn near require some foliage occasionally obscuring the trunk. Sometimes an informal upright or slant style can get away with a clear line of sight to the trunk, especially if the foliage begins relatively high and if there is a fair bit of dead wood visible. The tree you posted meets these criteria. (And additionally, it might be improved by some foliage crossing the trunk, but that's another matter.) It tends not to work with formal uprights. Look a few dozen masterpiece formal uprights - how many have completely clear trunk lines?

But you don't have to take my word for it - we can make a virtual. Here's the tree with the trunk fully revealed.

Best regards,
Old Mister

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In love with trees

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Jose_Alberto

Maybe like this would be better...

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Jose Alberto Franco
Guatemala
Central America
http://www.doschivos.com

Jose_Alberto

sorry, I forgot about the pic

__________________
Jose Alberto Franco
Guatemala
Central America
http://www.doschivos.com

Adam

I like the tree. I think maybe you should lower the branches a tad, and a little foliage pruning. Then it will be a specimen tree.

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[Adam]
"Cass Bonsai Gardens"
"Bonsai Knowledge"
"DaGhostCrew"

Jose_Alberto

Adam Supports me

__________________
Jose Alberto Franco
Guatemala
Central America
http://www.doschivos.com

Carl_Bergstrom

Jose,

I think your virtual makes my case quite nicely. I'll be interested to hear what others think.

I will concede that a little bit of visible trunk above the top foliage mass might improve the look of the present tree. But in my opinion, clearing out the whole trunk like that on this tree, with its formal geometry and perpendicular branches, turns a gorgeous tree into a facsimile of a television antenna.

Old Mister

__________________
In love with trees

Jose_Alberto

Maybe I wasn't clear enough, I surely wanted to say the lower part of the trunk, so do you like my virtual? have we got an understanding here?

__________________
Jose Alberto Franco
Guatemala
Central America
http://www.doschivos.com

Flynhamer

I pulled out the book I used to make the tree. From what I had read there should be front branches. It was so long ago I am not sure I was able to to do the tree just like the book had said. It seems that there wasnt a front branch at the point that the book said there was to be one. So I think I just put them in as I could. I to feel that the branches should be lowered. I think it would add age to the tree. It does need a good trim and I think I will try to bring the branches down alittle. Thanks for all the advise.

Jose_Alberto

Well, I enjoyed having this discussion with you folks, specially you Mr. Crow. It was really enjoyable, because I was speaking with people that really know about bonsai, unlike me... So I learned a lot... and I hope you could also get something Flynhamer, because that was the idea behind it...

bye...

__________________
Jose Alberto Franco
Guatemala
Central America
http://www.doschivos.com