My "Trash" tree

SiNguyen

Ok, now you go and chopped off my favorite branch!

Of course Malhomme is right, you don't want do bonsai design by committee. What ever you come up on your own should be the best. But as a committee member, do I think your tree looks right? The answer is NO!

Seriously, if I had to chop something, I would have kept the first branch and chop everything above it. But what you have now is not bad either. Kinda boring, but safe. After a few seasons, you still have a tall tree with alot of healthy branches, just in time for another styling.
What Vance said about poor back budding on the Hinokis is right. I have a terrible time with them in small pots. After a few years, the foliage just dry up slowly and die back to just a stick of a tree. You lose a branch or two and your design becomes worthless , you what I mean. But if they are in the ground, then they can back bud a little better. Just make sure you have very well-draining potting mix. And keep it consistently moist in the summer. These don't tolerate any salt build up at all.
Good luck!
Si

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Dav4

Jim and Si, you have both contributed very thoughtful remarks about this tree, and I thank you. You should both know that the current image is essentially what I envisioned when I started training this tree last year. I initially kept the lower right branch because I thought it helped to balance the tree and I posted the tree partially to see what people thought about that lower branch. I respect the opinions of many of the folks here. I also respect the opinions of the folks who got to see it in person. Ultimately, it was my decision, and in the end, it was removed because I felt the tree looked better without it. All other options were considered; double trunk, making the low branch the apex, reducing the foliage, etc.. My instincts primarily led me to remove the branch. I didn't feel forced by others into making the decision. I feel comfortable with it as it is. Hopefully, the tree and my photography will improve by the next update.


Dave

Vance Wood

That's the best reason for doing what you have done. It doesn't matter what I or anyone else thinks.

__________________
The only finished bonsai is a dead one; me 1992 MABA Des Moines Iowa

Dav4

Thanks, Vance.

SiNguyen

Hi everybody. Dave, I found some sketches I did for this tree a few months ago. I use rough trees on this website for styling exercises. Yours was interesting enough. I submitted the sketches here for your reading enjoyment. It is in no way meant to tell you how you should do your tree. The sketches are self-explanatory. Plan A is your original tree and is basically what you have now but with the lowest branch removed. Plan B is what I submitted a while back here, and it was my first choice. Plan C is no longer feasible but it was the most proportional in relation to the height and trunk diameter. Plan D and E are still very doable. Plan E is out of proportion here but you get the idea. To me, the rough sketches are very helpful in visuallizing and comparing the composition of the possible designs. Of course there are some negative spaces in between the branches, but one should always consider the silhoutte of the overall design first. Anyway, hope this is helpful to somebody.
Good day!

Attached Images

Dave's hinoki.jpg (57.9 KB, 29 views)

malhomme

I'm glad to hear that. I sometimes shop for opinions too. Taking opinions is like eating fish-- you have to spit out the bones.

Cheers,
Jim

Dav4

Here is the tree in a more appropriate pot. I will do some light wiring later on this summer and refine the deadwood. I'm quite pleased with how it turned out. "Cookie-cutter" or not, it really is one of my favorite trees. Hope you like it.


Dave

Attached Images

IMG_1956.1.jpg (71.2 KB, 44 views)

Mcspeed

Good job with a tough species, keeping the foliage close to the trunk can be tough.

__________________
If at first you don't succeed -- skydiving is not for you.


Always remember that you're unique -- just like everyone else

Enjoy this day.
Bill

CScott

I love what you have done. It reminds me of the pines struggling to survive in the volcanic cinder mountains near where I live. They have that similar "Life's been tough but I'm doing fine" look.

Congratulations.

Carmen