Old California Juniper restyle

mike_p

I bought this California juniper as collected stock in Los Angeles around 1980.
Not long after that, I got into my powertool phase and made lots of juniper dust. It was a learning process, and great fun.

Two or three years ago it started looking poorly, so I trimmed it back severely, bare rooted it and put it in a larger pot. After a year or so it took off growing. I let it go until today when I decided a totally new look was coming next.

The five images show the process of about 3 hours work. I cut off some branches and removed lots of the old dead wood, until I slimmed it down and improved the trunk taper. Then, heavy trimming on the branches that were left, and some basic wiring. I'm working toward the bunjin look. Height from soil line is about 30 inches.

Now it will rest until early spring when repotting into a more suitable pot will take place.

Mike

Attached Images

	1_caljun.jpg (58.7 KB, 217 views)
	2_caljun.jpg (58.5 KB, 125 views)
	3_caljun.jpg (62.3 KB, 120 views)
	4_caljun.jpg (61.4 KB, 116 views)
	5_caljun.jpg (58.9 KB, 287 views)

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Learning the mechanics of bonsai is a matter of rote. Over and over again the processes are practiced until the hands and eyes know the moves.
Learning the art of bonsai may be more like water wearing away a stone, or climbing a mountain where the peak is always shrouded in fog and just out of reach.
Persist, and someday you may see the peak in sunshine. You may pick up the stone and it's a thing of beauty.

MP@BBB Studio

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cbobgo

wow you took that tree to Jenny Craig! Looks nice.

- bob

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RedPine

As always MikeP you have done a super job,this is a very cool tree.

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midwestbonsai

Yes, I agree.
Looks much, much, much, much better!!!
Nice work.
-Paul

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Master-S.T-

Ant that a sight. Just goes to show, something that looks Good to some people, Will only look better after someone with the right touch has had there say with it lol.
S.T-

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Vonsgardens

Nice Mike, isn't fun to see how are tastes change over time? John

andrew lenden

hi superb tree, it reminds me of a crooked wirey old man, cheers andrew

mike_p

Thanks all, for your kind words. This is a tree that I knew I was going to make changes in, but had no firm ideas. Early yesterday the idea come to me to remove a lot of the dead wood and see where it would lead.
The next change will be a bunjin pot.

Mike

__________________
Learning the mechanics of bonsai is a matter of rote. Over and over again the processes are practiced until the hands and eyes know the moves.
Learning the art of bonsai may be more like water wearing away a stone, or climbing a mountain where the peak is always shrouded in fog and just out of reach.
Persist, and someday you may see the peak in sunshine. You may pick up the stone and it's a thing of beauty.

MP@BBB Studio

Vonsgardens

Again very nice. I am assuming that you have been able to do the root reductions over the past 25 years that will allow for an easy transition to a nan-bon or other rustic style bunjin pot? (I am viewing this as an educational/teaching moment to those who are new to the art and craft of bonsai). John