Shikoku Black Pine Yamadori

malhomme

As many of you know I have a fondness for Japanese Black Pines. This pine was collected in the mountains of Shikoku Island, Japan and has been in my care for about six months, having just been released from quarantine this winter. I have no idea how old it is, but the tree is just over a meter high.

I never intended to show it until it was completed but I was show director for our annual club show and wanted to have a tree in development for the public to see. I knew the wiring was good on this tree so I brought it. It really helped the public understand some of the methods we use to create the image our trees present.

I began by removing two large branches and cleaning out dead twigs. I corrected spoke branches to eliminate swelling, always leaving two branches where possible. I then pulled some of last years needles to balance vigor. When this was done I put about 12 hours of wiring into the tree-- every branch is wired to the tips without a single crossed wire (yes, it can be done). I then pinched candles and nurtured new buds on old wood. Sunlight and fertilizer has done the rest.

Despite being in training for only six months, I think it photographed well. Here are the before and after pics.

Cheers,
Jim

Attached Images

	ShikokuBlackPineRough.jpg (69.4 KB, 197 views)
	ShikokuBlackPine.jpg (58.2 KB, 237 views)

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BONSAI_OUTLAW

Once again Jim...SPECTACULAR..I absolutely love this tree.

zen

Sweet.

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md4958

very nice! a good purchase.

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"Bonsai do not belong to us; it is our responsibility to care for them and pass them on to future generations"

zube

Very nice Jim.

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Just_Mike

jim...very nice indeed...exceptional w/ only 6 mnths of training...who collected this tree?? how much did it cost?? how long was quarantine?? sorry for all the questions, but im interested in the process of how you attained this great material...again...very nice tree...


...mike

JavaScottC

Very nice, this tree reminds me of one of mine that I posted about earlier. That first section of trunk is the kicker, and I'll be watching closely to see what you do, if anything, with it. Straight sections are sometimes challenging, but the upper section is beautiful. Worth the wait.

Scott

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malhomme

Mike,

I read somewhere that to have better bonsai one has to start with better stock. The art is in choosing good material to work with. As for what it cost? I'll say this: I got it for a song, when compared to it's potential. I see a lot of people that spend more on several puny, hopeless trees that have decades of problems to be fixed. I think that their money would have been better applied to better stock, but this is just an opinion.

Cheers,
Jim

sauce

Wow! You didn't have to dance Wonderful job Jim! 12 hours wiring? Makes me tired just thinking about it. The end result is obviously worth the time it took to get there! Congratulations!