Taxus Baccata first styling

weeijk

For this years styling contest, I styled 2 trees. The Larch which is now participating and a Taxus.

Taxus Baccata (English Yew)
unstyled height: 98 cm, styled height: 53 cm
age: 8-10 years
price: 13$
style: literati

This tree didn't make it to the contest, but I really need your opinion on it.
So, please give me lots of feedback,

thanks in advance, Wessel

Attached Images

	taxus baccatta front.jpg (71.5 KB, 87 views)
	taxus baccata first styling.jpg (72.4 KB, 122 views)

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discobassoonist

That's quite the transformation you have made. Literati is my personal favorite style, probably because it has such a spontaneous air to it.

You should consider finding it a nice earthen-colored pot, maybe with a light texture to it for this tree. Also, planting it at more of an angle, and re-adjusting the branches might add even more to it. But, I think that the work you have already done is wonderful. Keep us posted.

Dane

weeijk

Thanx Dane for your reply, sadly you're the only one that has replyed.
You're right about the pot and changing the angle of the tree, but this will be done next spring. For now I want to let it recover from all the stress I bought upon it and wait for other advice.

Hope to get more reply's from you all.

Thanx Wessel

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weeijk

I've changed the Taxus a little. Lost the jin at the top, created a new one.
I want to change more about the first part of the trunk, but its about 3 cm in diameter, how can I bend it? should I carve it, so I will be able to bend it? Or should I just place it in another angle?

How can I overall improve the tree?

Please give me some advice,

cheers Wessel

Attached Images

taxus baccata104 3-6-2005.jpg (72.8 KB, 44 views)

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Ashbarns9999

Hi weeijk, For me literati was never a style i would have chosen for the taxus. Your latest styling is a vast improvement. I understand what you are saying about bending the trunk but i would like to see those branches wired down further. This may take the emphasis away from the straight trunk-line. If that didn't suit then i would look at slanting style. Regards Ash

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Bone-sigh

Weeijk,

What an improvement! Your first styling attempt was...well....let me just say I was afraid to comment on it. But this latest styling is much better! You are learning very quickly, and I expect that soon you will be producing even better styled trees.

Something for you to ponder: perhaps instead of purchasing lots of material that is young, lacking in character, and doesn't offer what you need to design a really great bonsai, you could save your money for some really good stock to start with. I think once you do this you will see that your skills will go to a whole other level.

Best always,
Ryan

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Vance Wood

You have done a good job with both of these trees but in doing so you have reduced them down to almost the bare essentials. You want to do more----now?? That could be a big and fatal mistake. Give them time to recover and put on some new growth, if you stress them out much more you chance losing one or both of them. When they start to grow you will have your hands full getting all that wire off. The new growth will start giving you ideas where these trees are going.

At this point you cannot be sure if all the branches you are depending on for style are going to survive. A lot of bonsaiist tend to ignore the possibilities that such extensive wiring on a tree is every bit as stressfull as a major repot and root reduction.