Black Pine Progress

Carl_Bergstrom

Interesting. When I read your comment, I was thinking of increasing the left side to make long branches. So trying to stick with your comment, I actually didn't grow out the left side at all, though I did grow out new first right branch just a little bit. I also streched the pot slightly. What is interesting is that this has a similar effect as growing out those branches on the left side. I've got to admit that I like the shape of the canopy here, but the trunk is in the "wrong place" somehow.

Best regards,
Carl

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K.A. Rutledge

Hi Carl,

Yes, what you've effectively done is make the tree too tall. I think that your unease with the trunk now is due both to that issue and the fact that the trunk should now be facing the opposite direction.

If you double the girth of the trunk in your virt (with appropriate taper) it will work better - the tree will not appear to be too tall. If you move the apex to the left AND increase the trunk girth, you'd be making things even more natural, pleasing (and consequently, artistic). ;-)

Art is fun. ;-)

Kind regards,
Andy

Brettj_arts

Perhaps a slight change in planting angle, a rotation slightly counter clockwise would give it a great looking informal upright look, and would help with these balancing issues.

Brett

PS Great Tree! Far to good to use the jinned top route, it has a very nice apex!

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DavidN

I really like what you've done with the tree. Great work.

Emperor Fish

Andy,

This tree certainly looks better for your decisions so far.

Your idea for a wind-swept is interesting. However, it'll take a lot of courage! Ever thought about growing the first right branch out more, into almost a semi-cascade form? I'm not sure what it would do to the balance of the tree without doing a virt.

Fish.

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K.A. Rutledge

Hi Fish,

Thanks for your comments. Yeah, I'm not really ballsy enough to do the one-sided styling yet either. ;-) The semi-cascade possibility you cite would unbalance the tree a bit because the trunk is too thin to handle it. Also, the first R.H. branch is actually higher up on the tree than the first L.H. branch. Using it as the reaching extension of the tree would begin to look odd.

Oh, well. I guess this is one is destined to be the average, leaning moyogi styled pine. They can't always be different and exciting. ;-)

Kind regards,
Andy Rutledge
zone 8, Texas

wendell

Hi Andy.
It was great to meet you in person at NE Bonsai Gardens.
I like your pine very much. It's quite beautiful and appears well on it's way to being a classic moyogi specimen. And that's great.
But...from reading this thread you don't seem content with it. It sounds like deep down you want to go for the dramatic alteration. I encourage you to Go For It! And to offer some encouragement, I did a couple of virtuals. Look on them with generous eyes, for I just got Photoshop and am learning as I go.
So, here we go......
This first one maintains the apex as it is now.

Attached Images

lok.jpg (39.3 KB, 154 views)

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wendell

Here's the second one.
I attempted to jin the apex and maintain the proper height and branch structure at the top.

You said: "Oh, well. I guess this is one is destined to be the average, leaning moyogi styled pine. They can't always be different and exciting. ;-)"

If you've got the itch, I would go for the different and exciting. The risk to reward ration may be in full effect here.

Let me know what you think--even if all I did was solidify your decision to leave the tree as is. I had a great deal of fun doing the virtuals. I might be dangerous if I really figure out how to do them well....

Yours,
Wendell

Attached Images

lok3.jpg (17.0 KB, 149 views)

__________________

"Last leaf has fallen,
Tree will sleep and I will dream:
Spring is tomorrow"
--J. Naka

K.A. Rutledge

Thanks for your virts, Wendell. It was nice meeting you as well. I plan to be back there for 2 weeks every month so maybe we'll get to visit again.

As for this pine, things are tight so I'm probably about to put it up for sale on Ebay. I don't want to; I've had it for several years and love it, but that's life. I think I've made a slight improvement. Others will have to do the rest. That's the way of bonsai. ;-)

Kind regards,
Andy Rutledge
zone 8, Texas