Bunjin Red Pine Repairs

K.A. Rutledge

Here's a bunjin red pine (Pinus densiflora) that I've been worrying over for a couple of years. It never really had that bunjin flavor I thought that it should.

Yesterday I begain to bring the pine closer to the design I believe it should have. It's not yet "there," but it is on its way now I think.

Here you see the tree as it was yesterday morning. It has always been too full for a real bunjin, IMO, and there is a significant branch problem...

Kind regards,
Andy Rutledge
zone 8, Texas

Attached Images

bunpine1b4.jpg (36.4 KB, 493 views)

Advertisement

K.A. Rutledge

Here you can see a couple of the more significant problems highlighted.

+ The large branch in the middle on the right is far too thick, too straight and without taper.

+ The foliage in the middle on the left is much too lush for a bunjin pine and makes one large foliage mass in combination with the lush back branch at the same level.

I'm gonna fix it's wagon...

Kind regards,
Andy Rutledge
zone 8, Texas

Attached Images

bunpine1b4prob.jpg (33.6 KB, 461 views)

K.A. Rutledge

Here's the pine after the work.

+ The two problem branches have been turned into jin.

+ The messiest branches have been given a bit more of a strict form.

+ Some of the upper branches have been shortened (but then wired to extend them, making some seem longer than before).

No, this one is not "there" yet, but it is on its way. The needles are quite long this year because I did not bud cut this summer. I let it grow freely to regain some vigor. When the needles are of the appropriate length (later this year), the canopy will appear to be of better proportion. It is, however, still too big; too voluminous.

The tree is beginning to show more age - important for bunjin, but it is still too young looking. Over the next few years I'll address the apical region (need some backbudding first) and probably eliminate one or two more small branches up there.

Kind regards,
Andy Rutledge
www.andyrutledge.com/palaver/main.htm
zone 8, Texas

Attached Images

bunpine1aftr.jpg (30.8 KB, 488 views)

DavidN

I love the new look.

__________________
Bonsai Northwest Inc, Melbourne, Australia

Bonsai Flora Nursery in Yarraville, Melbourne

K.A. Rutledge

Thanks David. I'm more pleased with this direction than with the previous form. Having done this, it will be easier for me (I think) to make other tough decisions about the branching.

Kind regards,
Andy Rutledge
www.andyrutledge.com/palaver/main.htm
zone 8, Texas

Hank Miller

Very nice red pine. What do you have planned for the upper portion? Will you thin it a bit?
Hank

David Chauvin

Andy,

Big improvement. I've been going back and forth between the two photos to see exactly what you've done. Minor changes, big difference. Thanks.

David

__________________
"With the death of the Shamen, artists are the last interpreters of the Divine." Joseph Campbell

deadgecko

Andy,

Is this tree really Pinus resinosa? I have never seen anyone use this species before. I also have one that I have been playing with for the last 3 years.

Do you treat this tree the same as a Japanese Red Pine (Pinus densiflora)?

__________________
Deadgecko
Cincinnati, Ohio
USDA Zone 6, Sunset Zone 35
"Who says nothing is impossible? Some people do it everyday"
Alfred E. Neuman

K.A. Rutledge

Ack! I'm sorry, I did mean to write Pinus densiflora. My mistake. Thanks for asking about that deadgecko (??). It is Japanese red pine. Ugh.

Hank, yes, the apical region needs addressing. One or two more branches there will be removed or jinned.

I know that the jin on this pine will not stay for very long; a few years at most. But in the mean time it will add to a sense of age. By the time the jin is gone, or much smaller, the rest of the tree will have a more mature look to take up the slack.

Kind regards,
Andy Rutledge
www.andyrutledge.com/palaver/main.htm
zone 8, Texas