Bonsai Critique with Dennis Makishima

TreeBay

The eye is drawn to wiring scars because of the irregularity in texture and color. Here, this otherwise wonderful ramification of a beech has been ruined by a few overlooked pieces of wire.

In Japan, deciduous trees are shown out of leaf to show the attention to detail in the ramification (development of branches) and fine condition of the tree. A lot can be hidden beneath a canopy of leaves, so don't let this happen to you.

__________________

Want to be a seller on bonsaiAUCTIONS? Get authorized today!

bonsaiTALK: Over 100,005.36 Megabytes Served this Month!

Advertisement

TreeBay

Other common problems are "whorl" arrangements of branches where several emerge from the same point.

This can lead to swelling or knuckle appearance at the branch unions.

__________________

Want to be a seller on bonsaiAUCTIONS? Get authorized today!

bonsaiTALK: Over 100,005.36 Megabytes Served this Month!

TreeBay

Parallel branches are branches which grow immediately above and below one another in pairs. This is not a very natural condition as the shaded branch would generally be shed.

The bonsai needs some help to correct this condition.

Another related problem (not illustrated here) is the "bar branch" where a branch emerges on opposite sides of a trunk.

__________________

Want to be a seller on bonsaiAUCTIONS? Get authorized today!

bonsaiTALK: Over 100,005.36 Megabytes Served this Month!

TreeBay

Here the owner has attempted to correct the branch angle and size of a branch by cutting back to a bud growing in the proper direction.

This would work fine farther out on the limb, but right here at the branch base, the effect is a panhandle that isn't very attractive.

__________________

Want to be a seller on bonsaiAUCTIONS? Get authorized today!

bonsaiTALK: Over 100,005.36 Megabytes Served this Month!

TreeBay

Here is a nice chinese elm. The crown may require thinning to reduce the load on the branches. This will help to preserve the fine branching, which may be lost if the growth is too dense.

__________________

Want to be a seller on bonsaiAUCTIONS? Get authorized today!

bonsaiTALK: Over 100,005.36 Megabytes Served this Month!

TreeBay

This Japanese Maple has a nice root base. It didn't appear to be over-potted in person, but the camera doesn't lie about the proportions of pot and tree.

__________________

Want to be a seller on bonsaiAUCTIONS? Get authorized today!

bonsaiTALK: Over 100,005.36 Megabytes Served this Month!

bnsaijim

Excellent thoughts! Dennis is one of my favorite instructors!

Now is obviously the time to start thinking about all this deciduous work...

__________________
Jim Stone
Seki Bonsai Studio
sekibonsai.com
Santa Fe, TX

Earl

Thanks for another great presentation. I learn alot by your taking the time to put these on the forum. I certainly have learned recently about the importance of trimming back the branches. I've taken the sissors much more to most of my trees this spring. Thanks for showing us these photos to encourage us.