TOD for 11JUN2006

TreeBay

This week's TOD is a Willow Leaf Fig (Ficus neriifolia). It measures 18 inches tall and was created from an air layer separated six years ago.

There are several views of this tree to choose from, so have a look at the thumbnails.

You can use the pencil tool under the attachment to make notes.

Remember - Submit your own TOD by adding a new thread in this forum. It will be held until we post it anonymously!

Regards,

Matt

Attached Images

	tod_11JUN2006_1_adj.jpg (66.5 KB, 812 views)
	tod_11JUN2006_2_adj.jpg (68.3 KB, 72 views)
	tod_11JUN2006_3_adj.jpg (67.4 KB, 112 views)
	tod_11JUN2006_4_adj.jpg (67.7 KB, 215 views)

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Neild

This is my 1st shot a virtual...ever, and only my 2nd on TOD. Is connecting the top to the same nebari cheating

My feeling is that the trunk is too long for a ficus, the scar adds some interest but there seems to be too much distance and too little happening from the nebari until some movement occurs. The left side of the canopy has a little too much open space for me as well. The "mother daughter" idea distracts me from what is a nice trunk mid way up.

My "virtual" shows an airlayer mid way, and a filling in of 75% or so of the negative space on the left. Not terribly distinctive from other ficus design's. Which may or may not bee important to the owner of this tree. Nice tree nonetheless.

Regards,
Neil

Attached Images

TOD VIRT.JPG (62.1 KB, 148 views)

Aaron_K

I think this is a very nice tree. My only comments are that I too would like to see more nebari and slightly more rootflare. I also like Neild's concept of having a lower branched canopy as the tree feels older in the virtual.

All the best,

Aaron

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I.B.

Great Ficus!

I'd like to work on it. First I would change the angle, then the branches as the two virtuals show.

Then I would change the container.

Enjoy your bonsai!

Bill

Attached Images

	NEWFICUS1WEB.jpg (65.7 KB, 84 views)
	NEWFICUS2WEB.jpg (65.4 KB, 83 views)

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William N. Valavanis

bonsaial1

I have a backyard full of for the most part boring, average bonsai. I guess I style them that way probably making the best use of the material I have. What I long for is a more dramatic bonsai with dynamisym and wow factor.

What I see in this bonsai is just one more average bonsai styled with the best use of the material. Bill has introduced some effects to help make the visual more dynamic. I wonder if we should style this with a classic "bonsai pine tree" canopy as in Bills tree, or a more ficus styled canopy. Maybe flatter with more emphasis on "tropical".

points to ponder....Al

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benschreivogel

I agree with bringing the foiliage down a bit. I love ariel roots and think it needs more than just the one. I would bury the trunk for a bit and see if I could get a few more to add to the trunk.

Turtlebo

Positives:
I like the large scar, it gives it a dynamic feel
The trunk has a nice/interesting texture
I see that there are surface roots all around

Negatives:
The foliage mass is to small for the trunk length
The second little trunk is way out of proportion and distracting
The lone airial root is way to straight and, well, alone

Suggestions:
Lose the second trunk
extend the lower branches to create a wider canopy
grow more airial roots or (My choice) lose the airial root

Overall:
I really like this tree. I think it has much potential. The two big scars tell the story of an old tree that, twice in it's past, suffered near fatal wounds, but it had the strength and the will to persavere.

agraham

If this were my tree......I'd listen to all of the suggestions,enjoy the conversation,be flattered by the good comments and take the negative ones under consideration.

I wouldn't necessarily try to change the tree,but I would try to learn from those with more experience than myself as well as those less experienced but perhaps with their own good ideas.

I'd probably put the tree in a different pot than the original.I imagine that the owner of the tree knew from the start that the pot it was in was a poor choice....maybe a pot similar to the one Mr. Valvanis suggested.It probably looked pretty good in a beige oval.And then I thought...what about an even shallower pot.A wider one,and use the secondary tree to create some flow and width to justify the increased width of the "frame".With that in mind....my humble offering still needs some work and lengthening of the lower trunk.But that would take time I didn't have.Maybe,just maybe,the height of the tree should be increased also.That's a thought to investigate further.But then again,my "virt" skills are not that good,so I left it as it was.

At any rate,and again,if this were my tree,I think this is about how it would look after a little more than a year.

This is the last T.O.D. tree posted and since the thread seems to still be open,I thought this might be a way to encourage a reinvigoration of the T.O.D..I hope so anyway.Maybe Matt or Ian or Fly or whoever else is now a moderator and is in touch with Matt could let us all know if the TOD forum is still operational u8nder the old "rules"

And if it is,hopefully some of us will come up with some nice photos to put up for consideration.

andy

Attached Images

DSC_0002 copy.jpg (59.6 KB, 45 views)

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I love you vision of the tree Andy.