Today's Tree - Wednesday, April 6, 2005

TreeBay

This forum is an experiment that has evolved out of some of the activities on the bonsaischool program.

I'm going to select a bonsai each day to spark group discussion.

• Trees of the day don't belong to anyone you're likely to know, so there is very little chance that you're going to hurt anyone's feelings with your honest opinions, critique and suggestions. This is key.
• However, if you recognize the tree, please keep it to yourself until at least the next day.
• If you have a tree-of-the-day you'd like to submit, you can start a new thread (not a new post) in this forum. It won't appear immediately.

Some questions to ask about the tree of the day

1. What are the tree's strengths?
2. What are its weaknesses?
3. How could the tree be improved?
4. Does the tree have a message you could define in words?
5. How would you arrange the tree with other elements to create an interesting two or three-point display?

You can respond right here.

Don't forget - you can nominate a TREE OF THE DAY if you send your photo by email to webmasterATbonsaitalkDOTcom. Clean backgrounds and show quality trees only, please!


Today's tree is a Podocarpus (Buddhist Pine). You can make notes with the pencil tool underneath the attachment.

Attached Images

tod_06APR2005.jpg (35.4 KB, 257 views)

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Ian_Homer

I am not familiar with this particular species, but guess this one wants to be styled very similar to the Swamp cypress I see on this forum. Perhaps does not have the same fast growth rate. (?). This tree has some very good potential, but placed in an appropriate container a little too early. I see this as a five year + project.

It needs some of the opposing branches removed, the lower right certainly, while the apex can be left to run riot a few seasons to see what develops.

The shari needs better definition and I am sure better taper will come in that five year timescale. Certainly a tree I would like to work with.

Sorry no time to do a virtual, but hope someone can along these lines.

Ian

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John Dixon

The pot has a good shape to compliment the tree, but it is too large, specifically depth. I like the position.

The tree has way too many branches. The species has a coarser foliage than my virtual eludes to, but that is where I would like to see pads develop. I like the high split on the right that gives it a sense of struggle. The trunk does not have much perceived taper, but some work on the shari could hide this. I would definitely suggest letting the foliage pads extend "into" the line of the trunk to break up the silhouette. This will improve the visual impact of the trunk taper, or lack thereof.

John

Attached Images

1112789554_image.jpg (40.6 KB, 31 views)

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John Dixon

Si vis pacem parabellum

Stay off the trails of others, that's where the booby-traps are.

Arnie

Not sure about the pot.....plus I'm supposed to be working!!

That trunks begging to be opened up and carved.

Attached Images

final.jpg (59.6 KB, 50 views)

Will_Heath

This tree is not yet ready for a bonsai pot. The dramatic change of taper at the chop point has had a attempt to camouflage it, but it still is obvious.

It would seem that as we rush more and more to show trees we try to bypass the basics. I have noticed this particular "shortcut" is appearing more and more in bonsai shops and to my great dismay, at shows. Have we given up the idea of a gentle taper in exchange for drastic chops and sudden changes in taper, hid by nothing more than wired foliage positioned over the flaw?

I have written an article on this subject, yet unpublished and I am curious if this bothers anyone else's eyes?


Will Heath

Arnie

I thought the fun and point of this exercise was making the most in your own eyes of the given material? .....even if it is a bit crap

Will_Heath

Strange, I thought critiquing was the object?


Will

Arnie

Your quiet right......I just bothered to read the top.

John Dixon

Will,

You make good points, and I agree that there is sometimes (a lot of times) too much emphasis on speed. At the same time, I believe that taking material of mediocre quality and using different "cheats" to improve the design is the epitome of artistic challenge. To break up the trunk line by manipulating foliage to subtly break up the line is a favorite "cheat" of mine. I use cheat facetiously, as I really believe it adds a natural look, whereas no crossing foliage has a more "canned" appearance. Just blaw, blaw, blaw.

I do agree that it appears the tree was a little premature in being potted, but what the heck, it's there so let's roll with it. With a lot of deadwood in the trunk, the taper issue can be eliminated. Grinders and carving will take care of that. If this is a standard of the species, this is probably a fairly good-sized tree, so styling has many avenues for it.

I think my virtual is possible, but it would take some time (and the foliage is too coarse in reality to make those pads). Still, I would attempt it if the bonsai were mine.

Good discussion today folks.

Warmest regards,

John

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John Dixon

Si vis pacem parabellum

Stay off the trails of others, that's where the booby-traps are.