Tree of the Day - Friday April 15, 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.


ABOUT TODAY'S TREE: Today's tree is a Chinese Hackberry. You can make notes with the pencil tool underneath the attachment.

Attached Images

TOD_15APR2005.jpg (63.6 KB, 364 views)

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Ian_Homer

Nice tree that looks on the small size, but of course with no reference for scale it is hard to tell. This is a tree species I am not familiar with.

Generally, very nice (although not artistically challenging) and not much could be done (IMO) I dare say some members would like to see more light in the canopy, but the full look is also O.K.

Is that a Nick Lenz pot ? I hear a lot about him.

My only two observations is that squiggle in the middle (branch or wire?), whilst I think if it were mine, the pot would be not quite so wide.
Both detailed in red below.

Ian.

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FridayTOTD.jpg (71.1 KB, 48 views)

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TreeBay

It's not smallish. I think probably about 17-18" tall.

There's an unwritten rule somewhere that the pot should never be exactly as wide as the height of the tree. I think that has to do with avoiding squared off proportions. However, I think that's where you'd be if you trimmed it back to the red mark, but I didn't measure.

Here's a closeup of the branch

Regards,

Matt

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TOD_15APR2005_close.jpg (34.0 KB, 52 views)

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Ian_Homer

Matt,

Thanks for the detail.

That branch certainly needs something doing with it. Perhaps developing foliage will help.

The tree would still be taller if potted as suggested, and I would even suggest a less wider pot if the root system would allow it.

Great Trunk and Nebari too, even if it is so short a trunk that there is no visible taper, the split into branches carries on the effect anyway.

Cheers,
Ian.

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John Dixon

Since it's a hackberry, this bonsai is at least a medium size like Matt said.

The bonsai has a very natural, powerful air about it. Styling is not so much the subject here as is "visual impact". It does this, and I don't recommend any style changes except maybe that one interior branch. I do believe a shorter or even a LONGER pot should be considered. The LONGER pot suggesting a field setting, whereas the shorter one is more traditionally linked to the height of the bonsai.

I like it, but it probably would not set of a wildfire of design enthusiasm. It is similar to an elm (zelkova?) I remember seeing in a book from Colin Lewis.

John

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mike_p

This tree is similiar in style to yesterday's TOD. One major difference is, it's definitely not boring.

Mike

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Tobias

I really enjoy this one, although i also have no experience with this species. This tree reminds me of a chinese elm in a Craig Coussins book called Bonsai for Beginners (i think thats what it's called anyways).

Anyway, i like it a lot as it, but think it could look better if the lower branches were allowes to grow out longer, with the rest of the branches grown out proportionately. I think as is it has a bit of a "pom-pom bonsai" look. the squiggly branch pointed out earlier should probably be removed too, if it won't create too much of a gaping hole in the canopy. some thinning would probably help too, but again, it's super nice.

peace,

toby

Edit: again, I'm curious to know how this post is worthy of drawing negative rep points without so much as a comment. perhaps my opinion on aesthetics is unworthy of gracing this forum?

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Daytonabonsai

First of all , thanks to Matt for an exciting new event to do at BOnsai Talk. I have seen the TOD post for a few weeks , but havent had the time to set down and study tree till today . looks like another great tool to use to sharpen skills and hear from fellow enthusists . Looking at this tree I see a nice design for what it is . the front sabamiki really adds interest to an otherwise ordinary design. the ramification is good , but could stand to be a little fuller id back of tree as bare spot right in middle of tree is distracting , as there are no other bare spaces to speak of in tree . there is reverse taper where large two main branches devide , but I think the sabimiki does a good job of hiding that , also I think the broom style is allowed a little leaway at that area . the main areas that I would address is the nebari and the empty space in center . if it was filled in with some branching , I think the squiggy little branch would be less noticable. you could also open up the rest of the tree to echo the openess you have in center , but then I think you would lose lot of ramification without improving the design unnessessarily. THe second issue I have is the roots . the main rootage flare is good , but you have a root coming directly at viewer , and that distracts that wonderful base . also , there is a spot that desperatly needs some rootage right to the right of the root coming right at viewer . so I think a rootgraft at the bare area to the right bare spot and rotating the tree at the next planting 10 degrees clockwise (depending on how foliage,trunk, and that interesting sabamiki look) would fix the issuses and maybe minimize the reverse taper and hide that squiggly branch also . The pot is too long , but I like it . the negative space to the left adds further interest to design , and could even be extended and shown with native grasses in a low accent potfor a two point display.

Ashbarns9999

The tree is pretty good for broom style we just need to fill in the blank spots, the pot size is about right.The nebari is not offensive for this style. I could live with this tree and develop it.

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