Tree of the Day - Wednesday April 27, 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 Juniper grove. You can make notes with the pencil tool underneath the attachment.

Attached Images

TOD_27APR2005.jpg (47.8 KB, 345 views)

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Sterling

Ok so I'm probably the most novice of the novices but I wanted to comment on this selection and see what everyone else thought of my comments. I really like the canopy of this grove. It's gentle and pleasing to the eye. The trunks of the trees however do not seem to me to allow for this canopy to exist. My major problem is with the second trunk from the left. All the other trunks are leaning at approximately a 60 degree angle except for this trunk. Why did this trunk not only grow straight up, but then turn away from the other trunks. I have a problem with the shari on this trunk as well. The shari extends above the point of crossing with the other trunk. How did this tree lose it's bark in this area while the tree right next to it suffered no ill effect? I'm sure that the grove loses somthing in the translation to two dimensions but the crossing lines of the left two trunks catches the eye too much. In my most humble opinion, it detracts from the beautiful styling job in the canopy. My question is why?

Treebeard

From the photo it looks like the two crossing trunks are touching. The action of the wind on the grove would cause the two trunks to rub against each other, wearing the bark away on each trunk. I have a large privet in my garden that has these shari where the branches rub, the squeaking does my head in at night...

Regards,

Chris.

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Walter_Pall

This is an outstanding group in a very realistic design. It looses tremendosly in this much too small pot. The pot is also to high and too 'normal' speak traditional anyway.

I think in this picture the true value of the composition is much more apparent.

Or so, or the contrary.

Attached Images

TOD_27APR20052.jpg (58.1 KB, 104 views)

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Dkozi

Since Walter framed it up so nicely in that virtual I get the impression that this grove wants to project the essence of a very large tree trunk outlined by the outer most tree's in the grove, especially since the shared canopy looks like it could belong to a single tree. Notice how it leans. The tree who's trunk changes direction and crosses the others implies to me that the essense of the larger trunk, if you will, carries a twisting motion. I enjoyed looking at this, thank's for sharing! -Dana

John Dixon

Although I love the overall foliage canopy, I cannot seem to accept the crossed trunks, especially since it is four trees. I tried doing a virtual with radical movement of the "offending" trunk, but I don't particularly like it. Then I removed an entire tree and expanded the canopy of the remaining three. I like that arrangement much more. I feel that it would improve greatly on a slab rather than a pot situated far left with the movement going left to right. I guess as an aside, the "removed" tree is very qualified to be made into a literati. It has a thin, long trunk and easily capable of exciting movement. Just a thought.

It is obvious that the artist has skill and has maintained this bonsai well, but I do not care for that "X" of trunks. It is very naturalistic looking though, so I have respect for their efforts if that was their intent. I can't quite tell if this is a raft planting or individual trunks. The one tree that goes (more or less) up rather than a right slant is the only one with shari (2nd virtual). The crossing of trunks at the base is okay with me since there is no background visible between them. I would like to add just a little more separation between the two "right" side trunks to add depth to the design, but that isn't something I can show on the virtual. Third virtual is with a slab, although I should have made it a little "deeper".

Oh well, that's it for me this week, probably. Search and Rescue/ Land Navigation training for the next few days. Hopefully I won't get lost . I'm trying to be positive and consider it a yamadori scouting trip for next year....with permission, of course.

John

Edit: I think Walter's slab is perfect for the group.

Attached Images

	1114601172_image.jpg (54.6 KB, 38 views)
	1114602205_image 2.jpg (62.9 KB, 38 views)
	1114607653_image 3.jpg (71.5 KB, 34 views)

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waltr

I like it very much. The crossed trunk makes the grouping pleasing and unified. If the trunk that goes to the left did so with a curve I may not like it. But doing so with the sharp bend (the original leader died and the last branch took over) looks much better and adds interest to the group. If all the trunks went to the left it would be boring. Walter's suggestion of a wider pot/tray is the only change I would advocate.
walt

Cre8tive

I am bothered by the many crossings of the different trunk lines. Specifically the "X" on the left.

I do like the ramification and development in the foilage pads. Very natural looking.

Regards,
Mark

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Ralph

I think the chaotic nature of the crossing trunks, and also the number of trees selcted was intentional.I think the artist wants you to feel/hear the dissonance of this image.
It is bold, and I like it. Walter's slab potting does it far more justice.

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