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31-Mar-2007
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#1 |
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bonsaiTALK Master Craftsman
 
Join Date: Feb-2005
Location: Orange County, California
Country: USA
Posts: 510
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One neglected Shimpaku juniper
Hi everybody, I finally got around to taking photos of some of my project trees this afternoon. Here's one tree I will be working on soon. I bought this Shimpaku juniper from a bonsai nursery in 1995. It used to be smaller and much more compact. I repotted only once in 1999. It has been neglected for many years and is now due for some major restyling. It fell from the bench one night in a storm and broke a few branches. Then I just left it right there in the ground in a partial shade. I am lucky it is still alive after all these years. There is very poor inside budding at this point. The foliage is pale and droopy. I will have to repot it now, cut it back severely, and then maybe style it as a double trunk somehow. The first picture is the current front of the tree. It is 26 inches tall. Any comments or critiques will be appreciated.
Good day! Si (in Southern California, USA) |
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One neglected Shimpaku juniper |
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1-Apr-2007
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#2 |
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bonsaiTALK Master Craftsman
Join Date: Jan-2005
Location: SE Massachusetts
Country: USA
USDA Zone: 6
AHS Heat Zone: 4-5
Posts: 613
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I see several possibilities with this tree. My first thought was to tip the whole tree to the right as a semi cascade, maybe plant it in a nice crescent pot, then thin the crown out alot while pulling the branches down steeply. Then, I thought the tree might look nice as a single trunk (jinning the smaller trunk), again thinning out the crown and directing the branches down steeply. I'm sorry I'm not the artist you are, Si, or I'd show you my thoughts with a sketch or virtual.
Dave |
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1-Apr-2007
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#3 |
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bonsaiTALK ArchMaster
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I know this tree has great possibilities, especially in your hands. If it were mine my first step would be to examine the secondary and tertiary branching and see what kind of styling options are readily available as the tree is now. My second step would be to thin it out as much as possible with the future design in mind and allow new growth to push in closer to the trunk.
I would look at forming foliage layers and branch exposure and the possibilities making shari of portions of the trunk. I would also clear away the moss from the base of the tree to expose the base. It has been my experience that as much as I like the appearance of moss, moss and dead wood do not get along well together. Often we allow the moss to grow on the dead wood and this will ruin the dead wood and cause it to rot or become badly discolored. So I make sure the moss does not get too close to the jin and shari. This is what my approach would be.
__________________
The only finished bonsai is a dead one; me 1992 MABA Des Moines Iowa |
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1-Apr-2007
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#4 |
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bonsaiTALK Artisan
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*Please excuse the blatant rip-off of foliage from another photo of a shimpaku. I just don't know how to show what I mean otherwise. If it is in bad form, just let me know and I'll remove the image*
Si, I like this tree alot. I especially like the movement in the larger trunk. I think Dave and I might have had similar feelings on this. I am not 100% sure this is possible, but made a crude virt of what I thought this tree might look like as a single trunk. Regards, Mo Last edited by MoSinister : 1-Apr-2007 at 08:08 PM. |
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1-Apr-2007
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#5 |
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bonsaiTALK Master Craftsman
Join Date: Feb-2005
Location: Orange County, California
Country: USA
Posts: 510
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Hi everybody, thanks for your comments.
Mo, I like your virtual. I wish my tree can look that good now. I am considering taking out the smaller trunk too. And no problemo about the "borrowed" foliage. This tree actually used to look quite full and thick like that ten years ago. Vance, thanks for the confidence but I am not so sure. I have been known to botch quite a few good bonsai material in my day. I think I will thin it out alot like you say. Yep, the moss will go now. There is some rotted deadwood at the base. Moss just grow so fast on my trees because I water them alot. I can't keep up with it. Dav4, I have considered a semi-cascade too but it does not seem feasible. I am not so sure what style to pursue at this point. But when I do, you will see a sketch, or two. Good day, Si |
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1-Apr-2007
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#6 | |
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bonsaiTALK ArchMaster
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Quote:
I think the above virtual is a very good and possible solution. The foliage can be developed in a short time if you thin it out, fertilize it heavily and grow it in the sun until the weather gets too hot. Make sure you turn the tree about once a week to keep exposure to the Sun even on the tree. I say go for Mo's solution.
__________________
The only finished bonsai is a dead one; me 1992 MABA Des Moines Iowa |
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3-Apr-2007
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#7 |
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bonsaiTALK Master Chief
Join Date: Mar-2006
Location: West Springfield Massachusetts
Country: USA
USDA Zone: zone 5
Posts: 1,203
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Have to say I do like the look of Mo's rendition myself, the one trunk with a tail looks great.
__________________
If at first you don't succeed -- skydiving is not for you. Always remember that you're unique -- just like everyone else Enjoy this day. Bill |
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18-Apr-2007
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#8 |
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bonsaiTALK Master Craftsman
Join Date: Feb-2005
Location: Orange County, California
Country: USA
Posts: 510
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Thanks everybody, for your comments and suggestions. I took some new pictures of it this weekend as I was planning on how to style this tree. There is really only one front that I can choose, and that is essentially the current front of it, and that's because of the large roots coming out on this side and the curve of the trunk. I had to clean out the moss a little to expose some of the roots. Here are some pictures of what I mean. Mo's rendition is pretty good, but I can't pick that front because of the rather poor nebari on that side. Now I want to keep both trunks, and style it as a windswept/penjing look. I will have to remove most of the foliage and just keep very little at the very tips of the branches, and jin some of the main branches too. This tree fell from the bench one year and broke most of the big branches and jins, so some of the branches never really healed back properly. There are some ugly healing scars inside so I might as well jin them all. Here's a sketch of how I plan to style this tree. Wish me luck! Good day everybody. It was pretty hard to think about anything else in the last few days because of the college shooting in Virginia in our country, but I just need to get back to my bonsai now, and get some peace.
Si Last edited by SiNguyen : 18-Apr-2007 at 03:35 PM. |
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