Acer palmutum group.

[bodhidharma]

This is tomorrows project. Wiring this group out and adding some multi trunks to the group. I have been growing the multi trunks for about three years in preparation to join this group. Some of the single trees will come out to make the addition. Keep you posted.

[kcpoole]

Nice Bodhi
Lovely larger tree.

I put toget a Japanese maple forest a few weeks ago myself, but probably need a single larger tree for it like you have here. Mine all were from seed 2 years ago

Ken

[Ces]

Looking forward to seeing how it looks tomorrow bodhi... Especially like the triple trunk you've grown together. Just started to look for palmatum stock to grow on for a future group planting. Will be my first crack at it.

Slowly learning to plan multiple years ahead

Speaking of which, how old are the two larger trees in the group?

[cre8ivbonsai]

I'll be interested to see where these slot in

[FatMingsBonsai]

Nice group.

Personally, the front tree is way too in your face mate. I would put her slightly to the left so it opens the group more and detracts the eye from the the main tree and allows you to focus on the overall group.

Cheers.

[Booga]

Nice group.

Personally, the front tree is way too in your face mate. I would put her slightly to the left so it opens the group more and detracts the eye from the the main tree and allows you to focus on the overall group.

Cheers.

I think its ok as is FatM It takes the focus off the smaller green trees in the back ground which are already showing nice nebari. It looks a treat bodhi

[Andrew Legg]

Bodhi,

Where do the new trees fit in girth wise? Something bugs me about the planting and I think it may be that you have two nice thick trees and a bunch of thinner ones with nothing in between. Perhaps you can take three of the existing smaller trees out and ground grow them for a year to get more variety in trunk girth? I like to see group plantings. I don't think enough of us are giving them the attention they deserve as they can be very very beautiful!

Nice job mate!

Andrew

[bodhidharma]

but probably need a single larger tree for it like you have here.

Yeah i agree Ken. I had a smaller group which i broke up as it never looked convincing. A group should grow together over time to become convincing. I thought that putting a group together with some mature trees would give it some better credentials until it settles in. This group was only put together last year.

Speaking of which, how old are the two larger trees in the group?

Not sure Ces but over 15 years for certain.

Post by cre8ivbonsai » Today, 1:43 pm
I'll be interested to see where these slot in

I have a plan Ryan but the only certainty is that things change.

Personally, the front tree is way too in your face mate

The photo of course is always different to the eye and, by photo, i agree. It is different without the depth.

It looks a treat bodhi

Thanks Booga but its gonna get better.

Something bugs me about the planting and I think it may be that you have two nice thick trees and a bunch of thinner ones with nothing in between.

Ahhh..Thanks Andrew, the question i wanted. I purposely put the larger trees in to give some weight to the setting with the knowledge that the other trees will have to play catchup. The setting is only twelve months old and, from the photo (before) it has already changed immensely. The group does need filling in and the other trees going in will fill it up nicely. Then we will give it about another ten years The younger trees will put on weight faster than the other large ones as, at that size they do slow down. Bonsai is all about seeing the future, isnt it.

[Andrew Legg]

Makes sense to me mate!

[bodhidharma]

O.K..First and foremost, my hat goes off to those magnificent groups i have seen in the past on this forum and Japan. The eye that is needed and the patience that is required to work amongst a group is not yet in my bag of tricks. Having said that i will acquire those skills i am sure, in the future. How, by working on projects such as this. I moved it around quite a bit today and the other trees were added. I also agreed with FMG and moved the larger tree left a bit. It looks fuller now and most of the trimming and wiring is done. I will now let it grow and start making branch selection on the smaller trees and work on ramification. A word of advice to new people wanting to start a group. It is sensible if you grow your close together trees separately and add them to the group already joined. Please comment on the pro's and con's of this group so i can improve on it in the future. Next post will be when it is in leaf.

[Andrew Legg]

Hey Bodhi,

Looking good mate. The only thing I'd do for now is to possibly try to curve the path onto the pot edge. At the moment I find the 90 degree join a bit jarring. Possibly bring it back in to the centre or out toward the side. Also making it thinner at the back and wider in front will add to the sense of perspective.

Nice planting mate!

[Gerard]

I love the natural feel which the small clumps adds to the composition. In nature forrests are mostly clumps with the occasional single tree.
I always have trouble pruning and wiring in the confined spaces of a group planting, that is where the future challenge lies.

[FatMingsBonsai]

Thats alot better mate
ill be watching this group for future progress

love forest plantings

[bodhidharma]

Well, i will be able to wire this group as it has grown well over the last ten months. It has given me lots of branches and the smaller trees have put on some weight. It is starting to blend a bit better and in another five years will look very different. I am feeding the smaller trees more by putting fertiliser at their bases but not the larger trees. I will post again when wired out.

[Andrew F]

Super cool Bodhi, Im curious how will you wire it, top to bottom left to right???