Big old Sargents/shimpaku

[kez]

Hey folks,

Today I had the day off so my wife and I decided to go for a drive up to Ray Nesci's nursery.

All I can say is WOW, I have never yet seen stock like that at a nursery, the volume of big, advanced stock in poly boxes was staggering, and the prices we very reasonable to say the least. Some of the maples there are MASSIVE! Not to mention Ray's own collection!

I have been wanting a shimpaku for a while now, but the only stock I have been able to find in my price bracket has had some good branching down low but only new growth very close to the trunk in the upper 2/3rds, and also very straight trunks.

Anyway, today it would seem my price bracket increased substantially and this is what I walked (or staggered) away with

IMG_2243 (1024x683).jpg

and the base

IMG_2250 (1024x683).jpg

For reference that big black thing behind my makeshift canvas backgrounds is my BBQ, and the canvases themselves are 800mm high x 600mm wide, so together 1200mm!!!

I asked ray about it and he mentioned that he had purchased it off a good friend of his (now deceased) about 10 yrs ago, and if he had to guess he would say the tree is around 35 yrs old. I haven't done anything yet as I want to revisit the bonsai art of japan episode on styling one of these, and if anybody has any advice please chime in!

Cheers,

Kerrin

[Brian]

Hopefully it can back bud lower down the trunk if you cut the top down.

It could benefit with air layering the top branches so their not wasted and make some smaller trees with the material.

[Rory]

Ray has a very beautiful one on display but I can't remember the price, it was a couple of thousand I think, with 3 trunks or 5 . I remember thinking if only I won lotto. Yeah, Ray certainly has some great stock out the back, but for me personally I can't justify spending that sort of money unless I was better experienced and with a better backyard to accommodate, because losing something that $$$$ would be painful to say the least.

But my hat is off to you, good luck with it. I have never had much luck with back budding on shimpaku, so I don't know what your chances are, but good luck. It would be far beyond my capability to turn this into a bonsai because of the basic foundations of those long trunks. But the one that Ray had already done up as bonsai has long trunks too, albeit with well positioned branches though.

[kez]

Thanks for the comments so far folks keep the coming,

Brian,

I have absolutely no intention of chopping, there's more than enough branches to be brought down and I love the elegance of the long trunks

Thanks again and looking forward to more opinions

Kerrin

[klaery]

Does look like you have a lot to work with there (and could always try grafting lower down). Looking forward to seeing what you come up with

[shibui]

The 2 trunks on the right harmonise well but the very straight left trunk does not fit so well. Also not sure about the largest trunk in front of a triple - maybe another angle could make a difference?

[kez]

Quick update,

I have got most of the cleaning out done, most of the right trunk is wired and styled and I've started on the main trunk.

I'm finding this tree a bit daunting but slowly slowly and It will all work out (I hope)

Front after the initial work

IMG_2253 (1024x683).jpg

From the right hand side

IMG_2255 (1024x683).jpg

Top

IMG_2258 (1024x683).jpg

And from the back to show the shape

IMG_2260 (1024x683).jpg

Enjoy

Kerrin

[dansai]

Hope you don't take this the wrong way, definitely not meaning to be harsh or negative, but I'm sure there is a great tree in there somewhere, just not sure that you have found it.

Maybe try alternatives to the front you are working with and maybe some repositioning of the trunks. I wish I could offer more constructive advice, but I would feel a little lost with this tree myself.

[kez]

All good dansai, I don't think I've found it yet either, but I'm not even half way through yet so I'm not too worried

[matlea]

There might be something in that right side view with some trunk adjustment?... Bit hard to tell off a photo....looks like fun though!

[Black Knight]

Hi Kez,
Maybe a bit too late for you, however, there is a video on a Hinoki Cypress styling similar in size & shape of your Juniper, that may give an idea. They are treated similar "The Bonsai Art of Japan Episode 8"

[kez]

Hey folks,

Thanks for the link Black Knight, that's a great tree for sure.

A bit more wiring has been done on this tree, still a few branches to place up top and still unsure of what to do with the left trunk (as yet un-wired) but here it is so far

IMG_2262 (1024x909).jpg

Hope you all like, as always comments encouraged

Kerrin

[Kevin Nel]

Funny seeing this post.

I was at a nursery the other day and they had a blue variety of Sargentii for sale. Whats the difference between Sargentii and Shimpaku?

Thanks

[Kevin Nel]

This will make a nice three trunk literati with some effort!

[Rory]

Funny seeing this post.

I was at a nursery the other day and they had a blue variety of Sargentii for sale. Whats the difference between Sargentii and Shimpaku?

Thanks

Same thing. You can just find different variations with a slight blue tinge to the foliage.