Juniperis Danurica Variegata ... did I waste my money?

[MJL]

Thanks TimS - I appreciate the feedback; as is the way - the minute you stop is the minute you look at all the things you want to improve. I keep telling myself I need patience. Your positive feedback helps me stop and reflect until the next change!

Beano - as you have noticed, I am big on mounds and soil levels in group plantings. In my mind, they play such an important role in any landscape. Generally I use moss or rocks to help hold the soil after a new planting like this. I may do that later or tomorrow - it’s handy being in holidays!

I assure you, I don’t rebuild the mounds after each watering. I don’t have time! Rather, I am very careful with my water - from a distance and a relative light spray; returning numerous times rather than one drenching. If I see the soil starting to wash - I move onto the next pot and come back.

Also - I generally mound the soil first and then plant - this gives me a sense of the terrain I want to finish with. I then push the plants into position - displacing the amount of soil to fit the new root ball if that makes sense. I then use the displaced soil to fill gaps in roots and for surface soil. His approach seems to help me create a strong bed/foundations for my group plantings.

These plants are firmly wired in too. There are some pretty strange angles that these trees have been planted in to get to my desired design/effect - wire was the only way of holding the trees until they root themselves.

Speaking of which - I went pretty hard at the roots.... it could all come to a screaming heap of dead trees - I hope not though! I’d love to keep working at this - this is just the start. (Or the end....so... fingers crossed!)


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[anthonyW]

Well done Mark, small steps, don t rush it, your creativity will pay dividends

cheers Anthony

[GavinG]

MJL I think you are right about reversing the two outer trees - the little one is just asking to hang right out the edge. It has some interesting shapes in the trunk- you might try funking up the straightish trunk on the present outer right tree, and maybe on the gentle curve at the top of the left tree (from the second photo). Would you be interested in bringing the foliage on the left side down a bit (second photo again)?

And no, not a waste of money by any means - you can have a lot of fun refining this over the next few years!

Gavin

[MJL]

Thanks for taking the time to look and respond Gavin. Appreciated. I agree with all your suggestions. In fact - I the more sit here looking at it with a well-earned Canadian Club, the more I want to swap the two outer trees - right now! And do more with left side (second photo). I won’t, yet! I have disturbed these poor trees enough today.

It’s quite frustrating - I spent over an hr rearranging pots in-situ before re-potting this morning ... look where the design was in the picture below.

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I am actually happier with curry layout now except for the two trees I decided to swap. I’m a Dingbat! A satisfied dingbat ... but a dingbat nonetheless!

Still ...patience and let’s see how it all settles - new growth, wiring and re-setting plants are all in the future ... if they all remain green!

Here a few more angles of the new setting too.

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You can see how I need to swap the right had side and funk up the trunk of the current last tree from this under-angle here too.

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[Ryceman3]

It's only a waste of money if you didn't learn anything ... so I think you can safely discount that notion. I like it, swapping the trees will probably work even better ... kind of a group semi cascade thing is where I see it.

[MJL]

I don’t whether this is turning into a live disaster but .... I had to swap it. Now!

Why? I have to live with it. It would look better. Collective wisdom and feedback. I want the trees (if they live) to knit their roots in the right position.

So... with the help of my wife ... and let me tell you - that is a massive step in a good direction both for her appreciation of Bonsai and for this particlular Bonsai!

Bang! Here ‘tis - Apologies - I couldn’t be bothered moving it to a clean location! I will still need to fix the left side but the swap and some subtle realignment is a big step in the right direction I reckon. The whole setting has better balance and hugs the viewer more.

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Ok I am leaving it now! Promise!

Cheers everyone,

Mark





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[MJL]

Remiss of me not to mention the pot for this grouping - it’s by Tracey Francis of Murrumbung Studio Cermics. I was going to post a seperate thread in the pot section by why not loop in here.

This was a piece I commissioned as a present to self. I provided Tracey a fairly slim description of what I had in mind and then let her artistic mind and skills take over. I wanted something unique. I know the size was a challenge too - it’s not small at around 75cm long.

What is really interesting is that the pot inspired me and this design.... I know that’s not really Bonsai’ish - I think I am supposed to match a tree to pot .... but in this instance - the different pot called for a different design. In truth - I am not yet skilled enough for such work and my photography and planting is not matching the quality of the pot - but alas, I gave it a crack.

Tracey is a ripper person and a skilled artisan. I know there are many, many others too. I encourage everyone to work with local potters across the country ... the more our industry grows - specialist nurseries, potters etc... the more they grow their skills and in turn expand options for us hobbyists into the future.

Finally - I just wanted to capture some slightly different shots for future reference purposes. Again - not a great background but it will allow a point of reference for future my future progression.

Sorry to spam the forum with so many posts. I’ll be back at work soon!

Cheers, Mark

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[MJL]

I am having a bit of a pot focussed morning - I recently potted up these junipers and they seem to have taken. Fingers crossed.

Please forgive to overall structure - I am yet to wire and indeed, I have left various stumps where I might create some kind in future. Here though - in these pictures - I have tried to take some photos that better highlight the unique Murrumbung Studios pot.

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[MJL]

This update is as much for TimS as for anyone else. Tim, I know space is an issue for you. You’ll see that I am finding space anywhere I can ... to make space for the Shimpaku I repotted this morning - this group needed to be moved to the ledge of a gas fire place (not a hot ledge) ... sun Is too hot to keep plants here in summer but now it will get good light.

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As an aide, I continue to enjoy the development of this group too.

PS - by the way, R3 is the king of limited space .... a roof and an outdoor basement - if he can do it - we all can.





Bonsai teaches me patience.
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[TimS]

You are becoming a member of the ‘if it’s a flat surface it’s a space for bonsai’ club!

I haven’t made it to the roof of my house yet, though now you mention it the garage roof is flat and could work with shadecloth over it

I have about 100 Fuchsia cuttings in tubes on a window ledge, along with a clump of about 40 ficus benjamina cuttings tied together. My 300 dianthus seeds have started to germinate, so that’s my next project to find space for. I’ve turfed another 30 or 40 of the weak maple seedlings yesterday so the driveway is actually looking somewhat ordered for a change but I definitely need to sell these maples ASAP to make way for the next batch later this year

[MJL]

Had a crack at this today. With these latest changes I am starting to define the levels and create a feeling of movement; a feeling of the power of the prevailing wind.

I removed quite a lot of growth and my intent is to push growth back but not to lose the concept of a windswept semi-cascade group.

Very hard to capture in photos. There’s much more to do but it’s heading in the right direction, I reckon. Looking forward to creating a few Jin’s on some of those stumps too.

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Bonsai teaches me patience.
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[MJL]

This is cool. I was walking down the side of my house and noticed to some surprise that one of the garden doves had decided to perch itself on this group. It made me smile and hope it makes you smile to. Apologies for the pixelated photos - the old phone doesn't zoom that well and I didn't want to disturb the dove's relaxing afternoon in the sun.

Look carefully ... not at the Olive on the BBQ - a bit further down....

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[Ryceman3]

Yep ...

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Here's my mate ... he(she) is getting more tame each week. Often comes on down and hangs out with me when I'm stuffing around with my trees. I feel like I'll be able to give it a pat soon it is comfortable enough to get that close... it's fun to have a bit of company sometimes!