How to create randomness by following a strict routine.

[Grant Bowie]

Close up of the raffiaed area and wiring

Detail of raffia, wire and branches (1).JPG

Detail of raffia, wire and branches (2).JPG

Detail of raffia, wire and branches (3).JPG

OK,

The picture above shows the minor branches below the more major branch.

These are mostly unnecessary for a number of reasons.
1. They look very immature compared to the thicker branches above
2. They will make the whole tree look more immature
3. They will clutter up the look of the tree with no major benefits
4. They get in the way when you are applying raffia
5. They get in the way when you are wiring
6. They get in the way when you are bending the tree and some will likely get damaged
7. You will not get a finished looking bonsai in this styling series
8. The only reason you might keep one or more is if you really want to allow one to grow much longer and a re not in a hurry to display it.
In fact you would nearly always just cut them off.

Detail of raffia, wire and branches (4).JPG

[Grant Bowie]

By cutting off these unnecessary branches you are allowing the randomness of nature to come out rather than trying to impose a pre set style or idea onto the bonsai. You end up making them all the same.

You can imagine if you had hundreds or thousands of pines you would look for any way to make or allow the trees to be individual; especially nursery raised trees.

[Drac0]

Great stuff Grant, very informative. Looking forward to future installments.

Cheers

[Grant Bowie]

Detail of raffia, wire and branches (1).JPG

Branchlet removals (1).JPG

Branchlet removals (2).JPG

Above shows the before and after of the removal of the small branches below the thicker one.

Branchlet removals (3).JPG

Branchlet removals (5).JPG

Branchlet removals (4).JPG

Above, not quite as obvious but 4 small branchlets have been removed.

Branchlet removals (6).JPG

Above and below shows tidying up of a branchlet. All small stuff is removed up to and past the first major branching.

[Grant Bowie]

I am hard at work wiring and shaping the tree now so there will be more stuff soon.

However I am migrating to a new computer and operating system this afternoon so this may be the last you ever hear of me. Again I hear cheering at the thought from Gavin.... especially after Literati, Pun-jing(puns on Penjing), Bin-jin(throw away lines about bunjin), Bin-jing(just generally overdoing it) etc.

Farewell for now.

Grant

[Grant Bowie]

Well the change over to the new computer went well; trouble is I can't work out how to photo shop in this one.

Oh well, off to the Apple shop for some tuition soon.

Grant

[Grant Bowie]

Here is the tree wired on the smaller right hand trunk and it is time to make a decision on its style after seeing what we have left after removing most of the weak branches and doing the 2 x 2 .

The lowest branch on the right hand trunk is about 2/3rds the way up the trunk and, if I did an upright twin trunk style by bending up at the base the 2nd trunk, I could bring that branch down strongly. However the lowest branch on the left trunk would be much lower and would probably be removed.

I could bend and compact the right hand trunk to lower it and the branches. This would give a very different look and harmonise with the lowest left hand branch on the major trunk. The 2nd trunk would stay at roughly the same exit angle at the base; just lifted a little.

Ready to start shaping.JPG

As you can see there are just 4 branchlets on the right hand trunk.

[Slothman]

Thanks for all of this Grant. Terrific stuff.

With my relearning I went the old route about picking style first. However to be fair the first 2 nursery purchases where cheap to practice pruning and wiring.

However will at the nursery buying some plants for some landscaping at home on the weekend I spied a couple of nice small Azalea "Fred Colberts" which could provide some fun for learning etc at a really cheap price.

I might grab one and try this method. So if I was to paraphrase everything above into a VERY small list.

- Start from the top down cleaning out dead branches and "extended" growth.
- Start from the bottom up and follow the 2x2 rule showing no concern for style or shape.
- Wire the remaining branches and discover style.

If I had a bonsai outlet locally I would rush out over lunch just to grab something...anything

[Grant Bowie]

Thanks for all of this Grant. Terrific stuff.

With my relearning I went the old route about picking style first. However to be fair the first 2 nursery purchases where cheap to practice pruning and wiring.

However will at the nursery buying some plants for some landscaping at home on the weekend I spied a couple of nice small Azalea "Fred Colberts" which could provide some fun for learning etc at a really cheap price.

I might grab one and try this method. So if I was to paraphrase everything above into a VERY small list.

- Start from the top down cleaning out dead branches and "extended" growth.
- Start from the bottom up and follow the 2x2 rule showing no concern for style or shape.
- Wire the remaining branches and discover style.

If I had a bonsai outlet locally I would rush out over lunch just to grab something...anything

You often need more branches at the top than you think; you will see soon when i post the final tree. I could have done with more length at the top but got around it anyhow.

grant

[Grant Bowie]

OK,

Here is the finished result for now.

I will slightly compact the lowest pad of the left branch and allow the others on the left to bulk up.

I will allow the right hand side to bulk up.

I will allow the apex to bulk up and simplify it in about 2 years.

I could have this tree on display at a local show within a year if I repot it in Autumn.

Finished for now.JPG

Obviously there is more to styling a tree than the initial selection of branches and sorting out; but it does help.

Grant

[Slothman]

Wow.

When you mentioned before about the Top I was trying to picture what you would do.

I can honestly say, I was wrong...really wrong.

Looks awesome.

I am going to have some fun on the weekend I think trying some of this with my "learner juniper" and hopefully some new stock.

Thanks Grant, truly awesome.

[lackhand]

OK,

Here is the finished result for now.

I'm very impressed Grant. I've been following this thread eagerly to see the end result and it's much better than I was guessing. A testament to your method and your skill at styling. And inspirational too.

[Grant Bowie]

OK,

Here is the finished result for now.

I'm very impressed Grant. I've been following this thread eagerly to see the end result and it's much better than I was guessing. A testament to your method and your skill at styling. And inspirational too.

Thanks,

I seem to have reached a sweet spot with certain species at the moment; only took 43 years.

I would like to see a bit more movement in the main trunk and will have a look at it on the weekend when I will have about 10 people over for a workshop. I need people to hold pot, tree etc.

Grant

[Scott Roxburgh]

I have to say that I had no idea where this was going Grant, but it turned out really well. I like the 2 x 2 x 2, almost like bonsai by numbers until you have to pull the nicely styled tree out of your...

A bit more movement in the main trunk would be nice but that may upset the angle of that dropping branch?

[lackhand]

43 years is a lot of bonsai growing!

After reviewing this thread I went and had a look at my juniper, using this method to clean things up. I was surprised at how clarifying it was to see the structure pop out from a mass of foliage I wasn't quite sure how to tackle. Thanks for sharing your thoughts Grant, and for the clear instructions and photos. Once I get it finished up and styled a bit, I'll post some results.