restyling an old tree

craigw60 · Post by **craigw60** » January 31st, 2010, 3:13 pm

Sometimes with my trees I ponder restyling for many years particularly with the conifers. This cedar is one that was started from old nursery stock and has many of the problems associated with these trees. What really bugs me about it is the first two branches. The first branch on the left is too bulky I have reduced it as much as I can, The back branch has been wired to fill in spaces and shoots off at all sorts of unnatural angles, It is also too long and generally ugly. My idea has been to remove both branches and turn the tree into a serious bungin bonsai. This would mean adding a couple more steps to the first branch on the right and also maybe one more step to the left hand branch. No matter what is said on this site I am not going to race out and perform this task tomorrow and will certainly think about it for ages but some new ideas would be great.
Craig

craigw60 · Post by **craigw60** » January 31st, 2010, 3:16 pm

Sorry there was supposed to be another pic here it is

Grant Bowie · Post by **Grant Bowie** » January 31st, 2010, 3:21 pm

Hi Craig,

I have seen the tree at your house and what you are proposing looks good. A bit more thinning out of the top and you have a very different tree.

The base however may appear a bit heavy for that style.

I will be interested to see what you decide and other peoples comments.

grant

craigw60 · Post by **craigw60** » January 31st, 2010, 3:42 pm

Hi Grant,
One of the reasons I want to remove those branches is to my eye they have always seemed too long for such a thin trunked tree. Photos can be deceptive but I reckon the trunk is thin for the height of the tree about 85cm.
Craig

dark1 · Post by **dark1** » January 31st, 2010, 3:53 pm

Hi Craig, Nice old cedar, wish I could grow one as good. For what its worth, I would look at keeping the first branch on the left that has the cover on it but seriously shorten the long branch on the right. This would change the direction of the tree but give it a narrower outline. Maybe thin out the top a little to get some more energy back down lower.Always hard to see on a photo on the computer screen but I think that might be a line to look at. Good Luck.

anttal63 · Post by **anttal63** » January 31st, 2010, 4:28 pm

Nice old tree this is craig. My Ideas are probably too long term nor am i sure how possible but here they are anyway. The shari could also go to the left of the base and connect to the jin if that lower left was to go.

P1010181a.JPG

P1010181aa.JPG

P1010181aaa.JPG

P1010181b.JPG

P1010181bb.JPG

P1010181bbb.JPG

Grant Bowie · Post by **Grant Bowie** » January 31st, 2010, 4:33 pm

craigw60 wrote:Hi Grant,
One of the reasons I want to remove those branches is to my eye they have always seemed too long for such a thin trunked tree. Photos can be deceptive but I reckon the trunk is thin for the height of the tree about 85cm.
Craig

Hi Craig,

I was refering to the base below the graft where it has swollen a bit.

The virts by Ant look great.

Grant

Jarrod · Post by **Jarrod** » January 31st, 2010, 4:37 pm

I like the Look of Ants thrid pics. Though I might think about losing the lower left branch for more dynamic feel.

By the way, when you want to do this, (in a few years) I would love to help out

I think I am an ok wirer

anttal63 · Post by **anttal63** » January 31st, 2010, 4:46 pm

Here's a shorter term idea; very doable i think.

P1010181c.JPG

Shannon · Post by **Shannon** » January 31st, 2010, 4:47 pm

Beautiful old tree Craig............ if you were to change it into Bunjin style would you consider this??

anttal63 · Post by **anttal63** » January 31st, 2010, 5:14 pm

and another;

P1010181cc.JPG

craigw60 · Post by **craigw60** » January 31st, 2010, 5:44 pm

Hi Grant
yes the swelling where the graft is could be a problem but it has softened a lot over the years and should continue to do so
Craig
Thanks for the virts guys they are so useful. I would be really reluctant to do any shari work but jins are on the cards. My feeling is that this tree moves to the right so the weight should be on that side. I also really want to deal with that back branch, I can't stand branching that has been wired at odd angles to fill in spaces. I would rather have a space.Long term doesn't worry me at all to grow good bonsai requires ample patience and I have that in spades. Will have to refer back to the pics before I make more comment.
Craig

anttal63 · Post by **anttal63** » January 31st, 2010, 6:24 pm

hey craig, yes i felt the growth and weight should push right. This is why i took the apex down, so that longer movement to the left does not distract from the tree's original objective. To push to the right. Therefor in my opinion the apex needs to be lowered and redesigned to make true of this push. How ever shannon's and my last 2 virt's allow that sweep to the left, common sense in the composition and certainly make a fine bunjin. Again only my opinion. Thanks for allowing to discuss and play with your tree.

craigw60 · Post by **craigw60** » February 1st, 2010, 11:51 am

Hi Ant,
I like your last pic. I think simplicity is really important. Also like Shannons pic. Both these seem to capture the essence of what I was thinking of.
Thanks heaps for some great advice
Craig

Chris H · Post by **Chris H** » February 1st, 2010, 7:39 pm

If it were mine I would shorten it a bit like Ants third virt.
But it depends what you wanna look at every day.
Nice tree.

AusBonsai

restyling an old tree

restyling an old tree

Re: restyling an old tree

Re: restyling an old tree

Re: restyling an old tree

Re: restyling an old tree

Re: restyling an old tree

Re: restyling an old tree

Re: restyling an old tree

Re: restyling an old tree

Re: restyling an old tree

Re: restyling an old tree

Re: restyling an old tree

Re: restyling an old tree

Re: restyling an old tree

Re: restyling an old tree