Cre8ing a Juniper

[cre8ivbonsai]

Last weekend I took a shot at styling a Juniper that I bought from Bodhi at last November's YVBS sale day. In late December I decided to repot this Juniper by removing half to 2/3 of the rootball thus allowing the tree to be repositioned from 90 degrees upright to approx 30 degrees slanting, in a much shallower pot. It seemed to recover well with healthy growth, and so I decided to push on with styling. This is my first real go at styling a full Juniper independently. Unfortunately I don't have a before photo but found this from the related sale day post (close as I've got )

2011_YVBS_sale.jpg

So really only Bodhi knows what the original stock looked like

Now given the flow of the trunk (which was rather unnatural) the intended design is more of an artistic interpretation, rather than a traditional style, though it does draw some parallels to windswept (except the trunk would be facing into the "wind"). Very hard to show the space, positioning and depth via a photo but here goes. I'll be even happier once the pads fill back out and I can refine their shape a bit more.

juni_mar_2012_1.jpg

juni_mar_2012_web.jpg

juni_mar_2012.jpg

I'm open for comment...

Cheers, Ryan

[bodhidharma]

I would keep styling the tree in your intended direction but allow for the possibility of an air layer down the track. I see the tree in the trunk and lowest branch and would style it as two trees.There is a nice shohin or smaller tree in the lowest branch.
I do see the wind blowing through the branches though.

[cre8ivbonsai]

definitely worth consideration , first branch was quite straight so we'll see how well the (fairly severe) bend takes to set. Cheers.

[Anth]

I agree with bodhi , the trunk and first branch woul male an awesome shohin . I'm no expert but after working a few large junipers over the last 2 years I have brought them all back to a smaller tree and very pleased with them.

[The Hacker]

Very Nice, I have a group of JBP's that have been on a slap for 24 year's that need some work on them & your juni has given me some very good idea's thanku.

Regard's

The Hacker

[hugh grant]

its heading on the right track. you've got some nice movement in the trunk and in most of the branches. i do think though that your foliage is looking a little pom pom like. so i think braking them up and structuring each one better will improve the tree immensely and create more maturity in the tree

Hugh

[cre8ivbonsai]

Thanks for your feedback

Hacker - good luck with your JBP group, It'd be great to see a pic (don't forget the before shot )

Hugh - given all that I've put this guy through, the initial aim was to implement the major primary structure (in the last couple of months it's lost 2/3s of roots and more than 2/3s of foliage), let it recover then work on the secondary/tertiary branching to develop better nicer shaping of the pads.

Bodhi and Anth, something like this? ... (this is my first bonsai virt, ... it looks its arse is on fire but you get the idea )

[hugh grant]

Hugh - given all that I've put this guy through, the initial aim was to implement the major primary structure (in the last couple of months it's lost 2/3s of roots and more than 2/3s of foliage), let it recover then work on the secondary/tertiary branching to develop better nicer shaping of the pads.

fair enough then mate, keep up the good work

Hugh