I need a critique - Needle Juniper

[Leigh Taafe]

Jump in and give this one a critique.

All constructive advice will be welcomed. Virts will be most welcome!

Cheers,
Leigh.

[Dave54]

Hi Leigh,
nice tree mate. As you are obviously after some critique here goes.
I am noticing a trend amongst a lot of my mates trees that they are developing a "pom pom" or spherical apex on their trees that looks like a ball and I think this tree is developing the same tendancy.
The round top looks fine, however, to my eye, the bottom of the apex pad of foliage should be flatter like the bottom of any other branch, rather than round.
I am often accused of having my foliage pads too flat, but to my eye, the pads on this tree seem a bit on the full side.
The balance of the tree appears to change half way up the trunk, with a stark directional change in the angle of the branches rather than a more subtle change.
Bit difficult to tell from the photo, but is that one very large rear branch above the primarys or two separate, looks a bit heavy either way to me.
Just for any newbies reading this critique, please realize that this is a very nice tree and the critique is merely a viewpoint of one observer ME and should not be seen to be a denigration of Leigh's tree. Leigh, amongst others may either agee or disagree with my observations but hopefully they may help in the development of the tree.
cheers
Dave

[Chris Di Nola]

Hi Leigh

the following 2 vert are my first vert ive ever done so use your imagination.

I think the tree need more movement to the left & less foliage to balance a little better with the thin trunk, just my opinion.
The bottom left branch "if posiable" try to divide into two pads of foliage lowering one as in the second vert.
Anyways nice tree without the change, we dont see many needle junipers in OZ.

Cheers
Skip

[Leigh Taafe]

Thanks for your thoughts Dave, yes, it is one branch at the back. The tree has been styled in the old way of left, right, back, which I dont adhere to as much nowadays. Now that you point it out, I have to agree with you on the rounded pom pom at the top. Yes, this tree needs a good thin out (its just so darn prickly!). The other thing you pointed out, which now seems obvious to me, is the directional change of the branches.

Thanks for your thoughts mate.

Cheers,
Leigh.

[Leigh Taafe]

Hey Skip,

Thanks for your thoughts mate.

Those virts are great, the trunk seems so much more powerful with the minimised foliage you have created there. This would be a great tree to do a total restyle, cant be too drastic though.

I like your ideas mate.

Cheers,
Leigh.

[anttal63]

my ideas are similar to skip's. i think the tree will just benefit from being simplified in its structure shortened a little. a good thinning and wire DOWN, and will make a great improvement.

[Pup]

First up Leigh it is a nice tree, but do you want a nice tree or a classic.
First thing I notice it is like a step ladder until you get right to the top.
None of the branches two thirds up start to come forward to form a crown so you end up with a pom pom affect.

The tree in my opinion needs to be shortened. The third branch up on the right needs to be made the new leader.
If you airlayer you will also have the making of a very nice Shohin.
JMHO for what it is worth.

[Asus101]

I think we should split the trunk, and then using heavy bending we reduce it to a shohin sized cascade.

[Dave54]

Crikey A.
you blokes are always happy to massacre someone elses tree in this forum, are you all so willing to do the cut when we talk of your own stuff
cheers
Dave

[Pup]

G, day Dave I do practice what I preach. Pup

[LLK]

A very usefull, instructive thread!
I like Dave's and Skip's comments, plus the virtuals. Good material for a not-too-drastic restyle, indeed. There is another way you could go with those heavy foliage pads, Leigh, and that is to divide them up, so that instead of a single pad you get several smaller ones of different sizes, Naka style. Also, while you're at it, I suggest removing the moss around the surface roots and having a good look at these. I think the tree was planted too high in the pot. As for the pot itself, a simpler and slightly more shallow one would look better with this tree.

Lisa

[Asus101]

Crikey A.
you blokes are always happy to massacre someone elses tree in this forum, are you all so willing to do the cut when we talk of your own stuff
cheers
Dave

If I had the chance to do it and had a constant supply of the stock to do it with, then hell yeah I would.
Currently my stock is all given to me bar two pieces I paid for, and those paid for pieces are my hesitant pieces. If things where different, then yeah I would, bonsai is an art not a wire by numbers sculpture.

[kcpoole]

Crikey A.
you blokes are always happy to massacre someone elses tree in this forum, are you all so willing to do the cut when we talk of your own stuff
cheers
Dave

If I had the chance to do it and had a constant supply of the stock to do it with, then hell yeah I would.
Currently my stock is all given to me bar two pieces I paid for, and those paid for pieces are my hesitant pieces. If things where different, then yeah I would, bonsai is an art not a wire by numbers sculpture.

I Concure Asus.

Only last night at Bonsai School, I was discussing an Azalea of mine, with Clinton a Ray Nesci. I performed the initial Clean out, but there is one branch / Trunk that is too straight and not in harmony with the main trunk

The section is about 30 mm Dia and would be impossible to bend normally, I decided that I will try to do a Wedge cut in it in Spring, and then bend it. It only needs about 10-15 deg so not much but still will be risky to do on a 40 year old collected Azalea.

As we avance in our skill and knowledge, We need to become a bit more adventurous in order to better ourselves.

[kcpoole]

Leigh I like the first virts.

The top needs thinning out, and the lower branches need thinning and bringing down.

Ants virt is too sparse for me

Ken

ps. I also heard somoene recently ( cannot remeber where) say that they never Pluck a juni, but only cut with scissors and they have not had any problems doing so. Thi avoids all the spikes

[Pup]

[
ps. I also heard somoene recently ( cannot remeber where) say that they never Pluck a juni, but only cut with scissors and they have not had any problems doing so. Thi avoids all the spikes [/quote]

Only for wimps. I finger pluck all my junipers have worked hard all my life and belting my kids.
When they stepped outa line my hands are very hard as is my heart and my skin.