[360°] Juniper squamata cascade

[Steven]

G'day,

I purchased this cascade Juniper from an eBay seller who was moving up North. $130 was the winning bid Not bad for a 15 + year old bonsai!
The following picture shows how it looked in August 2008;

Juniper squamata cascade.jpg

and the next picture is how it looks currently;

juniper-1.jpg

Click here to view in 360°

As always - your comments/critique are appreciated and encouraged!

Regards,
Steven

[Pup]

G, day Steven. I don't know what hap pend, but when I tried to get to this though the correct channels I got your fig.

Any way now were this my tree first I would change the viewing angle. 30-40 degrees to the right and bring out the branch more. ( this is considered a branch coming from the trunk and going down under weight ).
The second line top I would treat as a small informal upright tree so it does not have the inverted chicken breast look it has now. This is considered a two line cascade when you have another branch rising from the trunk.
A very good frame work for a nice cascade. I would like to see this progress as it has the potential to be a nice tree.JMHO Pup

[Brad Loma]

I thought it was a branch cascade......
B.

[Pup]

I thought it was a branch cascade......
B.

If it is a single line cascade it is a trunk.
Two line cascade apex plus cascade. Then it is a branch

[aaron_tas]

lovely cascade for 130 bucks

i once bought a cascade with a longer tail than that one, and made a windswept shohin

oh dear.

but i do think that the apex should sit right above the lowest point of the cascade branch... just one tie wire...

[kcpoole]

I agree with Arron, the Apex needs to move to the right a little

Nice tree Steven

[Steven]

Thanks for the feedback guys!
I will be working on this one in the coming weeks (time permitting) and was planning on moving the tip of the cascading branch to the left. I will consider your idea of moving the apex to the right before I start work.
Any other ideas from anyone? What would you do if it were yours?
Regards,
Steven

[Gary Bee]

Moving the Apex to the right will unbalance the tree somewhat, necessitating you cropping the top branches of the cascade to regain balance.
Still very worth considering.
Nice challenging tree Steven.
I must say I do enjoy the contibutions from all members like Pup and Aaron and others.
All of us have different perspectives....vive le difference!
Gary

[kcpoole]

If you have a look at your 360 view, and move the tail to the left so it sits under the apex,to me the tail looks better and the apex then is correct too

[Steven]

This Juni had just been sitting next to my pond on a rock and I don't think it had even been moved in 2 years!
It was repotted in July 2009 into a slightly taller and darker pot and the angle was tilted clockwise slightly.

2009 July.jpg

It was then placed next to the pond where it sat for the next 2 years.
I thought it could do with some TLC so I have given it a trim, wire and tweak. Here is how it was looking in May 2011.

2011 May.jpg

And here it is after some work. Every branch has been wired including most of the secondary branches. The tail was also wired and shaped so the tip is now more inline with the apex and trunk.

2011 August.jpg

I'll now pop it back on its rock where it can sit for 12 months or so before I remove the wire.

I'm interested to hear peoples thoughts on the large right hand branch on the tail. Should it be reduced more?

Regards,
Steven

[craigw60]

Hi Steven, I would shorten the tail and move the crown to follow the flow of the cascading branch, so the whole composition moves to the right.
Craigw

[chrisatrocky]

Hi Steven, like your tree. I still see some improvements I would do if it were mine . here's a vert for you

aus1.png

chris

[dragon]

Hi Steven
can i just ask what is the length of the tail and the apex it looks very nice tree i got one simlar but in round pot
cheers dean

[Steven]

Thanks for the ideas Craig and Chris!

Craig, do you mean to shorten the tail and change it to finish pointing right? Then move the apex also or am I confused
Chris, you're not the first person to suggest lowering the apex. Perhaps I should start listening.
Dean, the apex is 200mm from the top of the pot. Tip of tail to apex is exactly 500mm.

Regards,
Steven

[Dario]

Hi Steven, nice tree!
Without sounding like a broken record I would consider over time, drastically shortening the apex and eventually rebuilding it from the first branch on the left (inducing more taper and movement as well as compressing it).
I realise that it is much easier to suggest something like this when it isn't "your" tree.
Yes I also agree that shortening the right branch on the cascade that you mention would also be a good idea.
I think this is a very nice juniper, well done!
Cheers, Dario.