First tree I've styled myself

[Laurie J]

Hi everyone!

I've been in the bonsai club for a while now. Tuesday night I saw a stock tree for sale that I thought might be something a little special. I trimmed it back there and wired it up myself tonight. Would love your thoughts. I know it's immature, but I think it is making for a nice base. I'm growing the top out and the branches for now. I know I need to fatten up the second branch

Front


Will get some more photos tomorrow when the lighting is better

Would love your opinions, good or bad

Laurie

[kez]

Well done on your first solo styling effort, I'm sure it taught you a lot and I'm sure it will give you many more opportunities for learning. Keep us posted

[kcpoole]

Nothing wrong with that effort

interesting movement and branching. A back branch 1/2 way along the trunk between the 1st and 2nd branch will be nice to have. If one does not shoot there then graft one in as a learning excercise #2

Ken

[wattynine]

always difficult with a photo, being only 2 dimensional, and with a lot of caution, in the event of being too critical I would be attempting movement in the gap between the first branch on the right and the second branch on the left.
Junie's of this age are more flexible than given credit for, be game (but cautious) and get a twist/ bend into that gap of trunk while you still can.
Again, just me if it were mine
good luck and great effort of the first attempt
Watty.

[shibui]

Nothing wrong with that effort

interesting movement and branching. A back branch 1/2 way along the trunk between the 1st and 2nd branch will be nice to have.

Agree with all this Ken.

Also Watty's comments

I would be attempting movement in the gap between the first branch on the right and the second branch on the left.
Junie's of this age are more flexible than given credit for, be game (but cautious) and get a twist/ bend into that gap of trunk while you still can.

and maybe Watty is pointing out that by twisting the trunk 180 degrees the 2nd branch would become a back branch and the 3rd,currently right side, would then be the left branch? Possibly some bends in that section would compliment that first quite strong bend and compress the height a bit as well but sometimes difficult to achieve in a short length of trunk and still have the branches emerge at the correct angles.

However, all that is pretty traditional. I do like that you have left a very low branch then a gap to the next few branches and the gentle curves above contrast with the first strong bend. While not traditional I think it can work - depends whether you are brave enough to face up to the traditionalists...

[Boics]

What great advise!
Nuff said I think....

Combination of all the above is the way forward IMO.

Bend twist, compress, back branch - grow and keep us posted in this thread over time!

[Laurie J]

Thank you SO much everyone!

I know it is hard from one photo, I'll take more tonight.



The circled branch is currently a back branch, so I think twisting it will bring the right branch to the left, the back branch to the right and the smallest branch to the back. Makes sense to me anyway!

[shibui]

I had not noticed that there were 2 branches coming from very close together on the trunk - one of the disadvantages of working from photo.

If it was a maple or pine I would advise cutting 1 off because they grow so fast that the trunk thickens excessively if there are 2 branches close together. Junipers grow slower and you can get away with it for quite a few years until the other branches fill out and fill the spaces.
If you twist this trunk until the 3rd (right side) branch is on the left that would leave its partner toward the front wouldn't it? Could be possible then to remove it.

Having the shorter branches to the back is usually good for perspective.