development of a cascade juniper

[hugh grant]

This Juniperus Squamata was my second tree when i started bonsai in 2006. i practiced my wiring and pruning on this tree and learnt alot from it. over the last few years it has changed imensly from a very boring average tree to a point where i think it has reached a high point in its development. from now on i will be working on refining it and hopefully geting it into a nice pot when spring comes around.
It has been posted on the site earlier here: viewtopic.php?f=114&t=3062&hilit=+juniper+cascade but i thought id put it altogether to see its progression better.

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Hugh

[Gerard]

Nice work Hugh,
A few years with dedicated maintenance and the results are obvious.
I love your branch positioning

[GavinG]

I agree. Nice branch placement, graceful and balanced but still "natural". My only quibble would be with the head, that seems a bit stiff as it comes up, and distant from the falling foliage. Would it be possible to bend the head forward, or bring some of it down into a second layer, to tie it all in together? I know that the top branch is old and thick, and probably won't much like to change it's mind. I've looked at this tree three times - I like thinking about it.

Gavin

[hugh grant]

thanks guys the branch positioning is always the hard part to get right in a cascade so im glad you think it looks good.

HI Gavin
the apex has always been the main challenge with this tree. it is alot better than what it used to be but it does need more work before i will be 100% happy with it. the plan is to let it grow a bit more and extend the its first left hand branch out and down more. if you look closely you can see ive tried to define the branch from the rest of the apex but its is not long enough yet. so hopefully in another 2 years it may have grown enough. in the last styling in september last year i did not touch the apex for purpose of letting it build strength to gain mass and thickness which worked well. now it is in its basic shape i can further refine that part of the tree.

thanks for the comments guys, i always love to hear opinions on my trees

Hugh

[mattgatenby]

Nice cascade Hugh ! it is developing into a lovely example

Do you have a photo from the top down by any chance ?

[hugh grant]

thanks matt, here is the above view.

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[TreeHugger]

nice one Hugh, I was in 2 minds on what to do with one of my Juni's and wasn't really a big fan of the cascade style but after studying your pics I've changed my mind


Although you cant see it, this juni has a bend of about 50 degrees about 1 inch from the base, with a little more growing and a few bends here and there I think it will make a good cascade style bonsai one day

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Thanks for posting mate and good luck with it in the future

[hugh grant]

nice one Hugh, I was in 2 minds on what to do with one of my Juni's and wasn't really a big fan of the cascade style but after studying your pics I've changed my mind


Although you cant see it, this juni has a bend of about 50 degrees about 1 inch from the base, with a little more growing and a few bends here and there I think it will make a good cascade style bonsai one day

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Thanks for posting mate and good luck with it in the future

These junipers do make nice cascades as they naturally grow in a prostrate fashion. I think they just take time, i think they have been stereotypically marked as 'instant bonsai' , well at least that was what i was told when i first started. get the basic structure set out for your tree and then let it grow, after a few years the tree will have matured and you will be able to see better where it is heading.
Im glad you like it mate and good luck with yours

Hugh

[hugh grant]

the tree finally potted into its first bonsai pot!
the foliage has thickened considerably since july and has been recently pinched.
i think in the next repot it will need a bit of adjustment in angle but im fairly happy with it at the moment.
the tree is about 14 years old.
sits approx. 60cm tall from lowest point on cascading branch to top of apex.

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thanks,
Hugh

[hugh grant]

So i recently reworked this tree, very happy with how it has matured.
Since the last update the tree been potted into a grow pot and allowed to grow out but not too significantly, it needed though a change of direction to get the most out of it. I changed the front of the tree to the previous back and tilted the tree slightly forward and then to the right extenuating the dropping trunk and making the first curve look more natural. 2 major branches were removed; the lowest branch and one heavy branch half way up the trunk, both turned into deadwood. The lower part of the trunk was raised to further compact the design and pull it all closer together. the tree is nice and healthy so i dont have an problems with repotting come mid spring this year in a new pot.

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