A step in the right direction

[Piscineidiot]

Well, following the (excellent) advice from a friend, I thought I would spend the same amount of money on one tree as I would probably usually spend on two.

Bought this:



More branches than anyone could ever want, and robustly healthy. Just what a beginner like me needs.

Thinned it out and waited for a week until Kez was free to coach me. Took everything I had not to hoe into it, though the fear of screwing it up kept me from doing so.

The result I feel, is a great set of bones for a tree that I now need to help fill out and ramify:



There's actually a short jin on the trunk there that this particular front doesn't show off very well (points straight down the front), so I might choose another angle when I repot it next year. Thankfully, we styled it so the tree looks pretty good all the way around (even commitment and placement of foliage and branches in almost all directions). We shall see what the tree wants to do when it grows!

Cheers,

Owen

[kcpoole]

Lovely tree and Excellent stock for $75 if the price on the pot is correct
With Kez guiding you, this will be a cracker of a tree

Ken

[Piscineidiot]

Thanks, Ken!

Kez is extremely generous with his time and his knowledge. I'm having a lot of fun working with him and look forward to styling a few more trees with him down the line.

That price is in fact, accurate! I love Leong's. Lots of immediately usable stock at decent prices. Certainly gets more beginners involved and engaged in the art form. No better way to disenfranchise new entrants than to tell them that they'll need to wait 5 years before their tree will be 'stylable'.

[angelozoras]

Where did you buy this from ? Great work

Sent from my SM-P605 using Tapatalk

[Piscineidiot]

Hi, Angelzoras.

I bought this from Bonsaisouth in Caringbah. Leong has some awesome stock for bonsai enthusiasts of all levels.

Owen

[Matt S]

Good job on the wiring too!

You''l have lots of fun with this tree.

Matt.

[mjhc]

Leongs books are great too.

[Piscineidiot]

Thanks MattS,

Kerrin helped me a lot with the wiring. I'm just finally starting to get my head around it. Thinking in spirals is difficult!

mjhc, I've heard Leong's books are indispensable. Will have to save up for one if I can convince myself not to spend the same amount of money on a tree...

Owen