Juniper Squamata (Jarad)

[Jarad]

From the vacancy caused by the death of a tree comes the space for a new one.

Popped up to Bonsai World a few weeks ago and accidentally bought another tree. After much poking and prodding and drooling, I made up my mind and purchased this bundle of needles (I already had the blonde).

JS - 160319 - Front (I think).jpg

While doing a tidy up, this was the front I was going to go with:

JS - 160321 - Back (during clean up).jpeg

But then I gave it a twirl and (with some guidance) decided on this to be the front:

JS - 160321 - Front (during clean up).jpeg

I sat down to stare at it on Saturday, here it is around lunch time:

JS - 160409 - Front (Sat AM).jpeg

And here it is later in the arvo:

JS - 160409 - Front (Sat PM).jpeg

Had another play with it Sunday afternoon, here's the front and back.

JS - 160410 - Front (Sun PM).jpg

JS - 160410 - Back (Sun PM).jpg

I'm not 100% sure what to do with the apex. I'm thinking that I'll use one of the many shoots on the top and send it back to the right. I also need a rear branch somewhere, so I'll have to wait for one of the buds to pop.

Let me know what you think.

[Rory]

What tree did you lose that gave you the go ahead for this?

Personally I'm not a fan of these, but hopefully you didn't just replace a native for this.
Being in a unit, its good to see you have a lot of energy for the hobby.

I'm surprised your partner allows the tree inside.

[Jarad]

It was a Chinese Elm (not the Hokkaido).

I actually made more space because I have relocated my English Oak saplings for the time being. Every time I go past the Big Flower I stop in and peruse the Mels. They have some nice little ones at the moment.

As long as I have a tarp on the floor she is fine with it.

[fossil finder]

All why we wonder why not more people put pictures of their trees up??...?

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[literati79]

Some great Juni stock at Bonsai World.

What style are you going for with this one Jarad? Semi Cascade??

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[Jarad]

Hey Literati, I'll be doing an informal upright. I've left some of the branches long until I've worked out what I'm going to do with them.

And coming into winter I'm not sure how much of a haircut I can give this guy, so I left the top pretty bushy.

[literati79]

I think the long low bottom branch threw me.

Keen to see how this one turns out in time.

Are you attending the workshop next Sunday?

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[Jason]

Hey mate,

Always hard to give advice lol

Honestly, I'd leave it for a while, let it fill out a bit again and see what options it gives you, and then take it from there. You've done the branch layout, now you need to wait for it to spring back, which will give you more options in places that you want, and then take it from there.

One suggestion, with the apex in the last picture and how the trunk line kind of bends around into a top branch, I'd snip that off completely so that the trunk line ends at the top, as your top branch is now bigger then your primary branches. Might be worth waiting for it to fill in a bit first, as you'll then have something else to fill in the gap that it will leave if you remove it

Just my opinion of course, take it as you will

Cheers
Jas

[Jarad]

Yeah, I should be there Literati. I'll be there this Sunday for a wander around.

Thanks for the comments and advice Jason. I'll leave her be till at least summer, then I'll get cracking (metaphorically speaking).

I was also surprised how flexible these guys are. Some of the bark cracked with the bends, but no snaps.

[literati79]

I was there yesterday. Walked away with two plants a bonsai brush, a turntable, cut paste and pebbles. All I went in for was a turntable haha

I'll see at the workshop then mate.

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[beanwagon]

I Like it! i picked up one from bonsai world just last week, similar to yours

[Jarad]

Just spent another hour or so up at Bonsai World today, bought a Squamata for a mate. Unfortunately I won't be able to make it up there for the workshop tomorrow.

How much foliage can you remove from a Squamata when you do the initial clean up and styling?

[literati79]

I did the same on Friday, got some nice things. Hard to spend just 5-10 mins there haha!

If in good health quite a lot. 50% or more. As long as the tree is in good health. Usually better to combine heavy top pruning with root pruning for balance. I like to leave lots of new buds when I am doing my initial pruning so the tree can send out new branches easily after the pruning.

[Jarad]

Just a quick update on this little jobby. It hasn't done too much overt the last 2 years while I've been away. Loaded up with some fert so she'll be powering on again soon.

This I reckon will be the new front.

JS01 - 190818 - 02.jpg

And the side

JS01 - 190818 - 01.jpg