Trident 1 progression

[Jamie]

hey people,

i think its time these two tridents had there own progression series. i purchased this one of jow about a month ago now, as you will see from pictures how it was when i got it to how it is now. i havent done to much wiring as of yet as i am waiting for the new shoots to harden off a bit before i wire.
the new shoots have boomed i am absolutely amazed at the growth rate on it, i am really happy with it.
as for the way i dealt with the large scar on the back i decided it needed carving, now this being a maple and softer wood it is gonna need very fine details put into it. so far i have only gotten the main parts out. and there is a hollow from one side to the other, i was uncertain on this but i have found it to have grown on my, and i have decide this tree is gonna be a 360 degree tree, it will be viewable from all angles.

comments, advice and critisism always appreciated and taken on board

regards jamie:D

[kvan64]

Good progress mate. However, just like the elm stump of yours, I think these trunks won't be thicken up that much more in the small bonsai pots in a couple more years (and I don't think you want to wait any longer than that to do more carving). I think you could carve them a bit more severely. I just used my phone and took photos of a Craig Cousins' case study of a similar stump). Hope that it help spark some more ideas. The phone's cam is not of good quality though.

[Jamie]

hey mate

i hace that craig coussins book, its the one where the jaquilinne hillier elm got stolen right ? as for thickening i am not to concerned about the trunk size, i am quite happy with it for size, i am more so concentrating on the ramification of the branching which is what it needs now, i should of put a size comparison in as to where they are at, this on is only 20 cm tall with the trunk at the base a bit over 5cm, and the basal flare is about 12 cm. this might put it in perspective for ya. ramification is what is needed on them now and that can be acheived in the pot, it is hard to tell in full leaf but it has a got some good place branches ready to wire and then develop secondaries:D
i think in a year or two it will be there in the structure side of things heres hoping anyway.

ps. i love the craig coussins handbook that you showed, it has some good case studies. have you got his master class book?? masterclass is full of detail and a lot more pics

regards jamie:D

[kvan64]

Jamie, I think ramification will be just fine. With that height and thickness, I think the only way to improve taper is severe carving and this I mean more carving. Anyway, I'm sure you have thought a lot about this already as I guess you are a great fan of the carving club too. I'll leave the hard decision to you mate
Cheers
Ps. I only have this book that I got the photos from. Love the case studies. will look to buy the other one you mention

[Jamie]

cool mate yes master class by craig coussins is a great book, i wasnt able to find it in book stores and they told me it has been stopped in production in australia, i found brand new copies on amazon which have great deals if you buy 3 books together, where i got it though was ebay, for a lot cheaper than retail aswell including postage

and the case studies are good in the handbook of bonsai and for such a cheap book am amazed at how much stuff is in it

i will have to go with more carving too, i just had to stop yesterdayt as by the time i did my hands were vibrating for hours after

regards jamie:D

[kvan64]

Hahaha, take a rest otherwise people will think you have parkinson disease
Hey Jamie. Keep taking photos of the progress of your stumps and you'll have a collection of your own "case studies". who knows you may want to compose a book later. I would buy any bonsai book with lots of (or just) real case studies and bonsai progression series. If we add other Ausbonsai members' work, I guess that we almost have a book one the way

[Jamie]

lol, i have actually just been out carving for the past two odd hours, back to the shakes,

and i have been taking lots and lots of photos, i reckon i could nearly put a book out on the do's and donts of bonsai...probly more so the donts
we all learn from our mistakes

i have actually taken this one down to the base now as the flare had a large section of deadwood where the scar was, as that part of the root was not needed once the chop was done as the scar took all the branching away from it so it had no reason to feed it, looks a lot better now. will take pics soon

and on another note, with all our progessions on aus bonsai we could put a copilation together too i reckon