Black Pine Recruit

[MelaQuin]

I'm not a black pine enthusiast but I have lightly dabbled over the years, always unsatisfactorily. I would buy a young stock plant, work on it and then get cheesed and get rid of it. I was at a bonsai nursery last month and saw a pine I quite liked, fairly well established with a lot of work to be done but a price higher than I really wanted. Two days ago I drove back 'just' to see if it was there. I made the nurseryman an offer and the response was moving the tree to the cash register. I gathered that was a yes. Tried to find a pot but I have to admit, there was a sharp intake of breath when I said what I was planning for the tree.

Jamie111... this is for you. When you cut, be serious about it...

Pine 2009-10 1.jpg

I could see a Me-Sized semi cascade in this tree. Nice nebari, movement in the trunk, hideously wire damaged upper structure yet healthy. So I cut.

Pine 2009-10 3.jpg

I actually cut higher than I had originally planned. It was to be only the lower branch but second thoughts had me cut higher and possibly get an apical branch. The problem is at the red arrow in photo 3. There is a horrible kink with wire still embedded and while I can wire the leader upright it will have a bulb in the middle which will more than likely keep increasing. To try to unkink it will be to break it but I thought I would take the chance and wire upright as best I can- there is a remote chance that it could develop still with the kink but as the branch thickens, hopefully to thicken to the kink width. I don't believe this will happen but I can push the fantasy at the moment and I lose nothing by working with it. If I have to cut it off next year because I am only encouraging reverse taper the lower branch will still have rejuvenated and I will have the tree I want.

Pine.JPG

With the young plants I got I could never see the future tree in them. With this pine I can and there's still enough development to do that I can consider it 'my tree' and not a purchased bonsai.

I still find it hard to fathom that the seller was surprised that I was going to remove the top section. I honestly can't say it added anything to the tree other than the assistance to increase the trunk. Whatever... I'm happy. I have my Black Pine Toy [said in only the very nicest way] and I'm looking forward to working on this tree and learning about black pines.

[Asus101]

Looks good

[MelaQuin]

Did my preliminary wiring. Going to get a local bonsai mate, a black pine fanatic, over on the weekend to give his opinion and advice. In the meantime it's up to you all.

Black Pine 2009-10 5.jpg

Black Pine 2009-10 6.jpg

I'm pleased after the repotting. There's deadwood above the nebari that can be worked on eventually but for now I'll let it sun itself in peace and tranquility and start rejuvenating. The roots are good and no horrible tangles or crossed roots.

I have gently extended the knob as much as I can but I am hesitant to do more. You can see the problem with the thickness of the branch at the knob and the thinness at the trunk. But what the hell... nature and time and sidecutters... it will all come out right in the end.

[bodhidharma]

Mel that has a lot of future in it. I hope you dont get cheesed of with this one. The only thing i can add is to get the movement you want now and exaggerate it as they grow out quite quickly.

[kcpoole]

Very nice Mel.
I concur it is much better without the top.
The Kink and bulge can be hidden in the future by foliage as you willl probably have a small apex her anyway

Good score and lovely bark on the trunk

Ken

[NathanM]

Mmmm that's an interesting transformation!! Would take some guts to cut most fo the tree off!!
Like you, I've never been a huge black pine fan (i certainly don't dislike them though), but I saw one on the weekend that really grabbed me. The trunk was no bigger than yours, and it was quite a simple informal upright styling, but I really liked it!
Nice work on yours =)

[mick]

I really like it
It does look 100% better with the top removed. If you get cheesed off with this one I would gladly take it off your hands
Cheers
Mick

[MelaQuin]

Nope, not going to get cheesed with this one. The difference being... I can see where this one is headed and I have a good idea of its future. Also, at its stage and my age I have a good chance of seeing it into a nice bonsai. With this tree I stopped playing games and paid for quality stock and I have no regrets.

[Jamie]

hey mel nice start.

and yes i can see what you are getting at... and just to fill you in even though i havent posted much progress on the trees you recommended cutting down.... they have had some work done to them

the cork bark elm now has a layer where the first ben in the trunk is, i have three choices for leaders and first branches.

the trident now also has had some major removal and an airlayer on the thickes trunk. it will be layered of then cut down further.


jamie

[MasonC]

give us some pics jamie!

[Jamie]

mase, not much to show yet. i only put the layers on last weekend unless you want to see a couple of trunks with plastic wrapped around them

the juni in my avatar will be receive some similar treatment soon too. i just want to get a bit more info on live veins and such forth

regards jamie.


ps. the trident that has been layered had masses of new growth on it that have now been turned into cuttings and i think some of them have struck already

[anttal63]

very nice work lee!!! great choices and decisions. look foward to its future.