Project Juniper

[pommie_mal]

G'day Folks,
I haven't really contributed much since joining so I thought I would start this progression thread.
A little background.
This Juniper (Juniperus San Jose Hollywood) was purchased as advanced nursery stock around 12 years ago. It was originally upright & around 7 feet tall. Over the next few years it's height was gradually reduced & repotted in to smaller & smaller training pots. About 8 years ago I decided the design had little going for it, the trunk lacked character & the design was less than convincing. I decided to plant the tree on an angle, remove the main trunk, then use the lowest left branch as the new leader/apex. Although somewhat better, it was still boring. I added a shari to the trunk from its base to where the main trunk was removed. It looked a little better & I rested it for a couple of years to allow it to recover & redirect sap flow.Here's the tree about 6 years ago.

000_0041.JPG

Due to some personal issues, my bonsai have suffered over the last few years so I decided it was time to undertake a major restyling. I searched the net for inspiration & came up with a design to apply to this tree.
Here's the tree as of last weekend. (A bit of photoshopping to clear up the background)

start.JPG

First, a new postion. The tree had tilted under its own weight & needed to be raised.

new_position.JPG

Next, some major pruning & beginning to wire & position branches.

pruned.JPG

A bit more wiring & positioning.

wired.JPG

Jinning the old apex & lower right branch.

jinned_apex.JPG

A bit of carving was carried out on the main shari but still has a lot of refining to be done. All deadwood was treated with lime sulphur.
It was then repotted. A 2" base layer of screened 4 to 6mm diatomite was used, then filled with a 50-50 mix of 2 to 4mm diatomite & quality potting mix, sieved to 2 to 4mm particles.
Here's a final result, still not totally convincing but may develop in to something reasonable. The pot is also inappropriate but will work as a training pot for the next year or two. I will let it rest & fertilize the hell out of it for a year or two, then begin the next phase of restyling.

final.JPG

And finally a couple of virts (very poor virts, my PC skills are very limited). I think the second virt will be the way to go in the future.

virt.JPG

virt2.JPG

[Bretts]

Great progression Pommie. That is a brave re-style. I think I like some where between your two proposed drawings.

[pommie_mal]

Great progression Pommie. That is a brave re-style. I think I like some where between your two proposed drawings.

Thanks Bretts, not sure if it's brave or stupid!
I'll let the new apex fill out then decide on its final design.

[kcpoole]

I like the second otion without the tail, but the apex close to the trunk. Looks liek its trying to run away in your virt

Nice Job tho

Ken

[Mojo Moyogi]

Hi Mal, It's great that you had the guts to go for a dynamic design like you have, most people would have opted to take the easy road and clung onto the top branches like they were made of gold.

Well done on your choice to show off the trunk.

Cheers,
Mojo

[ozzy]

Would have been a ripper without that straight bit ...

[kcpoole]

Could always bend it or even layer it and get the tree Ozzy likes

Ken

[ozzy]

Might be a bit late for a layer with all that bark missing now

[pommie_mal]

Thanks for the comments guys.
kcpoole, yes the plan is to bring the apex more to the right but my computer skills aren't good enough to create a virt with the apex moved
ozzy, funny enough I did consider the cascade approach earlier on but I think it's past that option now.
I'll rest it for a year or so then reevaluate the design & see where it leads.

[Kyushu Danji]

Can I also add that one thing you could change to improve the appearance with minimal impact on the health of the tree would be to place it further to the right of the pot? I think that because of the direction that the tree flows, placing it on the right side of the pot would make it look more balanced.

[pommie_mal]

Can I also add that one thing you could change to improve the appearance with minimal impact on the health of the tree would be to place it further to the right of the pot? I think that because of the direction that the tree flows, placing it on the right side of the pot would make it look more balanced.

You're right, but this is only a training pot for now. I think a smaller round pot would suit better once it's health & vigour have recovered.

[Steven]

G'day Mal,

You sure have found a nice tree within your tree!
I like a bit of a tail on your new design and think that something in between both virts would look good. Perhaps not a 'tail' as such but an elongated first branch that hangs down.

Well done, it's a great example for us all to see

Regards,
Steven

[senseijames]

Hey Mal, great work mate, and it was good catching up with you today at the club meeting.
James