AusBonsai

Ah, Anthony-san! As usual, wonderful advice and drawing - very instructive and helpful.

I think you are reflecting what Matlea may have been inferring too.

And cop this .... I should look at my own reference - I ordered this book recently.
I won’t get a chance to re-arrange tomorrow but I’ll look into it; as a Himalayan Cedar it has the drooping growth - I wish they were Atlantic Cedar. It’s actually 11
trees but that does not mean I need to use them all in one pot and I really need to learn to apply the rule of thirds to Bonsai when potting too; while that’s a photography technique it is effectively what you are representing in your diagrams too.

Thanks again Anthony and sorry for all the posts everyone; such a crap thread doesn’t warrant so much attention!

Cheers,

Mark


Bonsai teaches me patience.
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anthonyW wrote:....,you better use this drawing Mark or else

With apologies to Anthony - and I mean that ... because of the time you spent with your advice. I will absolutely use your drawing Anthony, watch for a Chinese Elm Planting in due course.

But ... I have further knackered this group. I mean who in their right mind bends the top of every tree like this - when would that ever occur in nature? Sh!t wiring too. Surely I can do better ...I lost the plot on this one at the start and plotted a new course that drives further into the mire.

These poor trees and your poor eyes! the little dude is walking out of the forest - spooked by the unnatural nature of a contrived group.

Anyway - in the tradition of naming Bonsai. I call this "Tortured Cedars Weeping" or maybe "Cedars lament". Trees weighed down by a clumsy human hand and a stubborn human mind.

Look away now!
Looks like zombies walking... the little dude better escape before he is eaten!

A little part of me is enjoying the journey ....

Hi Mark ,
I think it looks fantastic ,has character by the bucket load...…. The dude will be back once he sees how good it looks after it fills out. Cheers John.

Thanks John,

I love the stark, rugged vision that you displayed with your work on the Australia Day postings. Your feedback means a lot. Appreciated.

That said, beware. Beware a man with an iPhone and a filter. The fact that I have had to turn to black and white for mood says a lot about the flaws of the group in real life.

The truth is, I like it enough to keep persisting. There's so much more to so and I still reckon the tall ghoul needs to slump more but now, I will let it rest, grow and fill out for a few years. The poor cedars have been twisted and turned so much, they must be close to leaving this mortal coil.

Better get to work! (As in my job!).

Have a good day.

Mark

PS - As an aside, I do recommend that people that have access to quick and easy photos (via something like a smart phone) should use the device. Take photos of your trees as you are working on them; I find W.I.P photos helpful. Somehow flaws (especially jarring lines and imbalance) are sometimes easier to spot in 2D than when you have your head in your tree working on the minutiae.

I just wanted to test a photo upload to check that all is back to normal with site functionality. You wouldn’t believe it! I went outside and the tortured ghouls were dancing.... celebrating then end of the ‘Tapatalk’ horror show ....

Bonsai teaches me patience.
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Well there all in rhythm getting home , looks like a big night had by all at the ghoul party.........Maybe I missed the brief..

And there still lurking in the shadow's, hey guys I think you need to come this way... too funny Mark

Hi Mark ,
Just been outside and spotted a familiar silhouette that you might enjoy. . Also managed to get a bat flying out for the evening....bonus. Cheers John.

I certainly did enjoy. Thanks for posting the photos John. Love the bat too! Cheers, Mark.


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I smiled at where these cedars started and where these are heading. It’s a far more tortured group than I ever imagined. In truth, I cannot envisage how this would ever occur in real life but .... I can’t resist pushing the twisted limits of these cedars. I am now just letting them grow. They respond wonderfully well to pinching and trimming - I am confident that over the years I’ll be able to develop a well ramified canopy to to match the twisted base. That’s said - it’s a long way from the design I had in my head initially and indeed, some of the lovely drawings provided. The main tree is clearly too top heavy but I am undecided as to which direction to take it so I am leaving it to grow at present.




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I see lock down is treating you well .

Sno wrote:I see lock down is treating you well .

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A light trim of this fine mess.
I’m quite excited that the left hand side has survived. I needed it fir balance and in time the front will show a tree/cave entry.



It’s totally bananas and I do want to apologise to AnthonyW - his initial drawing has something called style ....


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Hi Mark,

Might be this is a time to reflect...this is the advice you gave me when I had little inspiration, some homeless cuttings and time on my hands
(I'm still adding to, changing and refinng this "forest")

"Post by MJL » September 21st, 2020, 5:20 pm

Go easy on yourself Jan - it doesn’t look too bad! I suppose that’s the beauty of forests though - they can be Lego-like - undone and rebuilt; that said - clip’n’grow works well too."

MJL wrote: ↑October 22nd, 2020, 6:13 am It’s a far more tortured group than I ever imagined. In truth, I cannot envisage how this would ever occur in real life

Consider trees grown in exposed coastal or mountain locations - nature can out-contourt anything man can dream up

Much changed from the original; I look forward to seeing it fill out

Jan

Mark, don't forget that a lot of the drama that you're seeing at the moment is the effect of the wire on the outlines of the trunk - when this is eventually removed, the trunks will seem much smoother. Being cedars, they will also open out a bit from the shape you've put into them - they do spring back. Do watch the wires - you want to avoid them cutting in. Replace the wires every six months if you have to. And trust your trees and your instincts - this setting will work better and better as it ages. Another couple of centuries, and who knows? (Sorry!)

Please keep posting this,

Gavin