The Best of 20 Years Trophy 2019

[bki]

6148.jpg

[Rory]

Hi bki,

You have submitted an image of a tree without any text so we can only assume your intention was to show it might look similar to the tree in question.

I’m sorry I’m not sure what your point of the picture is but you’ve posted a row of well manicured trees, in a pruned garden. This is not what they look like in the wild.

But I agree that aesthetically they look pretty, all well manicured in a professional hedge garden though.

[bki]

Hi Rory,
i am also wondering if there are scenarios where some people mistakenly consider landscape trees as natural trees. that picture as an example but i cannot connect that to the bonsai in question aside from its form.

[KIRKY]

There are a few different varieties of ginkgo some 15 foot wide more conical/flame shape, another with 30 foot spread I think there may also be a weeping/pendulous variety.
Cheers
Kirky

[Watto]

Day 3.
I love it when bonsai create discussion.

[LLK]

Very interesting, Watto, thanks.
Re Scots pine: beautiful example of an inverse taper. Never mind, the tree will soon topple.
Re: Styrax: here in Oz we are not allowed to import trees from Japan. Aren't the Belgians lucky!?

[Rory]

Re Scots pine: beautiful example of an inverse taper. Never mind, the tree will soon topple.

I was wondering the same about the pine.

Wow, I can only imagine how many human hours have gone into that Styrax.

Hi Rory,
i am also wondering if there are scenarios where some people mistakenly consider landscape trees as natural trees. that picture as an example but i cannot connect that to the bonsai in question aside from its form.

I was horribly guilty of a similar type of misguided styling, back in the 90's. I remember trying to style my first trees based off of bonsai 80's / 90's bonsai books at the time and trees that were "growing" on the street.
But again, its totally up to the user as to how they want their trees styled. But for me it is a shame to see a bonsai styled off of another bonsai, or a bonsai that is styled from a manicured garden/park tree etc.
This is one of the reasons I'm going to really enjoy the NATURAL native bonsai competition, in particular to see the trunks/taper and style of branching that is attempted.

[Boics]

Surely those last two don't live in those shallow pots full time...

Thanks for sharing Watto!

[Watto]

I thought I would post a couple of extras today.

[Watto]

Day 4

[Watto]

That Taxus in yesterdays post was one of my favorites

[Ryceman3]

Holy ramification on that hornbeam! It’s like Cousin It’s cousin!!?! I wouldn’t know where to start when it came time to work on it. And the dead wood on the Mugo is pretty interesting too... great pics Watto - loving this thread, you never know what is coming next!

[MJL]

Yes, I too enjoy this thread - it is a very eclectic mix of trees. It’s really interesting to read the diversity of opinions and what people like too.

Interestingly - while I admire the work that has clearly gone into the Hornbeam - it doesn’t do a lot for me. Not sure why ... it seems burdened by its own design/over designed perhaps ...




Bonsai teaches me patience.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[melbrackstone]

I'm also loving this thread, it's great to get a couple of new trees to look at with time to be able to view them objectively, something I doubt many of us do when there are lots and lots of tree pics posted in one go. Thanks Watto!

[LLK]

Holy ramification on that hornbeam! It’s like Cousin It’s cousin!!?! I wouldn’t know where to start when it came time to work on it.

I get the impression Mario did't quite know either. Strange, because he is quite an experienced bonsai-ist. The tree is imported from Japan, but Mario is named as the stylist. ?? Hmm... Maybe in the last few years? This bonsai probably arrived from Japan in much the same style as it has now, and has since just grown in density, with the contour maintained by clipping. I may be wrong of course, but this bonsai looks helpless to me. Or its owner is.
Old Hornbeam bonsai usually show a separation of the tiers, even if only small, but here there is no such distinction. See example below of a tree from a Valavanic Masterclass.

Lisa