AusBonsai

GavinG wrote:To me, its a very strong tree, visually and dynamically, with very unusual balance and poise. I've looked at this photo a lot, and I've had problems with the tree, but it's very possible that I am the problem, not the tree. You have to figure out whether the "rules" are preventing you from seeing what is in front of you. Very graceful, and very challenging. Maybe I'll change my mind again tomorrow.

Gavin

ozzy wrote:......quite obviously the tree is gay ... not that theres anything wrong with that.

Andrew Legg wrote:OK, I have given this tree a lot of thought and my conclusion is that I don't think it works. To me it generates confusion. I look at it and I think to myself "how did this happen", and to be honest I can't figure it out. Why would it have grown like that? Now, sure as ducks have beaks, there are plenty of trees out in the wild that come across the same way to me. There is a big old pine in my neighbourhood that has complete reverse taper and branches going all over the show and the tree makes no sense, but it is completely natural.

So, can I imagine a tree growing like this one in nature? Sure. Does it make bonsai sense? No, to me not. Firstly there is no leading of the eye except to the cross over. This is not in my opinion a strong point of the tree, and yet it is the focal point. Having said that, I don't think this tree has a strong point! The trunks lack taper, the foliage lacks definition (at least from what I can see on the image), and there is nothing else about it that "wows" me.

My feeling is that this tree has been grown purely as a discussion piece and with little intention to be a high quality bonsai. All that said, beauty is in the eye of the beholder right, so who knows, maybe others have different opinions and that's fair enough. I'm not crazy about it though.