To cut off or not to cut off? That is the question!

[MoGanic]

I agree with Tony's first virt. My preference for Bunjin has always been tight compact and simple up top, this tree - whilst aesthetically pleasing - does feel a tad heavy.

If only the right branch were removed it wouldn't be too balanced.

[GavinG]

Certainly more graceful with the second left branch brought down. Very interesting progression, thanks for letting us into your thoughts.

Gavin

[Grant Bowie]

How are you finding the copper Grant?

Getting better with lots of practice. The copper certainly does bend and hold the branch better; especially with the reasoning of letting the wire cut in to set the shape. If you use slightly oversize and wire loosely the wire can stay on for many years.

Grant

[Shane]

Hi Grant, thank you for posting your progression of this great tree. I have just found it, and so am still reeling from seeing the changes all at once. It is interesting to see the photos when the growth gets a bit bushy and because of that can understand your desire to lighten the branches on the rhs. My favourite stage was Oct 2011, where I thought the apex just needed to come to the left a bit to follow that left movement of the tree, and you talked of doing similar by reducing the apex a bit. Now I can see there were many more branchlets in those pads. I'm wondering though now, why you've chosen an apex that appears (at least in the last photo) to head to the rhs? Cheers Shane

[Grant Bowie]

Hi Grant, thank you for posting your progression of this great tree. I have just found it, and so am still reeling from seeing the changes all at once. It is interesting to see the photos when the growth gets a bit bushy and because of that can understand your desire to lighten the branches on the rhs. My favourite stage was Oct 2011, where I thought the apex just needed to come to the left a bit to follow that left movement of the tree, and you talked of doing similar by reducing the apex a bit. Now I can see there were many more branchlets in those pads. I'm wondering though now, why you've chosen an apex that appears (at least in the last photo) to head to the rhs? Cheers Shane

The apex has shifted to the right after the pulling down of the low right hand branch by the guy wire. I will need to address this in the next spurt of work to bring it back to the left. It will not be easy as the apex is fairly solid at that point. I may need to physically split the apex into 2, or fake it well enough to cover the fault..Time will tell.

grant

[Shane]

Aha, thanks Grant. Look forward to seeing that. Cheers Shane

[Grant Bowie]

Update.

Bonsai JBP 1 after wiring, candle growth, candle pruning, needle pulling and about 4 weeks growth.

It is doing well this year.

Japanese Black Pine 1.jpg

Japanese Black Pine 1-2.jpg

Japanese Black Pine 1-4.jpg

Japanese Black Pine 1-6.jpg

Grant

[Grant Bowie]

New growth expanding. I will need to compact the apex a bit more once the growth has hardened off.

IMG_6457.jpg

Grant

[Grant Bowie]

After completing needle pulling and some compaction.

IMG_6534.jpg

Grant

[Jason]

Just wanted to say thanks for this progression Grant, someone like myself can really learn a lot by going through the thread and seeing your thought process and decisions. Really appreciate you posting, and keeping it updated

It feels like I'm reading a book when I go through the thread! Such a great progression

[onetree]

If you don't know what to do with it,... leave it china,......give it to a friend to look after for a couple of years,....
next time you see it, you will have different ideas... cheers

[bodhidharma]

Beautiful Grant. I love this tree and the direction your taking with it.