Yamadori Radiata Pine - Worth it?

[Andrew Legg]

Hi All,

Have a look at the photos and let me know if you think I should dig it? There's no real size indicator, but the tree to its first change in direction is about 40cms. What do you guys think?

Cheers,

Andrew

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[anttal63]

Andy !!! Hell yes !!! Make a great Bunjin !!!

[bodhidharma]

Eerrr Let me think Eerrr YEP!!!

[Hackimoto]

Absolutely yes!

[squizzy]

Grab it for sure.

I see a great semi cascade/ bunjin as it lies now? Is there such a thing?

Squizz

[phantom]

If you don't I will.

[Hackimoto]

If you don't I will.

A bit far to travel, Phantom!

[Steve Warren]

This question comes from a total novice who is terrified of pines (havn't got one yet). As Andrew says, its approx 40cm to the first bend and then at least another 40cm in the next section of trunk and then even further to the current foliage. If collection is successful, thats going to be nearly 4 feet from the base of the trunk to foliage. That is one large bonsai or am I missing a point. Would you layer the growth off of the tree or graft new growth lower on the trunk, or just have a bloody big bonsai. I am in know way trying to be critical, I am just trying to understand how you turn nice looking material like this into good bonsai.

Regards

Steve Warren

[anttal63]

This question comes from a total novice who is terrified of pines (havn't got one yet). As Andrew says, its approx 40cm to the first bend and then at least another 40cm in the next section of trunk and then even further to the current foliage. If collection is successful, thats going to be nearly 4 feet from the base of the trunk to foliage. That is one large bonsai or am I missing a point. Would you layer the growth off of the tree or graft new growth lower on the trunk, or just have a bloody big bonsai. I am in know way trying to be critical, I am just trying to understand how you turn nice looking material like this into good bonsai.

Regards

Steve Warren

Just bloody large bonsai !!! No limit to size only ones imagination or competing in a particulr category. Great centre piece !!! Then again Andy has other big ones too...

[MelaQuin]

There's a lot of straight trunk to the bend, nice bend but then a lot of straight trunk to the foliage. Are you sure this is a good proposition?? Literati needs interesting twists in the trunk, not just a kink between straight runs. If I saw this in the field I would wish and dream and move on. As well, there doesn't appear to be a lot of taper. But again, it could be what photography does to a tree. I'd still think about it before moving the spade downwards.

[LLK]

.... how you turn nice looking material like this into good bonsai.

You don't. You don't because it isn't really nice. You remember that not every tree with a sizeable trunk makes a good bonsai, even if it has a bend. Someone told you that any tree will make a bonsai, if you do the right thing and give it time, but then you remember that there is bonsai and there is ordinary dwarfing. You also remember your resolution that you aren't going to crowd your benches with questionable trees, and you realise that seeing it day after day, with that distracting, symmetrical half moon sagging, you are going to get irritated after a while. And you follow MelaQuin's advice.
Because you are a wise man.

LLK

[Andrew Legg]

Interesting range of opinions all! Perhaps I should add that it is scheduled to be bulldozed in two weeks as the golf course is looking to change the area into an eco-area (go figure), so either I take it or it goes to tree heaven. The symmetric nature of that main curve does bug me, but I wonder if I can change that with some well placed shari and some light carving or hide it with good angle and clever placement of a foliage pad. I guess if not for any reason other than to get yamadori and after-care practice, it's worth a dig. They have also offered to whip it out with a back-hoe digger which I guess is cheating a bit!

[Andrew F]

That angle is reactionary growth, id keep it but shari the outside of the bend. If only to give it the appearance of a severe break in the trunkline then the new route its taken naturally.

I have a bunjin style jbp with the same sort of elbow but i found a way around it after watching a Graham potter vid on a yamodori spruce.

[Webos]

I'd take it for sure... Excellent stock

[Andrew Legg]

That angle is reactionary growth, id keep it but shari the outside of the bend. If only to give it the appearance of a severe break in the trunkline then the new route its taken naturally.

I have a bunjin style jbp with the same sort of elbow but i found a way around it after watching a Graham potter vid on a yamodori spruce.

Thanks mate. What I'll do is take some better photies once its out of the ground and then we can have a look at what the prospects are for design. It has some seriously long branches that are fantastically flexible, so lots of options for heavy bending etc. I think it will make an interesting project! I'll probably pull it out in a week or two, so I'll repost then!

There is a long branch that I don't need (the main one in this picture). Do you think I should cut it now, or leave it on and reduce at the same time as I dig. I thought that if I cut now, it might help to spread the shock a bit. Any thoughts? I see the tree using the section on the right only.

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Cheers,

Andrew