AusBonsai

I was very excited to get this old mugho pine and even more pleased to get the pot.
I believe it is Yamaki pottery by Sadamitsu Kataoka.

Does it have a little foot shaped stamp?

This one needs a bit of growth too. What are you plans for it?

I'll bet you were excited Gerard. And the pot is fantastic I hope to see it soon and have a good look at it.

The tree wad despeately in need of a repot, so I took the opportunity to take a few pictures

Hi Gerard, Wow! beautiful pot. Its even better because its hand signed. I reckon the pot is worth more than the tree. Congrats on the rare find!

Wolf , very nice mate.
You have clearly stopped trying to stop collecting new trees

Repotted wired and one of the main branches removed

That is a very nice Mugo Gerard. Is it from a bonsai nursery ?

Nice work mate. I however would shorten the top a bit more.
Cheers

Definitely a nice Yamaki pot!! They aren't all hand signed, usually only the better ones!

kvan64 wrote:Nice work mate. I however would shorten the top a bit more.
Cheers

I think it will be necessary to remove more branches but I plan to go slowly with such an old tree

The Specimen wrote:That is a very nice Mugo Gerard. Is it from a bonsai nursery ?

No, it came from a private collection. I think it is about 30 years old

For me, if you take some of the top off, and then take the end of the low left branch off to keep the tree in proportion, you end up with an ordinary tree. You lose the bend of the trunk, and the reach of the branch. The off-balance eccentricity of the tree is matched by the rough-looking carving on the pot. It's a fine match between tree and pot, and can only get better as it ages. If you get a sudden rush of blood to the head, and desperately want to cut, send it up here and I'll protect it. I'm considerably envious.

Gavin

GavinG wrote:For me, if you take some of the top off, and then take the end of the low left branch off to keep the tree in proportion, you end up with an ordinary tree. You lose the bend of the trunk, and the reach of the branch. The off-balance eccentricity of the tree is matched by the rough-looking carving on the pot. It's a fine match between tree and pot, and can only get better as it ages. If you get a sudden rush of blood to the head, and desperately want to cut, send it up here and I'll protect it. I'm considerably envious.

Gavin

You need not worry Gavin, since I have had the tree it has had its first wiring for many years and it was my intention to steer away from that simple 'christmas tree' shape and try to give it some direction. The bar branching has gone and I have lots of buds opening hopefully some vitality is returning.

Removing the first right branch certainly improved it.

On thinking about it again.....

The top of the tree is all cranky angles and gaps, whereas the lowest two branches are level and even. Have you thought of putting some sharp angles into the low two branches, and maybe making gaps? The top looks rough and wild.

Just thinking off the top of my balding head. I do like looking at this tree....

Gavin

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