AusBonsai

I thought I'd put up some pics of a juniper I worked on over the weekend.
I am pretty happy how the tree turned out. It's really a beautiful, old tree.

That's looking really good. The new pot really sets it off. It has great movement and the pads sit really well, nicely balanced. Only this is to me the crown looks a little to full, could be just the photo. Very impressive tree. I was going to say it looks powerful but that's not the right word. I think majestic suits it better, kinda like the grand old tree standing tall atop a mountain towering over the rest, that's what it reminds me of.

Josh

Ps I noticed the display stand has improved also, so you were paying attention last Tuesday

Wow very nice tree and very nicely style. Love it.

overall silhouette is very nice- but would consider removing or jinning the second left and second right branches(to deal with what I consider to be the two bar branch problems)-then bringing first left more to the front

Thanks for the comments.

Josh, I agree with what you've said. It's exactly how I imagined the tree too and yep, Bruce's stands are great.

Hi Scott,

You see a lot of these junipers around but yours has some nice age to it which sets it apart from most.

Nice work on the styling and clean up. It looks much better. Have you considered introducing some Shari?

Joe.

Thanks Joe. It's not my tree, I've just worked it over.

The plan is definitely for some shari but not just yet. I didn't have to crank the branches too hard but I don't want to stress it too much especially with repotting at the same time. Give it 6 months to recover and then we'll work the trunk a little more.

G'day Scott, Is that potted into Akadama?

Adam

Nice job Scott, this would have a little age to it. They are usually pretty run of the mill but your placement of the foliage makes it stand out.

Hi Adam. There is akadama in the mix. I use it with all my trees in part.

Thanks Bodhi. I appreciate the comments. This tree definitely does have an appeal about it.

Scott is a great artist.... The tree is looking great.... Now he has picked up a couple more of my trees to put some work into them for me.... Particularly interested in a tall Cryptomeria he picked up on Thursday that I have had for some time...

Hi Scott,

can you give some advice/point to a tutorial where one can learn how to clean the bark of the juni like that?
ie. do you just peel it off? use a knife? how far back do you go? sandpaper? do you oil afterwards?

Many thanks

I give the trunk a good rub with light sandpaper to remove the old bark. Start at the base and work your way up. You know when you've done enough as the flakey bark is gone and the trunk becomes nice and smooth. Too much and the white cambium layer will start to show. Not a big deal but try not to expose it too much.

You can scrap of the bigger flakes too.

I don't oil the trunks at all. The tree had been watered so the trunk was nice and red.

I have seen a dremel successfully used on the tight curves of shohin juniper.

Thanks Scott!

Another way top remove the bark from Junipers to get the red colour is to use a brass brush