Squamata Juni aka "the beast"

[kez]

Hey folks,

Went up to bonsai south today intending on buying some decent wire cutters, maybe a jinning tool and paying for a workshop on monday and instead I bought this

IMG_3821 (1024x683).jpg

This pic shows the tree with the top 3rd cut off, Leong and I had a lok at the tree, discussed the options and both decided the top wasn't needed in the final design so off it went (i had been eyeing this tree off for weeks and I always knew I wanted it gone anyway )

Here's a shot of the size of the trunk

IMG_3826 (1024x683).jpg

This thing is seriously a beast, and has some great natural shari and movement that are hard to see due to the current foliage covering but my job tonight is to work on what will be the deadwood feature of the tree and when I have better pics I will post them up

A huge thanks to Leong for giving me his time today, I had a great chat with him and I can't encourage people enough to get into the nursery and get this stock while you can, in years to come its this stock that will make the finest bonsai in the country

Wish me luck

Kerrin

[kcpoole]

Lovely stock tree, Will be great to see this develop over time as you usually do

I also note that the Beam Can is not opened yet! Tip to all, crack the tinnie after the serious work done rather than before
I have go that wrong before, but luckily not too serious


Ken

[Piscineidiot]

That's a ripper of a tree! I'm sure you'll have some serious fun with it!

[Josh]

Man that is a serious trunk. Leong has slme amazing stock. Lookkng forward to seeing where yoj take this.

Josh.

[Ryceman3]

NICE!
I've seen your skills working other junipers on some of your other posts and really look forward to checking out what you come up with for this beauty. Have fun!

[kez]

Angle change, rough deadwood work and structural wiring complete

IMG_3830 (1024x683).jpg

I need a dremel for the rest of the deadwood but none of it is in the way of any of the remaining branches so I should be able to complete it once I can get my hands on one,

I took alot of life tissue off the top section so fingers crossed that what foliage is left can support/be supported by the roots

Next stop branch placement

Kerrin

[kez]

half way

IMG_3838 (1024x683).jpg

Will need some tweaking once the final upper branches and apex are placed

Kerrin

[hoody6980]

Hi kez
Mate try tearing the wood. The best deadwood on junipers is done by hand tools.
Lift a piece of the wood with a small chisel and use pliers to roll down or up the trunk. To emphasise a curve or nice feature dig deeper with the chisel an tear more

[kez]

Finished

IMG_3843 (1024x683).jpg

Still need to work on the deadwood but for now this one is resting

Kerrin

[squizzy]

Nice one kez.

So what your saying is you did all this without wire cutters and a jinning tool at home rather than a workshop.

Squizz

[kcpoole]

What a lovely outcome Kez

Excellent result from Excellent stock.
Can you please post a close up of the detail wiring in the foliage pads. I am interested in what you have done there

Ken

[kez]

Cheers guys,

Ken,

Here's a pic of the side and the back to give a better idea of where the pads are placed

Left hand side

IMG_3845 (1024x683).jpg

Back

IMG_3847 (1024x683).jpg

Hope this helps

Squizzy,

mate I already have some rather ordinary wire cutters and I some jinning pliers but I was after one of the hooked knife type things,

I still went to the workshop, just with a different tree

Cheers,

Kerrin

[kez]

Spent an hour or so wiring out the bits I was too lazy to wire when initially styling the tree, tweaking the pads and cleaning out all the downward pointing foliage, I also started to rest of the deadwood work and here it is at the moment

IMG_3858 (1024x683).jpg

Still hard to get a good clean looking photo but hopefully this gives a better idea

Cheers,

Kerrin

[kez]

Bit of a short term update on the big fella one month in,

As mentioned in the first post I took a LOT of live tissue off this tree and was very very concerned about it's prospects, I have been diligent in the after care, misting 2 or 3 times a day (with seasol twice a week).

I also kept some of the major branches I removed so I could keep an eye on the foliage on the cut branches in comparison to what was on the tree, one month after the initial work with cut branches have dried out and browned and here's the tree

(all pads on the tree are looking like this)

IMG_3980 (1024x683).jpg

And the bare wood

IMG_3981 (1024x683).jpg

I will continue to mist twice a day at least for the next month, but I am quietly confident

Cheers,

Kerrin

[Piscineidiot]

Lookin' good, Kerrin!