AusBonsai

hey guys here is one of the three trees i got today. its a juniper squamata that is showing signs of maturity in its foliage.
tess at bonsai northside nursery in morayfield has a fair few of these for selection, it was hard to choose!
it has some great potential.. and yes it is one of the twisted trunk ones you see but it is quite even all the way up in turning etc. it has good taper right to the top. it is a little tall but that is the image i was after. with some trimming and wiring tomorrow when i get home this will be a ripper tree from the start i reckon!
anyway here are the pics.
there are all as is still as i have no bonsai tools where i am right now! (on holiday)
so at least i got all my before shots before i got into it lol
i am hoping to be able to design this tree to be veiwed from all sides hence i have bout a round pot for it ready to go into.

any comments or advice always welcome

Hey Jamie, Thats quite a nice little tree there. If I can ever figure out how not to kill junipers I will have to get me one like that. Had a bad year this year, lost all three.

buddaboy wrote:Hey Jamie, Thats quite a nice little tree there. If I can ever figure out how not to kill junipers I will have to get me one like that. Had a bad year this year, lost all three.

thats no good mate, maybe they cant handle the heat up there or you were concerned about the heat and could have overwatered. thats how i found the only way i kill them, overwatering. i let the soil dry out nearly completely before watering again. but yes it is quite nice i am happy with it. i have paid for the work put into it but i think it was a good price $120 i would say it is over 20 years old, no training but thats not the problem with junipers is getting the good sized stock to work with. hence ya have to pay for it all good though, i love em and i think it was money well spent

You weren't wrong dude, it is a big one!! I like! I look at the big ones every time, but haven't got one yet lol.

lol yeah they have a good stock to choose from, love it when you get good choice. there was one more like this i was gonna get that was right next to this one. i recommoend ya get that if you get the chance nathan! the other one was just as good as this one

Hmmm, I'll be back there in 2 or three weeks..... Will definately be having another look

there worth every cent mate, im still looking at mine going "wow"

I reckon the bottom bit is about where you find your bonsai. Oh god how I hate cutting that much off but a little goes a long way.....
Not saying this is 'THE' cut but it has to come around here somewhere.....

that is definately a viable option mel!
it would reduce the size making the tree more realisitic, the only thing is i would do with this is not just to chop but to air layer. (when i get some experience with it)
where you have shown or there abouts is a nice branch that will make a nice new canopy!
im about an hour from home after being on holiday getting these ones, and about 2 hours from getting into these trees....wooooohoooooo!!!

hey guys, well here it is, its first style and pot.
i basically didnt have to remove any of the branching. it was nearly all saved apart from a few little twigs that wont be part of the design.
wiring it took me about and hour or so. and i know what your thinking why was the foliage and roots worked at the same time. well basically they werent. like i said hardly anything was removed. maye 2% of the overall foliage, it just needed putting in to place with wire
the roots were very healthy, i trimmed about 35% of cleaned them up abit, a bit of teasing some new soil and presto. the juni was in the new pot without any trouble. now you all seen the before shots so here is the intial styling and it in its pot with a preffered front for now. im hoping it will fill out some as it develops and it will become veiwable from all angles

Mate,

Not a bad first styling at all. I think you need to thin the apex out alittle more and lower some smaller shoots up there as it looks too top heavy ( like alittle pom pom ). the top will fill in quicker so you can thin it out more than the rest of the tree. Again nice start

hey mate, thanks for the comment! i havent done any pinching yet, and i think the angle is a bit off with the shot, there not as pom pom as they look in the pic thanks for pointing that out to me though
it still has some ways to go, but for now it is just feed and develop.
thanks for the feed back

couple of quick virts on this one of where i might possibly go wit it i love photoshop, can give ya some good ideas

i am leaning to the taller option right now, i really like it like that and would be happy to develop the tree this way. constant pinching and pruning will be required to get this one into shape

the smaller option.. i like this too but i dont know if i have the heart to do it.. it would make a great smaller tree but i feel i could get one like this out of another juniper, i dont think i could get another tree like the taller option

anyway guys and girls, give me your opinions on this please!
and the overall styling too would be good thanks every one

i like the 2nd option!

MasonC wrote:i like the 2nd option!

smaller one mate?