Next project. 1974 Japanese Black Pine

[Grant Bowie]

Hi all,

This is a pine i have had for about 20 years but it has fallen into disrepair the last two years.

Then about a month ago it just fell. Onto its head. Top has cracked about 80% through and is failing.

Time for rework.

Current front.JPG

another angle.JPG

Former back which used to be the original front.JPG

oops. What happens when a cascade cascades off its stand onto its head..JPG

Grant

[Grant Bowie]

2005.JPG

2006 on loan to Japanese Embassy.JPG

Not happy with the tree anymore so i set out originally to overhaul in 2008 but ran out of time.

2008 front.JPG

2008 back.JPG

2008 left.JPG

2008 right and Skippy.JPG

Got it photographed and was thinking about removing highest and lowest branches, or at least portions, and turing it into a semi cascade, but never got much further than that.

grant

[Chris H]

Im looking forward to seeing where you go with this one Grant.

[Grant Bowie]

You don't have to wait long.

Current front.JPG

Apex removed.JPG

Major portion of cascade removed.JPG

All cascade removed.JPG

[Pup]

Ouch, I like it Pup

[Grant Bowie]

Just thinned it out and will wire it tonight at my regular Tuesday night workshop.

Cooking dinner now.

Grant

[Matthew]

Grant i like your boldness and i think i see where your heading with it. I like the movemnt in the trunk alot and i think once your wired those foliage pads it will become something real nice. Looking forward to seeing it

cheers

[Webos]

Looks good Grant. I think it really changes the emphasis to the movement in the trunk rather than the shape that the foliage pads created.

[Heshian]

I love it.

[bodhidharma]

i love it too Grant. I guess you could call it the minimalist aproach Very difficult to do and even more difficult to pull it off. There is nothing else to focus on but the movement leading up to the foliage. I think you will pull it off though.

[kcpoole]

this will be nice to watch

Wonder how many here would be brave enough to do that to a 35 year old tree?

Ken

[craigw60]

Thats great Grant when I saw the pic with the top off I thought yeah then the rest followed and it just got better. There is nothing like a bit of simplification to improve a tree.
Craigw

[Grant Bowie]

Hi everyone,

I didn't get too far last night. Got the tree thinned out and needle plucked but i will have to do a very delicate bend to bring the foliage back closer to the trunk.

I will start with drilling it out but it may require cutting a groove and inserting wire to support it. I will wan't to get it to where it is flexible and almost floppy so that it will bend safely.

I am taking Thursday off so I can get some work done at home and this will be a major part of it.

Grant

[Chris H]

Hi everyone,


I am taking Thursday off so I can get some work done at home and this will be a major part of it.

Grant

This made me chuckle. You are taking a day of work at the Bonsai collection to work on the equally impressive Bowie collection!

[Grant Bowie]

Hi everyone,


I am taking Thursday off so I can get some work done at home and this will be a major part of it.

Grant

This made me chuckle. You are taking a day of work at the Bonsai collection to work on the equally impressive Bowie collection!

We are mostly caught up at the NBPCA collection at the moment and it is another week and a half before we reopen for Floriade; so I am taking this opportunity to work on some of my own trees. I still need to come in every day to check on the bonsai but the place is crawling with security and workers as the Floriade displays are prepared. We are an island of tranquility in the middle of a mad house.

Grant