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Next project. 1974 Japanese Black Pine

Posted: August 31st, 2010, 4:40 pm
by 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

Re: Next project. 1974 Japanese Black Pine

Posted: August 31st, 2010, 5:01 pm
by 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

Re: Next project. 1974 Japanese Black Pine

Posted: August 31st, 2010, 5:15 pm
by Chris H
Im looking forward to seeing where you go with this one Grant.

Re: Next project. 1974 Japanese Black Pine

Posted: August 31st, 2010, 5:32 pm
by 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

Re: Next project. 1974 Japanese Black Pine

Posted: August 31st, 2010, 5:48 pm
by Pup
Ouch, I like it :D Pup

Re: Next project. 1974 Japanese Black Pine

Posted: August 31st, 2010, 6:01 pm
by Grant Bowie
Just thinned it out and will wire it tonight at my regular Tuesday night workshop.

Cooking dinner now.

Grant

Re: Next project. 1974 Japanese Black Pine

Posted: August 31st, 2010, 6:29 pm
by 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 :)

Re: Next project. 1974 Japanese Black Pine

Posted: August 31st, 2010, 6:35 pm
by 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.

Re: Next project. 1974 Japanese Black Pine

Posted: August 31st, 2010, 8:52 pm
by Heshian
I love it. 8-)

Re: Next project. 1974 Japanese Black Pine

Posted: August 31st, 2010, 9:23 pm
by bodhidharma
i love it too Grant. I guess you could call it the minimalist aproach :D 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.

Re: Next project. 1974 Japanese Black Pine

Posted: August 31st, 2010, 11:42 pm
by 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

Re: Next project. 1974 Japanese Black Pine

Posted: September 1st, 2010, 6:44 am
by 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

Re: Next project. 1974 Japanese Black Pine

Posted: September 1st, 2010, 8:13 am
by 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

Re: Next project. 1974 Japanese Black Pine

Posted: September 1st, 2010, 1:50 pm
by Chris H
Grant Bowie wrote: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!

Re: Next project. 1974 Japanese Black Pine

Posted: September 1st, 2010, 2:57 pm
by Grant Bowie
Hartos wrote:
Grant Bowie wrote: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