Juniper Raft-progression

[Craig]

Hi all, In August 04 i started this little juniper raft,my first raft. The tree is Juniper Procumbens-either 'nana or 'blaaus'-not too sure,I started with a small single tree with branches, took all the branches from one side off, then removed some bark and cambium from the the part of the trunk which was to be on the bottom. I arranged the prepared tree on a piece of sandstone type rock and secured it in place. While doing this i decided to plant another Juniper(same type-pic 3 the blue cross)into a hole in the rock with it's roots not visable and growing under the rock. so it's a raft with another tree next to it, the raft goes from the left around the back of the tree to the right.Only the first part of the raft has roots and rests on the rock, the end of the raft doesn't touch the rock or have roots. As you'll see in the last few pics it's come to a point where i need to style this raft because it's becoming overgrown and has no form at all, i've never wired or styled this tree before so i am about to start now not too many progression pics but you can see how i started and wher i'm at now,,,i'll post some more pics as soon as i'm finished wiring/styling,,I'd love some suggestions on pots for this tree,,,,, Thanks Craig p.s the raft is approx 140mm high and 260mm wide

[stymie]

If you can make the branches look like individual trees now Craig, it will look swell. You've been very patient for six years and the waiting is about to be rewarded.

[Craig]

Stymie ,thanks mate, i'm just in the process of wiring these trees now. It takes sooo long to remove the old brown needles, i only got the front two trees done last night, hopefully i can get the others done today? Craig

[Craig]

I've finally finished it's first styling,took alot of foliage off and wired branches to where they need to be. I think it's come up a treat, once it puts on new foliage and fills out a bit it'll look much better. The trunk of the raft is still a bit wet so a little hard to see, once it dries i'll take another pic,,,, Craig

[hugh grant]

You've done a great job there. I love raft style and this one is tops! Once the foliage fills out and it gets more defined looking i reckon it's ganna be great looking.

Hugh

[Craig]

You've done a great job there. I love raft style and this one is tops! Once the foliage fills out and it gets more defined looking i reckon it's ganna be great looking.

Hugh

Thanks Hugh, I appreciate your comments and am glad you like it.Next season i'll change pots to something more suitable Cheers Craig

[hugh grant]

Yeah, I reckon a smaller pot that Is a bit shalower will suit it bettter.

Hugh

[Jamie]

looks good mate

I was holding back until i seen what you were going to do, it looks the goods a shallow oval pot, dark, dark brown will suit this little setting perfectly. it is quite a small tree yes? you might find a little dificulty in getting refined pads so you will more then likly need to give it a slightly dense canopy.

nice

[Craig]

Thanks Hugh, Jamie -yes quite small with the tallest tree at 150mm above the rock or 180mm above ground level. My plan is to give each tree a nice canopy and set the heights so that they are all slightly different, whilst keeping each tree with its own identity. It might seem weird to some having 6 trees in the group but the raft itself has 5 trees and then theres the single tree , it sort of sticks to the rules thanks guys Craig

[Craig]

Hi all, quick pic update, starting to fill out a bit now,, Cheers Craig

2011-jan-raft-topsm1.jpg

2011-jan-raft-sm-frnt-3.jpg

2011-jan-raft-backsm-4.jpg

raft b4 and today-2011-1.jpg

[parabola]

[hugh grant]

It might seem weird to some having 6 trees in the group but the raft itself has 5 trees and then theres the single tree , it sort of sticks to the rules thanks guys Craig

it's still 6 trees which is an even number which is generaly considered unsightly but in this trees case it dosnt bother me one little bit. Some of the lower branches distract you from this anyway.

It's growing well, And it looks nice and healthy

Hugh

[Craig]

It might seem weird to some having 6 trees in the group but the raft itself has 5 trees and then theres the single tree , it sort of sticks to the rules thanks guys Craig

it's still 6 trees which is an even number which is generaly considered unsightly but in this trees case it dosnt bother me one little bit. Some of the lower branches distract you from this anyway.

It's growing well, And it looks nice and healthy

Hugh

Yep, no denying it ,theres 6 trees alright Hugh,but i'm glad you approve once i uncover the limestone rock and and repot into a suitable sized pot it'll start looking better aswell. Thanks for you input Hugh much appreciated. Craig ......................................... Thanks Parabola Craig

[MattA]

Hey Craig,

Dont know how I missed this when you first posted... what a great raft you have making there. I dont know if I could have been as good to let it grow as long as you did without touching it, seems I am always fiddling with something on my trees.

I didnt realise there was 6 trunks until I read at the end (must read all of a thread not just look at pics ) It doesnt seem out of balance, but easy to change if you wanted to, either add another tree or remove one of the current trunks a bit like this....(be nice its my first real attempt)

2011-jan-raft-sm-frnt-3.jpg

Just because "rules" say it should be uneven numbers in groups, this works & is not the first I have seen with an even number of trees, often in Penjing eg "The Companionship of the Four Pure Nobles" a group of 4 junipers each distinctly shaped after four famous Han dynasty junipers "Pure" "Strange" "Ancient" & " Grotesque" that grow at the Situ temple in Guangfu (Chinese Penjing by Hu Yunhua, pg120 plate 155).

Matt

Matt

[Craig]

Matt,

I dont know if I could have been as good to let it grow as long as you did without touching it

,Thats mainly because i didn't really think it was worth working on before, one day something just clicked and i knew what direction to go in. It's how it goes sometimes, as i'm sure you know . The virt i can see what your saying but if you were to remove that particular tree, you'd end up with a huge gap,as it's the rear tree(1) . However if you were to remove the main tree(2) which isn't part of the raft and reworked three trees(3), i'm sure that would work,but no need as it looks ok as is...Thanks for sharing your thoughts Matt .Craig

2011-jan-raft-topsm1-edit.JPG