Larch in spring

Hi all,

I've had this larch for only a year now but feels like much more time has passed. Autumn color and young foliage of the spring are the best parts of the year to take a photo or two. Here are photos from last year and now.

Late spring 2012 (wired)



Autumn 2012



Spring 2013 (wired, new pot)
Leaves are roughly in scale at the moment





All comments about the tree, pot, display table or impression as a whole are more than welcome.
Thanks

Regards...

Gašper

Beautiful tree. I think that all you need to do now is to try to get some foliage in the front of the trunk so it breaks up the view of the entire trunk. Also, usually trees are planted slightly off center in the bonsai pot. Either slightly left or right, depending o nthe movement. Other than these minor details. I like the presentation.

Rob

I also like it and agree that spring is a great time for larches. However, since you asked for suggestions/comments I will provide a couple based upon what I see.

I think you have a bit of a bar branch developing at the level of the 3rd branch to the right. You might consider taking it off (it is also fairly heavy for that high in the tree.

The second right branch appears to have been pulled back as well as down. Could you pull it a bit forward and possibly move the front about 15 degrees clockwise from the current front. I think those things would help address getting a little foliage in the front of the trunk, particularly if the first and/or third left branches are pulled slightly forward.

Marty

Thank you Rob, previous owner did a very good job and now it's up to me. Getting the foliage in the front of the tree will be my main task for this year and also some other smaller areas on the sides need that.
Now that you have pointed out the off center positioning I took a better look of the photo and it makes very much sense. Thing is the tree doesn't have that much movement from any other angle and leans bent like a bow towards the viewer. But it's also true that the crown was pulled to the side and some lower branches are coming out of the trunk more in front than the ones on the other side so the repositioning in the pot could be a good call. Thanks, I did not see that.
I'm very glad that you like the presentation.


Marty, your observations are most welcome.
Yes, many times I catch myself staring at that branch and indeed it is too heavy to look good so high up and although i thought about removing it or make a nice jin to fill up the empty space than bringing some foliage from other branches there or even from the crown it would not look right. There are also no other branches to be positioned in a way it would look convincing. I guess i will have to hide it with some more foliage.

Marty Weiser wrote:The second right branch appears to have been pulled back as well as down. Could you pull it a bit forward and possibly move the front about 15 degrees clockwise from the current front. I think those things would help address getting a little foliage in the front of the trunk, particularly if the first and/or third left branches are pulled slightly forward.Marty

That is a good point. Like I wrote to Rob, this photo makes me see the tree much different than in real, but in way that some smaller things would make a great change. You guys gave me a lot to think about.
Thanks

Gašper

Larches look so good in spring. I was wondering if you had thoughts if removing the first branch on the right? I'm not sure it will develop into a necessary branch. Nice tree either way though.

Hi there, glad you like it. I have thought about it, but never really thought about doing it. I did myself a virt without the bottom branch but didn't look good.
If you have a different vision for the tree feel free to post your virt.
Thanks

Sorry I don't have the virtual skills that some of the people here on IBC have. I'd like to here or see others take on that branch myself, hope they chime in for you. Again not distracting from the tree, I think it displays very well as is.

Very nice. I sure like the last picture as the front. It makes for a much more interesting tree - at least in a 2-d picture.

Hello Russell, thanks!
In this case, would you consider a somewhat smaller round pot to expand the viewing point?

Although the side view does have some good points and is interesting. There are another factors, which, I believe take precendence. First the nebari. The nebari is not good from the side, you have half on one side and nothing on the other. Since the trunk is the most important factor and the base is what the eye sees first then follows up the tree. This would make for a displeasing viewing start for the tree. Also, almost all the branches eminate from the front of the trunk with this view. It is not really considered pleasing to have straight out (poker) branches. In this case, you would have a bunch of them.

Personally, I would keep the current view and let that bottom branch thicken up. I would also wire it a bit toward the viewer. This way, so much of the length of the branch is not visible and it will look more natural. Instead of a branch growing perfectly straight out of the side of the trunk.

Rob

GašperG wrote:In this case, would you consider a somewhat smaller round pot to expand the viewing point?

Yes, even a drum pot. And while I see what Rob's saying, I can't agree. The current view looks like a boring fish backbone to me... in spite of the points Rob makes. (but that's just me)

Great tree!

I agree with both of you when it comes to flaws (nebari does look like an elephan foot with four human like fingers, long bottom branch coming almost straight out of the trunk) and the more interesting view that was pointed out.

Russell Coker wrote:The current view looks like a boring fish backbone to me...

... so i rotated this fish for a few degrees in which case nebari is still acceptable, even the long bottom branch isn't so obvious, more green is covering the top part of the trunk...It's not a huge difference but it does make it a bit less stiff i think.

Rob, i also like the current front and i don't plan to change it any time soon, but would like to see if there is anything else hiding in this tree.

If anyone would like to add a suitable pot, please do so.
Thanks

Whatever pot you choose, whatever front you choose... please correct the bend in that first branch. It really distracts from an otherwise great looking tree.

I like the view Russell has states as well. That branch just seems to break up the composition, I still think it should go. Mayb leave a jinned stub.

I think i'll keep it. I know it seems tempting but to my eyes in reality the tree needs it.

Russell Coker wrote:... please correct the bend in that first branch.

Sure thing.