Collected single seed juniper in work

Hey gang,

Just thought some of you might like to see a collected Single seed juniper (Juniperus monosperma) that I'm in the process of working. It's a US native juniper that should be used far more. A bit difficult to get out of the ground but will work quite nicely as bonsai even though it takes a few years to get them done.

Very Nice!!!

Randy_Davis wrote:Hey gang,

Just thought some of you might like to see a collected Single seed juniper (Juniperus monosperma) that I'm in the process of working. It's a US native juniper that should be used far more. A bit difficult to get out of the ground but will work quite nicely as bonsai even though it takes a few years to get them done.

Lots of potential. How do they like the humid east coast?

I tried Rocky Mountain Juniper and no luck in my semi-tropical climate.

Very nice indeed! Is all that deadwood natural?

Hey Rob,

They seem to do just fine here in Western Kentucky. I collected this tree in 2005 and it's been growing outside year around here just fine and doesn't seem to mind the humidtiy and abundant rain. I have it in 75% granite which it seems to like.


And yes, all the dead wood is natural.

ta ta,
Randy

Randy you are truly a man after my own heart when it comes to material absolutely stunning.

Where was it collected ?

Dwight wrote:Where was it collected ?

Dwight,

I was collected in Northern New Mexico at about 7500 foot evelvation.

ta ta,
Randy

Excellent find. I live about 400 mi south of where you got this tree. I've already got scouting trips planned for the early winter. They grow within 50 mi of here. I read somewhere that one seeds have nicer foilage than the ubiquitous RMJ. They sure have as nice deadwood.

Dwight wrote:Excellent find. I live about 400 mi south of where you got this tree. I've already got scouting trips planned for the early winter. They grow within 50 mi of here. I read somewhere that one seeds have nicer foilage than the ubiquitous RMJ. They sure have as nice deadwood.

Lucky you Dwight!!!!

I did my collection in late November and early December just to make sure that the trees were completely dormant when I took them out of the ground. I also like the foliage better than RMJ (J. scopulorum). If your in the southerly direction you should think about scouting out some Aligator Juniper (J. deppeana). It's a bit more difficult to get out of the ground but if you can get them out they make wonderful bonsai as well. I wish I was closer and a few years younger so I could do some more collecting in your neck of the woods.

Good luck,
Randy

Hey Gang,

It's been a while since I posted anything on this tree and thought it might be time for an update on the progression. Over the last couple of years the tree has been reduced in size both foliage and the root and with the work done this spring it will be ready for a nice container in the very early spring of 2014. As you can see from the photo, I removed the large branch on the lower right and did some carving to the trunk to bring out the deadwood. I also removed most of last years foliage growth to get more sun to the inner parts of the foliage pads. This year will be focused on filling out the pads by lots and lots of pinching and deciding the type of container it should get next spring. Since this is an american native juniper I am considering making a container for it that is something of a mix using a traditional japanse shape (deep rectangle) but employing some american indian iconography in the over all design to americanize it. What do ya'll think?

That sounds like a great plan! I'm a big fan of "pueblo" thunder clouds and lighting. The driftwood on the front resembles some iconography already IMHO.
Pretty tree Randy!

Randy,

that juniper is so beautiful, I would quietly suggest just a simple pot. Any decoration on the pot would be a distraction.
Thanks for showing.
Khaimraj

Wonderful tree and I agree with Khaimraj.

Randy_Davis wrote:Hey Gang,

It's been a while since I posted anything on this tree and thought it might be time for an update on the progression. Over the last couple of years the tree has been reduced in size both foliage and the root and with the work done this spring it will be ready for a nice container in the very early spring of 2014. As you can see from the photo, I removed the large branch on the lower right and did some carving to the trunk to bring out the deadwood. I also removed most of last years foliage growth to get more sun to the inner parts of the foliage pads. This year will be focused on filling out the pads by lots and lots of pinching and deciding the type of container it should get next spring. Since this is an american native juniper I am considering making a container for it that is something of a mix using a traditional japanse shape (deep rectangle) but employing some american indian iconography in the over all design to americanize it. What do ya'll think?

impressive junip. species, and great character in yours.
Anything particular planned with that 'bulge' right above soil (where you can see there's empty space under part of the trunk)?

Thanks for the comments!

Todd - Actually I hadn't considered pueblo design motifs but agree with you about clouds and lightning. At the moment I'm more inclined to go with Santa Clara Indian designs as this tree was dug in the area of their reservation north of Santa Fe, New Mexico. What I particularly like about their designs is that they can and often are quite subtle and with some massaging could easily be intregrated into a Japanese container form and not be to distracting to the eye.

Khaimraj and Jim -I will most likely make 2 pots for this tree. One more traditional and one that incorporates some American Indian motifs. There must be room to grow the art form into other avenues of design and one must just keep moving forward to see where it goes.

yves71277 - At the moment there is nothing planned. As you can see from the photo there is a root above the soil line right there and it must first be removed without impacting the health of the tree. Originally the soil line was about at that level when it was in the wild but over time the soil eroded away to expose the union of the root system and the upper plant parts). I could make a deeper container and place the tree deeper in the soil so that the soil line is back to where it was originally (just under the bulge) but that's a decision that is for next year. This is one of those things about collected plant material, you get what you get and you do the best with it that you can. Sometimes you can eliminate it, sometimes you can hide it, and sometimes you just have to live with it.

Randy,

could you show drawings of what you have in mind?
I find a drawing solves many problems, before you get into reality.
Once again beautiful tree.
Khaimraj

* I find change in anything, should come as leaves to a tree, or it should not come at all.
I would imagine a search through thousands of Amerindian designs and the landscape the tree comes from would give the eventual answer to your pot design.
[ Said quietly and just as a suggestion, as would be done for a drawing shifting over to a painting.]

Khaimraj,

I wish I had the skills to draw you a picture but I'm afraid it would look rather kindergarten like. I can however, give you some examples of the type of pottery and pottery designs that I have in mind for the container. The pic below shows the style of japanese pot that I have in mind (bottom) and some typical design motifs used on Santa Clara Indian tribe pottery that I have in mind. One thing for sure is it will be black on black with the design embeded in the glaze rather than using incised design as show in the picture. I may even use just the outline of the mountain range where I collected the tree which is a very prominent feature of the landscape in the area. There are any number of potential designs that can be used, it's more making a decision on the story one wishes to tell in the overall design imagery and making it subtle to the viewers eye. I'm determined to do something that is not japanese but rather something to reflect the American heritage of the tree and it's relationship to the indigineous peoples of the area. One can imagine, at least I can, a 3 point display that incorporates some image of the local indian culture and a companion container filled with a local grass or other plant native to the area.

Randy,

that tree is so gorgeous, I would hate for someone to say to you at an exhibition ----- hey that's a beautiful pot.

I am very familiar with Amerindian pottery, have you seen the work of Joseph Lonewolf [ an early hero of mine ]

You might want to ask a potter to help you fire the decoration as terra sigillata on a stonware pot. You can google the effect if the term is new to you.
Well whatever you decide, thanks for showing, it is inspiring!
Later.
Khaimraj