California Juniper just repotted

This Cal Juniper stands 17 inches tall above the rim of the Sara Rayner pot.
I am working to develop the foliage pads to be show ready by late spring.

I like the composition but is it refined enough for showing?

[quote=" is it refined enough for showing?[/quote]

That is the question. With a vigorus growing season, and a good wiring job, by June it may be show worthy.

mike page wrote:[quote=" is it refined enough for showing?

That is the question. With a vigorus growing season, and a good wiring job, by June it may be show worthy.[/quote]
It's very difficult for us in the UK, to judge how fast your trees grow over the pond. The reason I made my original statement is.. the branches are very young. I would say 5-10 years of refinement on this tree before it is at show standard. Worth the wait I think

Here's what I would say about "...5-10 years of refinement...": it might look like it just came from the hair dresser. Personally, I think a bonsai can be given tooo much refinement.

Not criticizim...just personal taste...

Pat...maybe I should mount my trusty steed, and go riding off, wildly, in all directions...

Pat, not wishing to usurp Wills comments, Will believes that the tree is simply not mature enough as a bonsai to be exhibited.

We have had many years of exhibiting trees/bonsai in Europe that are not 'ready' to show, and now the bar has raised in having trees selected for exhibition... thereby elevating the whole quality of the display.

This is taking nothing away from Mikes tree, just that if it was to be considered for a show in the UK it would need to developed a lot more... that's all

"I think a bonsai can be given tooo much refinement"

I have yet to see a tree with too much refinement, I have seen many trees that are styled with pom-poms and look like trimmed poodles.

[quote="Tony"]

We have had many years of exhibiting trees/bonsai in Europe that are not 'ready' to show, and now the bar has raised in having trees selected for exhibition... thereby elevating the whole quality of the display.

It is an exciting time to be part of U.K. bonsai shows. Wil my trees ever catch up? Time will tell.

Tony wrote: Will believes that the tree is simply not mature enough as a bonsai to be exhibited.
We have had many years of exhibiting trees/bonsai in Europe that are not 'ready' to show, and now the bar has raised in having trees selected for exhibition... thereby elevating the whole quality of the display.

This is a problem with club shows, how to have enough participation, yet put on a quality show. How do you do this without angering somebody?
Iris

Hhmmm, club shows! Having been involved with them in the past, it is always difficult to ... raise the standard and involve everyone. I fully understand that not everyone wants to exhibit at a national level, but there is no reason why our trees can't reach those standards.
A section in a show that has work in progress, is a boon and educational for new club members or the public.
As I said in my first post, I like the composition and I see a great tree in the future

What do folk who keep/create bonsai want? I am struggling to respond to this thread as we have covered this topic so many times.

I understand that showing in an international show may be aiming to high for many, and fear of rejection puts many off.

David Barlow (a student who at the time I have worked with for 6 years) was so sure that his Beech raft would not be selected for the last Gingko Award left it to me to submit the tree, he did not even go to the show… he won one of the awards.

I am convinced that with the correct teaching, working with good material and being open to new ideas most individuals can have bonsai worthy of the best exhibitions anywhere in the world.

What is wrong with reaching for the moon, if you miss you will still be amongst the stars.

Well, the only show I'm aware of that will be occuring in late spring, is the National Exhibition being held in upstate New York. Is this what your planning Mike?

Hi Mike.

Very interesting tree.
I tried a simple virtual. I hope it does not matter.

pic.1 tree next ..??? year

peter wrote:Well, the only show I'm aware of that will be occuring in late spring, is the National Exhibition being held in upstate New York. Is this what your planning Mike?

Peter
I'm getting the tree ready for a local club show. I'm well aware that it's a long ways from being ready for an important show like the National. Having attended the last one, I know the quality of the entrys. At this time, I don't have anything ready for that level.

Mike

Pavel... someones been working on their PhotoShop skills... Nice Virtual my Friend.

But can you make it look like this! (throws down gauntlet)



Tony

Hi Tony, your virtual is great, but i didn't make it in PhotoShop, i made it in basic Windows drawing programe.