Shohin upright juniper

At 12.5 inches purists may argue, but this IS a shohin juniper. It was dug from my woods in 2002, potted in a bonsai pot in '03. It's current pot is an unglazed pinch pot I made during a club make-a-pot meeting last year.

I think this is coming along, and would welcome suggestions as to the next step.

Great tree!! Love it.

I like it a lot, but to my taste, the last branch on the left is much too long.

...And I hate the pot (with this tree).

I hope you don't mind my being so straightforward, but I think this little juniper does have a great potential : qui bene amat, bene castigat

Top or bottom branch? I think the left top is a bit too large.

So far, this one gets a different pot every year, so nothing is forever. I liked this one bcause the color kinda matches the stones. I was searching for a "lone-tree-struggles-against-nature-on-the-mountaintop" look.

Glad both of you like the tree.

I was thinking the same thing, Jim. Top left seems too long, makes the tree look boxy.

I have to agree with Alain about the pot. A long shallow pot would show this tree off well and give the feeling of a lone tree in the open.

will baddeley wrote:I have to agree with Alain about the pot. A long shallow pot would show this tree off well and give the feeling of a lone tree in the open.

Funny you would say that. It was in this pot last year.

will baddeley wrote:I have to agree with Alain about the pot. A long shallow pot would show this tree off well and give the feeling of a lone tree in the open.

I rather see a barely large enough round rustic pot unbglazed with moss on the soil. Reduce the top left branch too.

Jim, there is exception for shohin bunjin. this tree is still considered a shohin and it is not displayed with box stand.
I love the trunk.
but you do not have a most important basic element - triangular silhouette. the top 2 branches are too long. they make the tree look more square than triangle. Branches are too leggy and large.
Lower 3 branches are about the same sizes and very close together. You probably need at least 2. and remove the one in the back. it may slow down future swelling.
tree is delicate. pot should be more simple. i would try long and narrow pot. it may make it more dramatic.
it is just my opinion.
again i still love the trunk.

actually I like his pinch pot because it does seem to blend with the rocks better and gives it a bit mountain/rocky color/feel. Yeah, I think the top left branch a bit too lengthy ^^

IMHO I agree about shortening the top left branch and also about the tree best suiting a long shallow oval pot. The other stipulation I'd have made is that the tree is set off-centre in the aforementioned long shallow oval pot - as indeed Jim had done when it was in the rectangular pot. But, interestingly, I'd put it to the other side, with the reason being that it picks up the flow of the longer branches to the right.

And, just to win the prize for stating the bloomin' obvious - there's quite a bit of foliage development needed as I see it.

Crap virt now following:

I agree with Fiona's suggestion, that's about what I had in mind.

Thanks, all. That top branch will go. Dunno about the lower ones, Boon; they look a lot better "in the round." The trunk is its finest feature.

Personally, I've found all the "finished" bonsai pots this has been in very boring. So, future "final" pot is well up in the air.

And yes, this tree has LOTS of foliage improvement work ahead of it -- a job my clumsy (and rapidly growing clumsier) fingers find to be tough, especially with these prickly junipers.

Wonderful little tree Jim...howsomeever...IMAFMHO...

I would first...lose the three lower branches...maybe jin. They are too close together, and I think that less is better for a bunjin...then work with the top branches...

Also, I like Fiona's idea...even a little more to the left...more dramatic.

As to the rocks...? It is, after all...all about the tree, isn't it?

All easy for me to say...without seeing it up close and personal...and it's not my tree.

Like I said Jim, IMAFMHO...

Pat…mounted on my trusty stead, riding off wildly in all directions…

Jim, I love the trunk and the simplicity of the overall image. I would however consider setting the bottom two branches at a much steeper downward angle and then growing the pads out to recreate the required 'triangular' foliage shape.

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So shiny and smooth for such a rustic tree! No.... The shape is ok, but I think that something rectangular would go with the stark image much better. Last years pot, but shallower and a little longer, is the best I've seen so far.

I like this tree more and more as I look at it. Get the branch length and angles right and it will be classic.

Last years pot, but shallower and a little longer,

It's only 1/2 inch (1+ cm) deep! Short of a slab . . . .

JimLewis wrote:

Last years pot, but shallower and a little longer,

It's only 1/2 inch (1+ cm) deep! Short of a slab . . . .

Lol, Ok so I forgot the scale we were working with here! How about one that appears shallower and lighter - say with shorter and less chunky feet and thinner walls. Actually thought of mentioning a longish thin slab ... it could work but don't typically like them.

For what it's worth

I love the overall feel of this tree; however, I find the bottom right branching confusing - is that 1 branch or 2? I think it would look a bit better with the top part removed [or at least less visible?]. Perhasp it is the back branch Boon was talking about? Anyway, in the photo it gives an impression of bar-branch, and I think it would look better with just the lower part