modest yamadori pungens from a danish forest: first styling

Hi everyone

This is a yamadori picea pungens, though a modest one. Anyway, finding quality yamadori in Denmark is quite rare, if not impossible. Though a modest material, I considered myself very lucky with this find two years ago. The base is 5,5cm thick, hight ca. 60cm. I estimate the tree to be about 40 years old [I cut a rather large branch in the middle section of the top at an earlyer point and counted some 13-15 rings]. I've tryed my best to give the tree a first styling, going for a natural 360 degrees look. After taking the photos I do find myself thinking that the current right side would make a better front than the current front?! Both angles would in time present a twisting deadwood area currently 'hidden' in the bark just below the foliage (or on the upper part of the lower trunk. Comments and suggestions are most welcome...especially on what front you would prefer, thanks.

Current front view:


current right side view:


Close up of the bark at the lower trunk:

Looks very promising... can you post other angles too? I did not know Colorado Spruce grew wild in Denmark.

I think you have a nice tree. Although there is an area in the middle that bothers me a bit. Its circled out.
Its the crossing of the small branch that comes into the big one thats a bit distracting. How would it look if you removed the small one?


Also, I would make the top a bit more pointy in the future. Unless you change its side, then I would remove the top pointy branch.
Continue to update this one.

Sincerely
-Storm.

suburbia wrote:Looks very promising... can you post other angles too? I did not know Colorado Spruce grew wild in Denmark.

Hi suburbia

hm! This tree was collected from a plantation forrest...The danish name for this species is blågran (tr. Blue Spruce/picea pungens: correct me if I'm wrong). The 'wild yamadori' is of cause a mild exaggeration, since we don't really have mountains - or true wild spruce forrests any longer. Deers (must) have pruned the tree to a rather compact branch structure - four side branches defined the apex when collected - which is how the tree lost the typical christmas tree look and a limited amount of spoke wheel branches.

Hi Storm

I think you have a good eye for this tree. I like your suggestion concerning removing the top branch from the apex - in case I chose the right side as the front. I'll give it a good thought. [BTW]: My intention is to let the present rather flat apex grow into a cone shape and let the branches beneith the apex become part of the cone shape. The small branch you have encircled is left to grow, in case I decide to remove the rather large upright lower left branch or to be jinned in the future (If the right side is chosen as the new front).

Suburbia: I took a fresh look at altenative fronts. The left side could be fine too as a front - with out the large upright left lower branch...I'll post some pictures later... and thanks Storm for the invitation to continue this thread.

Sunip:
I didn't get a good look at the nebari (not present when collected). I just took as large a root ball as possible (with soil and all). I will probably have to graft a proper nebari as I go along. Anyway I don't think there will be a stricking nebari hidden in the soil... Hence the 'modest yamadori' ;-)

Thanks for your comments, all of you ;-)

Here's a shot of the left side (of the current front)

Hello Loke Emil,
Nice find.
Did you look at the nerbari first?
The way the roots are going in to the trunk is very important,
i always consider this before styling the rest of the tree.
Could you give us some pictures of the nerbari where we can see how the roots flow.
regards, Sunip

Hi everyone

Since I first posted this thread, I have had second thoughts on the styling of the tree - and the notion of 'yamadori'. Though the tree is collected, it doesn't really have the qualities of a true yamadori. By all means I like the tree myself [and I would like to bring out the best in this tree, regardless of how modest the potential is], but let me be the first one to call it by it's right term...a nice collected tree.

Having said that, I've given storm's idea a good thought. From what the pictures show, I can see why he suggests lowering the apex. But I am afraid I can't see how, i.e which branch to shape in to a good apex - without loosing the overall idea of the styling. I am not member of any local club, yet...

...Hence my call for some help and inspiration from other IBC-members, please: from wich position - and shaped how - would a new apex improve this tree?

Thanks...

/Loke Emil


NB! [moderators are most welcome to move this thread to "bonsai questions", if that is more appropriate]