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Decision Time for Juniper Cascade

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shimsuki
Todd Ellis
Pavel Slovák
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Post  wabashene Wed Feb 02, 2011 4:12 pm

Hi,

I have a lot of (possibly misplaced) affection for this San Jose juniper as it was an early purchase.

Even wrote an article about it here documenting my early struggles with it.

http://bonsai4me.com/AdvTech/ATJuniperStory.htm

However, as it stands, and a few years down the line, it really is a poor example of a cascade and needs a big re-think to succeed as bonsai even in a small way imo.

Jim Lewis made a fair point a few years back on another site saying it was a bit "by the numbers" (or similar) and I have been playing with virts recently in order to come up with a better design idea.

In Pic 1 - which is the actual tree - the apex is rather separated from the rest of the tree so I'm thinking it should be reduced/eliminated.

Also the pom pom branch and trunk that form the bottom half/tip are very bare and add little to the design apart from looking out of place.

So I'm thinking virt 3 or 4 may be the way to go as opposed to virt 2.

In virt 3, a reduced apex, which is wireable, sits better with a shorter cascading tail .

The Pic 4 option was suggested by someone (in Greece?) at least 4 years ago.

This also throws up the potential to jin the apex and or tip branches rather than eliminating altogether. Surplus to requirements maybe?

I love the custom made by Vic Harris at Erin and a slightly squatter version may be more suitable with a reduced tree.

Bin it? Jin it? Chop it?

Anyone have any strong thoughts before I break out the big shears?

Sorry this is a bit long - quiet at work for once.

Thks for your interest

TimR

Decision Time for Juniper Cascade Juni_c10
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Post  LANCE Wed Feb 02, 2011 4:37 pm

I personally prefer the simplicity of 4 with a smaller pot
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Post  stavros Wed Feb 02, 2011 4:46 pm

i personally like the 4th version.
it looks more balanced to me

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Post  wabashene Wed Feb 02, 2011 5:03 pm

Thanks chaps

I already virted a smaller pot but uploaded wrong pic

TimR

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Post  JimLewis Wed Feb 02, 2011 7:31 pm

Maybe #4 and one of those so-called "stone" (crescent) pots????? Or #4 with a large stone behind it, somehow? Either muight try to give the impression of a tree growing out of a cliff with a stone wall behind
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Post  Pavel Slovák Wed Feb 02, 2011 8:11 pm

Hi wabashene

Beautiful tree. Joy think. Very Happy


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Post  Todd Ellis Thu Feb 03, 2011 12:07 am

Hi Wabashene, I think Pavel's #1 virtual has a lot of potential for your tree. Shaping the foliage pads might be the "option" before you cut.
Before I saw Pavel's virt, I was thinking that a well placed shari could add some drama to the tree. (I don't know how to do virtuals). A shari connected to the top jin and coming sown the front of the trunk.Then, the bottom branch with the straight section which then curves, could be another good place for shari. The upper-most branch could be an interesting jin if its thick enough to look convincing. There is also the possibiliby of adding "tanuki" jins along the trunk in a couple of places to add drama. Overall, I was really moved with Pavel's #1 virtual. I like your tree and pot.
Best, Todd
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Post  Guest Thu Feb 03, 2011 12:24 am

Hello Tim. Pavels third vitual is the biz. So many options for you.

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Post  shimsuki Thu Feb 03, 2011 12:53 am

I like choice 3.
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Post  Ravi Kiran Thu Feb 03, 2011 4:13 am

Hi,

Pavel's Virt 2 is my favourite... why I say this is that you get a good shot at displaying the nice trunk (which is not so prominent in virts 1 & 3) and also the foliage pads are class!!! Virt 4 is too bland...

Spoilt for choices aren't you Very Happy

Ravi
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Post  wabashene Thu Feb 03, 2011 1:39 pm

Thanks very much for your very encouraging responses and esp to Pavel for the outstanding virts.

I tend to favour Pavel's 3 and 4 as solutions. I like the classical foliage pad look very much but will need to work on my rather slap dash technique big time to achieve this look.

Branch die-back a couple of years ago left the tip very bare.

I absolutely hate the curvey/half moon branch look ringed below and even tried to disguise this a while back with some qdj's (quickly detachable jins) which were glued in at the points indicated with yellow arrows.

Decision Time for Juniper Cascade Juni_c12

The current pot has a very rock-like look to it Jim and I'm not sure if I would ever go for the primitive, broken dinosaur egg look as I tend to be a bit a traditionalist.

I'm sure Erin or ano could come up with something similar to the existing but a tad smaller if I thought the tree needed it.

So this is a keeper then!

Thanks a lot again for your interest

TimR
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Post  RHamers Thu Feb 03, 2011 1:51 pm

i'll go for pavel's no.3.
goodluck
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Post  Jesse Thu Feb 03, 2011 10:01 pm

RHamers wrote:i'll go for pavel's no.3.
goodluck
I would chime in with a similar preference. Pavel's 3rd pic is my favorite thus far of the virtuals.
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Post  Guest Thu Feb 03, 2011 11:07 pm

If you could still bend the branches, specially for the last/lowest branch. number two for me. just raise your planting angle a bit and bend the tail up a bit to face the front. and you'll have a more compress design.

regards,
jun
Smile

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Post  moyogijohn Fri Feb 04, 2011 3:09 pm

I am going to get slambed herei know!!! MY opion is to cut the tail off use the first tuff of foliage and make a simi ccascade..use the cresent pot..then have a more compact tree....only my opion you have so many ways to go....take care john

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Post  wabashene Sat Apr 16, 2011 3:25 pm

Thks for the interest in this tree so far.

Did a little bit of work on it recently and it looks better.

I've started to split the heavy top section to produce pads front and back but it doesn't show very well here.

Also below is a cutting from this tree where I've tried to get a bit minimalist/arty.

thks
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