Progression of shohin white pine graft

Seeing Yvonne Graubaek beautiful shohin black pines inspired me to post my shohin white pine. This is a grafted white pine that I bought about a year ago. Originally, it was meant to be a cascade, a very poor one. I realized that with some major branch removal, a different front and angle, the tree might have some good shohin potential. It has only been a year, but the tree is progressing very fast.

This is the tree as purchased. I also designated the work to be done in a virt. The red lines were the first set of chops. The yellow lines were to be the next set a year later.


This is after the first set of chops were made. Also, the new proposed front and angle.



About a year later, the second set of chops were made.


Now, the tree can have it's first styling.




I could not get the tree into the training pot I wanted. I ended up using this one for the size. It is only for training purposes.



2 months later, the tree is doing very well. A pretty quick progression for a pine. However, this tree is just starting it's training.

Rob

100% superb - that is the way to turn a mass produced pine into a serious quality tree 

cheers marcus

What a difference in so short of time. I really like the movement in such a short, fat trunk. I usually don't like such little, fat trunks, because they just look lumpy to me, but I love the shape of this one. You definitely made a great step forward in the quality of this tree by changing its whole design plan to your own. 

Mike

Looks great! I actually like the lotus pot you put it in. I think it fits well with the crown of the pine.

marcus watts wrote:100% superb - that is the way to turn a mass produced pine into a serious quality tree 

cheers marcus

Thanks Marcus. I wish there were more hidden gems like this material. However, if there were, I guess they would not be hidden gems any more.

Rob

MikeG wrote:What a difference in so short of time. I really like the movement in such a short, fat trunk. I usually don't like such little, fat trunks, because they just look lumpy to me, but I love the shape of this one. You definitely made a great step forward in the quality of this tree by changing its whole design plan to your own. 

Mike

Thanks Mike, I agree. It is the subtle curve and good taper that makes this good material. If it did not have this, it would be a stump with foliage on top. For me, I need more than just a thick trunk on a tree. It has to be interesting and be pleasing to the viewer.

Rob

KennedyMarx wrote:Looks great! I actually like the lotus pot you put it in. I think it fits well with the crown of the pine.

Thanks Kennedy. Ya, not really a bad pot at all. A nice recovery pot. I think when the tree fills in and creates a little larger of a silhouette. The pot will match a little more. That's the thing with pines. Since you can't repot them often. I believe it is important to have something that you don't mind looking at for years.

Rob

Very nice job, I need to go get one-now!

Beautiful bonsai built with excellent proportions.

I like the log and the blue-green color of the leaves.

My compliments,

Greetings Daniel

Super little pine; nice work ... and vision!