One for the noobs

You'll have to excuse the quality of the first picture, a little out of focus but the only one I have left. I have had this pine since 1999. Looks like a load of rubbish does'nt it? Would I buy such a tree today? Doubtful!! Anyway, two years ago I sold this tree. Yes sold!! This pine took a lot of years and hard work to transform.Its present owner has gone away and asked me to look after it for him, so I took a pic today

Just shows you dont have to spend lots of money, but you will have to work harder. Pot by Gordon Duffet

Nice work!

So pines will backbud on old wood?

I sense the 'wasted years with sticks in pots' thing approaching this conversation with undeserved enthusiasm!

Remarkable transformation, Will. No doubt made easier by your early wardship.

What a great early bonsai; most don't live to see their greatest potential. Love the pot too.

Better take care of it well...

Will, great progress, it's becoming a really nice tree. Have you got a shot showing all of the pot and tree?

Carolee, pines will backbud on older wood but very reluctantly, sparsely and unreliably. Excellent management with regular feeding, careful thinning/plucking of older needles and shortening of candles is required.

Will,

Great post ! A great example of how the art of bonsai is a journey taken by both the artist & the tree. Just think how it will look in another 10 years if you stay the course !

Best Wishes,

Ed Trout

Thanks for your comments. Having it back at mine makes me regret having parted with it. Never mind, its good to see its being looked after well. Kev. I'll try and take a pic tomorrow, after ive taken some crim's out on their public duties.

WOW!!! will, beautifull tree! credit to you and your friend.

As promised. Unfortunately the sun had gone by the time I'd finished work.

Thanks Will. Sometimes less sun is better for shots, no shadow. Anyway, this pic is perfect for our needs. Good pot/tree harmony.

I don't think that the hanging jin on the cascade branch adds anything, it disturbs the visual flow. Similarly a good plucking of the hanging needles would help presentation.

Great tree from humble beginnings.

Im not sure about the jin anymore. I really wanted to remove the hanging needles but its not my tree. I will suggest it though.

will baddeley wrote:.. I really wanted to remove the hanging needles but its not my tree. I will suggest it though.

That was very thoughtful of you, nice. Great tree.

-dorothy

I've given it some sunshine and cut the down growing needles off.

Yes, thats a lot better. Kev, that jin's gotta go has'nt it!! Tree flows so much more now.

Thought I might use this Pine at the Capel Manor show, so I asked it's owner if I could tidy it up a bit. Only needed a few guy wires to tighten it up a smidge.

Will

Nicely done. I know a two dimensional picture can’t tell the whole story but I personally would like to see the stem clear up to the main foliage and also a few more areas with open spaces. Maybe something as below?

Hi J aco. I agree with you on the right hand side but the foliage you've taken away in the middle, I would not do. I like, at some area in a tree, to be able to see the back. It gives a sense of depth.

Yes Will, you are correct. Now that I look at it again it's lost it's sense of depth.

Re: sense of depth...

IMAFMHO (InMyAncientFeebleMindedHumbleOpinion)…

A sense of depth is always a good attribute in a bonsai...many would say necessary...

However...depth doesn't always come through in a two dimensional photo.

Sooo...It appears to me that the pictures (Oct 10 12:59pm and Oct 11 4:26pm) show depth better than the pictures (Oct 28 3:41pm and Oct 29 6:54am).

Maybe it's the camera angle.

It may be my ancient, well worn eyes...and, I'm working with brand new trifocal spectacles today.

Let me add that at it's very worst, it is a wonderful bonsai.

Remember...my opinion.

Pat

Your quite right Pat, there is more depth in the previous photos. Lacking enough time for a full re wire before the show,I could'nt place the branches properly. There are infact two branches on the right hand bottom pad. By lifting the back one, more depth would have been acheived.

Right on Will...you'll make what already is a winner...even better!

Nice work my friend...

Pat

By the way Will, I take exception to your thread title...it's one for the rest of us as well!

Pat

Good to see others working with "sticks in pots", I do the same as money is tight. It is amazing to be totally resposible for transforming junk into treasures, great work!!!

Newt