Juniperus virginiana (Eastern Red Cedar)

Dug this one from my yard back in 2012. In training pot in '13. First wiring followed. In this pot (final??) in January, been tweaking (and will still be doing so) this spring and summer.

Far too much foliage for my taste!

Actually I like it a lot and it is good to see how fast a very nice bonsai can be developed from what initially appears to be unremarkable material. Had you done any root pruning on it while it was in the ground?

HI Jim, How many times did you reduce the foliage to get it to how it is now (how long did it take)?

Thanks Marty.

Toshiro . . . I cut around it (no trenching) with a very sharp shovel in 2011, dug it the next year (2012) and removed every other branch, working up from the bottom (no intermediate pics -- sorry), leaving stubs. Once it was potted, I pulled off most of the foliage (and this being a red cedar it was very prickly) chose branches a bit more carefully. I cut lower branches off at trunk (except for the one that now is a jin in the front (was in the back at that time).  Started wiring. In 2013 I stripped the top, plucked more foliage and rewired.  I created the long dead branch in 2014.  Started wishing I'd left more foliage in closer to the trunk, but what was done was done.  Pulled branches down more.  This year has seen no major wiring (only 2 branches wired now).  "Finished" work on the deadwood.

Any comments on the pot?  I kinda like it, but repotting is quite difficult, and I don't handle difficulty very well any more.  It shouldn't need it for a couple more years.

Jim...I would not change anything....I really like this composition. Well done.....

Tom

I wouldn't change anything either. It reminds me of the one at the North Carolina Arboretum but I like yours better.

Thanks for sharing
Steve

steveb wrote:I wouldn't change anything either.  It reminds me of the one at the North Carolina Arboretum but I like yours better.  

Thanks for sharing
Steve

Goodness!  That tree is one of my favorites, so I wouldn't go quite that far, but thanks! Besides, mine is less than 2 feet tall, so it's hard to compare.

JimLewis wrote:Dug this one from my yard back in 2012.  In training pot in '13.  First wiring followed.  In this pot (final??) in January, been tweaking (and will still be doing so) this spring and summer.

Very nice work on a less than great species, Jim. Have you considered a shallow rectangle to pot it in?

Zach

Gives me hope for the one I dug up this year.  You mentioned repot difficulty- b/c of the curved wall of the pot, or something about this species, or...?

The pot.  These guys can take a beating.

I think it needs a round pot because of its literati-ish feel. I actually like this pot. It's by a potter in Maine, if I recall.

Jim,

I will use a quote that I heard from bonsai artist Guy Guidry who was telling me about training with John Naka.

Mr. Naka said "you make old man trees..."

Lovely "old man" tree. Like the container also.

Best,

Ray

Many thanks all for the kind words about my little old man.

Jim, I think the pot is wrong for the tree. I think it needs something less uniformly finished. Perhaps a "rustic" drum? I think this would better match the old beaten look of the tree.

Cheers

Thanks, Andrew. Something to think bout. It make sense. Now if I only had one.

Thank you Jim, that is invaluable information. Great tree, truly.

Great tree! I love eastern red cedars, as you put it they are tough as nails!

Yes,Mr. Lewis,I think what you have created with the Juniperus is very fine indeed,BTW I am very fond of the pot.Best wishes from one who can no longer have conifers.