You guys will have seen this Yew over the years...new potting

You guys will have seen this Yew over the years... I entered the KOB competition with a 'progression' styling of the tree (the Year the Hans won). after living with the tree for a couple of years I decided that a total change of style would improve the tree.



Sorry for the rather poor image of the tree but its inside with very poor lighting... when the weather gets better I will post some more images. I think that the tree 'front' is actually slightly rotated to the left.



I think the tree is better rotated to the left, better movement back to front, better nebari, foliage closer to the trunk... the foliage needs to fill out naturally... the photo is not good again sorry guys.

Good move. Reminds me of this buttonwood of mine. Mine had a jin going to the upper left but I cut it off. Yours has the upper jin but the flow seems to work as a counterpoint.

Both beautiful trees ! I like Tony's rotated front, because it seems to add another dimension of depth. I have one question. Tony's rotated 3 footed pot has a leg directly in the front. Rob's beautiful buttonwood in a 3 legged pot has the legs on each side of the front. Which one is correct, and/or does it matter ????


Ed Trout

Ed Trout wrote:Both beautiful trees ! I like Tony's rotated front, because it seems to add another dimension of depth. I have one question. Tony's rotated 3 footed pot has a leg directly in the front. Rob's beautiful buttonwood in a 3 legged pot has the legs on each side of the front. Which one is correct, and/or does it matter ????


Ed Trout

Ed, If I don;t have the leg under the cascade the pot has a tendency to tip over.

Hi Ed and Rob...

Tipping over... the answer is a lead weight, wrapped in plastic acting as a counter balance is a sure way of stopping the tree from 'tippling' over.

As for the position of the feet, I don't think that there is any hard and fast rule.

Rob,

I knew I'd get the "engineers" answer from you ! Tony, I've done that "weight" thing before to counterbalance the tree. It works great if you have enough room in the pot. Most of the time, if not all of the time, trees planted in these type of containers are leaning one way or the other. I've always used the feet of the pot to support it in that direction, making sure they were symetrical to the "front", but I've been called on it several times by judges. Fact is, if they're spending that much time looking at the feet on the pot, maybe I need to do a little more work on the tree !!


Ed

Hi Ed, If you want more engineering, this tree is held in the pot with two stainless steel bolts screwed into the base of the deadwood, they are 4 inches long and sink 1 inch into the tree, they are then wired thru the base of the pot. The tree is so well fixed in the pot you can lift the whole thing via the trunk.

Trees in this iteration are damn hard to position well in the pot... this took two hours to get right

Hi Tony.
Beautiful yew.Restyling tree greatly improved.
Love yews and dynamic composition with extended lower branches.
Very beautiful work. Tree with a big future.

Pavel S.

That's amazing Tony,

Your innovations & creative thinking has resulted in a wonderful creation ! I've always said that anyone who does bonsai has some engineering skill, not only for the creative methods that are needed in basic bonsai, but also in the way we transport our treasures. My favorite thing to do is to watch folks pull into the loading area of an exhibit. Seeing the creative ways trees that are too tall, too wide, off balance, or impossible to move, loaded into cars that are too small for such endeavors arrive with nary a branch out of place is absolutely amazing !! And I include myself in this wonderful fraternity.

Ed

Peter

Good job Tony. It looks like a completely different tree now, but somehow strangely familiar!

Hi Tony,
The new position and restyling is much more dynamic and sculptural - exceptional.

As for Ed's question about the position of the pot feet in relationship to the front; that aside from matters of structural support, the whole composition should be judged carefully with the foot in the center or the negative space of the pot in the center. Each tree and pot combination will produce a different combination that must heighten the overall composition.