JUNIPER ON ROCK

This originated from a 5 gallon Hollywood Juniper going back to 1980.
The Golden State Bonsai Federation 1980 convention was held in Sacramento, and Dan Robinson was the headliner. Dan used a chainsaw to aid in styling collected pines.
I was inspired! As soon as I got home, I bought a small electric chainsaw and attacked this Hollywood.
Yesterday I carved a planting pocket into this piece of California rock and installed the juniper. The guy wires are the only sure way to secure it, and will probably have to stay on for a year.
Overall height is about 30 inches.

Clever concept

Mike, this one to me is pure art - sculpture. A transcendence from bonsai - very cool.

Rob Kempinski wrote:Mike, this one to me is pure art - sculpture. A transcendence from bonsai - very cool.

Rob, thank you very much for your very generous comments. Greatly appreciated.

Mike

mike page wrote:

Rob Kempinski wrote:Mike, this one to me is pure art - sculpture. A transcendence from bonsai - very cool.

Rob, thank you very much for your very generous comments. Greatly appreciated.

Mike

Mike I was going back and relooking at this tree and I have to say that I am really blown away by it. It has to be the most creative posting I've seen on IBC. The presentation, the rock and the black background- you have really hit on something here. I even like the guy wires in the image. In fact, you have given me an idea for a new design - just need to work it out.

Rob, once again, many thanks for your comments.
I'm very much looking forward to seeing your ideas for a new design. As Yogi Berra so famously said; "When you come to a fork in the road, take it".

Best Regards

Mike

It's been awhile for me, and it's good to see you here.
Like, Rob, I really like the composition; very abstract and minimal. My only personal regret is that there is no hint of the live vein (bark) from the front view.

Will the rock be placed in a shallow tray with water? Is the medium of sufficient volume to keep it healthy?

Luis Fontanills wrote:It's been awhile for me, and it's good to see you here.
Like, Rob, I really like the composition; very abstract and minimal. My only personal regret is that there is no hint of the live vein (bark) from the front view.

Will the rock be placed in a shallow tray with water? Is the medium of sufficient volume to keep it healthy?

Hi Luis, long time, no see. I'm glad you're back aboard!
Regarding the live vein, it's intentionally out of sight. Adds some to the mystery.
I think the soil volume will be sufficient to maintain the foliage. It's about the same as if the foliage volume was part of a shohin bonsai in a shohin size pot. Plus, I'm only 4 or 5 miles from the Pacific coast and we have summers that are fairly cool and foggy at times. Makes bonsai growing easier than it is in some other locations.
I may place the rock in a suiban if I can find one large enough.

Best Regards

Mike

A walk on the wild side Mike...I like it...

Pat…mounted on my trusted stead, riding off wildly in all directions…

Here's the rock in a "suiban". I've had this stashed away for so many years that I forgot about it.
The suiban measures 38 inches long, and is just big enough for the rock at the large end. It's a bit too deep, so if I want to use it for display, I'd have to "shim" up the rock about 2 inches.

Mike I like it without the suiban.
Less is more.

Rob Kempinski wrote:Mike I like it without the suiban.
Less is more.

Rob, I think you're right,

wow, really nice. Cant imagine how a bonsai so tall can be planted on just what looks like only rocks. Does it have enough soil and nutrients, and the watering regime must be like 5 times a day.

Muppets wrote:wow, really nice. Cant imagine how a bonsai so tall can be planted on just what looks like only rocks. Does it have enough soil and nutrients, and the watering regime must be like 5 times a day.

The rock has a hollow carved in it that's about the size of a small bonsai pot. The height of the tree is not what determines the amount of necessary root space. The foliage on this tree is about the same as on a small bonsai, and there are sufficient roots to support it. The watering cycle will be about the same as for a shohin bonsai