Lurch the Larch

I did some rewiring on my big larch over the pat few days. I forgot my trademark size-indicating Ardbeg bottle, but the tree is about 26" from pot rim to apex and about 30" across at its widest point.

It was getting overcrowded at the tail end of last summer, plus the branches had all started to head heavenwards, so the object of the rewire was to bring the branches back down. Obviously it is still early stage of growth for this year and the foliage will bulk out quite considerably I should expect.

I have thought about doing some shari work on the trunk but have decided for the moment to leave it as the bark is so nice. I am increasingly anti just putting in bonsai features because you can. Maybe that's a sign of getting better at bonsai - being able to resist such temptations when they are not appropriate to the tree.

See what you think


Tree last August before the needles turned and dropped




As of today




Why my backdrop looked so wrinkled and kept moving

Love your Larch Fiona. Quite exceptional. I think your right to resist with the shari, it doesn;t need it and will over egg the pudding. Thought you might be needing a food reference in there after all your hard work.

Sure is a fab tree, just another to remind me why they are one of my favourites.
This tree does not need any dead wood, be it shari or jin. You should be pleased, the rework looks great !
Regards Nick

That is a really lovely tree. I agree it doesn't need any wood work. I would love a tree like that.

Beautiful tree, nicely balanced and natural looking!
A tree that reminds a tree in nature, exactly what bonsai is all about.

Hi Fiona,
Very good work and an excellent result.
I appreciate what you have created. A very pleasing tree.
I can't help feeling there are a few too many branches.
I feel the tree is a little crowded and appears to have a few "T" branches. It could be even better thinned just a little.
I'd like to see more of the trunk and feel it would give the tree even more of an ancient appearance by creating spaces between the already reduced pads.

A virtual

Hi Fiona, realy beautiful Larch.

Pavel

Thanks guys.

Jerry, I agree with you and in fact I removed several branches during the rewire process but mostly just the wee skinny ones that had grown out from the trunk or off main branches.

I will have a reappraisal tomorrow when I have a bit of time (or at least the next dry decent day as it's quite a task to lift it in and out of a sheltered area) to see what can be done now. Failing that it might just make an appearance at Burrs in November for its shedding.

Fiona, is this the final pot for the tree?
Something is wrong with tree/pot combination.

Peter

Hi Peter. No, that's not the final pot.

I have a large Ian Baillie pot which I had planned on using. Trouble is, it's oval which looked fine when I got it as the plan was to offset the tree to the left in the pot and not have such an overhang on the right side. But I'm no longer convinced about that - except for the offsetting the tree part.

Am reserving judgment until I can decide if the finances can justify a rather nice Gordon Duffet rectangular pot I saw at Joy of Bonsai. I'm hoping that if I get all my school students through their exams, their mums might club together and buy me it. Pretty please, mums?

Or maybe that lovely John Pitt might make me an enormous moon pot. Insert big flirty smiley fluttery eyelash grin here.

As a matter of interest, I'd welcome people's comments on whether they think it should have a coloured pot or brown. In the meantime, I might try a virt.

Hi Fiona,
As this is early day's in this bonsai's life enjoy it's progress.
Look forwards to see the tree and you at Burrs.

That's an intersting point you raise there, Jerry. From my perspective, the tree is quite advanced in its life as a bonsai as it had been trained for at least five years before I got it about 4 years ago. My role has been one of keep it healthy for the first year as there were a couple of small problems with it. But over the last three years I have been working away at getting a better shape into it. This is the second time I have brought the branches back downwards (when I got it you could have trained an Olympic ski jump team on it, it was so ramp-like) and I suspect that will be a continuous process.

It's interesting because it's one in the eye of the usual suspect accusations of "bought tree". Technically this was a bonsai when I bought it, but as far a I am concerned it is my tree because I am essentially changing its shape to achieve a better image than the original one (virt is a further inspiration in that direction - thanks). I'm going to see if I can find a pic of it 4 years ago to identify how much its changed.

Just shows you that nothing is static in bonsai.

I just love it !

Love the tree and I like Jeremy's virtual and agree with having a slightly more open feel to it. I personally wouldn't put a shari on it, not with bark like that to show off. I'd be tempted to jin a few of the branches instead of complete removal just to see how that looks. It's actually a hard one to find the right pot for. I can't wait to see what you come up with.

Regards

Ian

Hi Fi

Great tree! I have an idea for a pot I will post when I have a spare 5 mins on photoshop a formal semi cascade by Gordon in his trademark red clay with oxides I think

Regards

Andy

Ooooooooooh! I won't sleep tonight now!

I on the other hand have to Fi, up at bloody 5 will post asap

Wow Fiona; Great tree love ya work!

Hi Fiona,your great Larch in the Moon-pot
I hope you like it
Greetings Ed

Hey hey! I could really get to like that!

Depends if I want to go conventional or "outside the box". Mind you - it's going to have to be some size of a moon pot. But young Mr Pitt is a man of such talent.


Thanks Ed, that was very kind of you to do the virt.

I know it's not usual to be putting a larch in a glazed pot but the mention of Gordon Duffet made me think of the glaze on my carved Elm pot. I think the antique crackle glaze could work very well with the bark.

hi! Fiona.

Since been doing overtime at my garden visiting friends an yeah work!
The internet reactions fail,....love the tree! and have to go with Jeremy....

undercover dog ay' try to scare us?

Take care,....as i do!

grtz... machiel....building up his own being,.....and yes its nice here!

I really love your tree!!! my opion please do not shari or jin any branches.the tree looks natural that is the point to me. would love to have one closeto it in my collection..good work...john in w.va.

How about this?
Please do not make artificial deadwood on such a tree.