Lurch the Larch

Hmmm so the man in the moon has been Lurch all along.

Great tree Fiona, I don't think it needs it but if you do decide to remove a branch, then I'm with Ian, you have nothing to lose by jinning it first to decide whether it works for you or not.

Thanks Walter. I like that pot option too. Is that natural or is it fibreglass? I'm thinking that if I went for a stone pot, there would as a result be some consdierable weight implication. The tree is at the upper limit of what I can lift myself as it stands. Fibreglass/resin might be an option, but it would need to be very realistic.

re. the deadwood: it's funny how there is an urge to rush out and jin and shari everything in sight when you first start bonsai - mostly, I suspect, because the photos we see from top exhibitions all depict trees with such features on them. As I said before, I think it is a sign of bonsai "maturity" that we learn to resist this urge.

I live in close promixity to vast acreages of larch plantation and in my regular walks through them with the dog, I have seldom seen one with natural deadwood (a larch, that is, not a dog.) So, in my humble but (hopefully) more discerning opinion, I can say that I will not be doing any sort of jin or shari on this tree. I'll leave that for my junipers.

How 'bout creating some negative space?

Took Jerry's advice and did a further haircut on Big Lurch today. It does look so much better. Not entirely perfect yet - I'll wait until some new foliage grows in in places before I chop out any more branches but I suspect that there'll be one or two still to go.



To get an idea of perspective, here's my small but perfectly formed self along with Big Lurch's wee
brother, Lil Lurch.




Hmmmm. Talking of haircuts...

Lurch looks a lot better now. Is this one of Peter Snarts fine bits of material? How long have you been training this tree?

Howzit Fiona,
Really nice work.... nice movement on the trunk. Very graceful. I would love to have something like that on my lani.

-Tim

Lovely wee one.

Excellent haircut too

Alain: nice haircut. Me or the tree?

Will: yes it was from Peter, via another owner who had to give it up owing to ill-health and consequently not being able to lift it. I got it in 2006 and the pic below is as it was in the spring of 2007.





I worked on it with Marco in September of 2007 and the immediate task was to bring the branches downwards as they were beginning to head off into the stratosphere. Obviously we discussed a new planting angle at the time which I must admit I'd forgotten about. Might prop it up tomorrow to see if that's still of benefit.



The past two and a half years have been spent developing new growth and trying to get the overall desired shape. I can't believe looking at those pics just how much it has changed - and for the better IMHO.

Fiona wrote: Alain: nice haircut. Me or the tree?


Both the lass and the larch

It just shows you how important it is to have a photographic record, as you soon forget how trees have changed. That is some transformation Fiona.

Fiona,

Wonderful tree ! I like Walter's virtual the best so far, but what a great situation to be in. I'd rather have a great tree like that looking for a pot, than having a great pot looking for a tree !!

Ed Trout

Ah Ed, the old chicken and egg paradox.

But here's another bit to factor in: I mentioned that the original plan had featured a rather nice Ian Baillie pot, but over the past few days I have been struggling to remember why as it is oval. Finding the photo of the tree on the different planting angle reminded me, so I've been footering about with (that's Scottish for tinkering with) a virt incorporating that planting angle and the Ian Baillie pot.

Here is the result (bear in mind my PAV* status):




*Pants At Virtuals

My initial feeling was I liked it that way. But then I wondered if it took away the character achieved through the original angle - a kind of tension as if it was clinging to something. Or, indeed, has it made it look too much like a pine?

Fiona I really like this tree. I think its beautiful. Well done.

Your backdrop is another matter. I think it might be alive. I'm not one for paranoia usually but, I think a ninja has infiltrated your home. Or perhaps you are part of the "Underground Railroad for BigFoot". Either way, good luck.

Fiona, this tree is lovely! Your pup looks like a good sport. How long did he/she stay under the tarp (wag wag)
Regards, Todd

Hi Fiona,

Great larch, I really like it. I was going to suggest that you think about changing the planting angle a little, but I see you and Marco have already thought of that. I think it looks ever so slightly unstable in it's present state, and I think the suggested new angle is the way to go. I'm not so sure about the oval pot. I think the tree is powerful enough that it needs a brown rectangular pot.

Roger

Hi Fiona, what a tree I am so pleased you didn't carve it the bark is lovely. Is it a collected tree ?
Craig

Hi Craig. I got it from Peter Snart who runs Willowbog Nursery just a bit inland from Newcastle, and it would have been collected from Kielder Forest in Northumberland by him, oh, probably in around 2000 or 2001. He's going to see if by chance he has any pics of it from this time which would be an even more interesting comparison.

Hi Fiona

That's a really fine larch! I think Walter and Nik both have it right. A rustic pot and a slight shortening of the lowest right hand branch would be magic. Changing the planting angle would spoil it as a tree and make it look like a bonsai. And no carving please!

Dave

btw that is a rather fetching haircut

Dave wrote: btw that is a rather fetching haircut


Thanks, Dave. My late Mum always told me to try and return a compliment, but ...

ouch! That's almost as rough as Pat calling me Curly

Well! You know what they say about follicularly challenged men.....

Yeah, they lack hair.

Square pot?

(from green dragon)

I think this is too deep, Rich....Like people with bald heads, Fiona.