Pinus Banksiana clump

Collected in Maine 2004. This first image was shot a year later. Second picture is the initial styling with the assistance of David Benavente as guest artist at the Ho Yoku bonsai school in 2007. Third image is the tree from last year at the time of repotting. This simply involved cleaning out compacted soil, trimming roots and adding more sifted soil. The fourth image was shot today.

and here is the base

Thats developed really quickly Peter. Have admired David's work for a long time.

Yes, it did. In 2007, I've wired it three times between May and September because of it severely biting into the trunk. Branches set quickly. I'm still trying to maximize back-budding. It doesn't behave quite like black pine, nor like scots pine. It's somewhere between the two. I haven't seen many examples of it in bonsai cultivation here. The needles can be reduced to the size of spruce needles. I think it's a great tree for bonsai.

I couldn't resist playing with this tree... I like it very much, I think it's come a long way... and hope to see it over the years.


Edited...

hi Victrina. Thank you for the nice image. I like what you did with the apex on the second large trunk. However, the rest won't work for these reasons. The foliage on the lowest trunk is actually a branch pad coming from the trunk above it. And the second lower pad on the second trunk from the right originates from the first trunk on the right. If I used a proper backgound, I'm sure these details would have shown.

Hope you're enjoying the national exhibition.

Peter

Then I humbly offer this thought... and while I am not a fan of "the rules" I also know that sometimes subtraction often supports the overall vision of a tree more than the total sum.

The upper pad doesn't concern me much... you could pull it off eventually... even bud grafting if needed. Even the lower pad is doable in the long term by the same technique or shear luck. Time is the only factor. However I have to say... I enjoy it as much with the triple trunk, and I also find the descending branch structurally lovely. So it's something to muse on anyway.

I'm not in NY with the tree... I sent it on it's own. I've got so many other vacations that have been in the plans longer than I had any thought of the Exhibition that I am not attending. Though there are bits and peices of me which wish I was there.



Kindest regards,

Victrinia

That could work. However, to me, the lowest trunk makes the composition unique. I think without it, the tree is in better scale with the pot. But, the pot is only a training planter. I'm thinking more of a slab for a finished container.