Picea abies - group planting 2005 - 2010

Hi to all! After some years of just watching this marvellous bonsai forum, I decided to contribute actively as well. This is my first post, so let me introduce myself - my name is Lukas Sirotny, I am from the Czech Republic, city Roznov p. R (in fact the neigbour of, for you very well known, Pavel Slovak), I am 23 years old and for about 10 years in bonsai . We are running our bonsai garden together with my father who has been cultivating bonsai for 25+ years, however,more seriously when I also got involved into bonsai world.
Anyway, our first tree to show you is one spruce group planting which was put together in 2005 and styled for the first time in 2006. The trees itself come from one nursery where were bought by my father about 20 years ago (so they have already gained a lot of "yamadorish" caracter ). Few days ago the whole group was cut bata and trimmed as always at this time of year in order to build better ramification and support back budding.
The last styling was made last summer, I guess that the next one with better layout of foliage pads will follow in fall or in summer 2011.
I would appreciate your comments and suggestions on this tree. How do you like the tree/pot (stone) combination? At the time of potting it was just the quick choice but now I kinda like it.
You are also very welcome to see the whole progression with more photos in my personal website - http://www.bonsairoznov.cz/fotoalbum/bonsai-story/smrky---beskydske-trio .

2006 fall- before/after first styling, or rather selection and placement of main branches




2008 spring - preparation of new stone slab, group potted



2009 summer - further styling, front side/back side




2010 summer - last trimming and editing, size comparison - it is quite big, 111 cm!

Welcome Lucas. Younger members are always a delight to hear of, as the future of bonsai lies with you. May I also say that your English is excellent.

Great group planting and I like the stone "pot" too.

Hi Lukas. I agree totally with Kev. Well done with the picea group and thanks for sharing its progression record with us.

We look forward to seeing more of your work.

Hi Lucas,

good work. How about making the downward angle of the branches MUCH steeper. This would increase the drama, make the trees slimmer and get more of a wild feeling and less of a bonsai feeling.
Anyway, welcome here. Attached Lucas and Pavel in Slovakia a couple of weeks ago.

Very nice group. I agree with Walter and further would suggest that you try to change the angle of growth of at least one of the trees. The grouping is very symmetrical now. It looks a bit like a trident spear now -- \|/ -- and would, I think, benefit from one tree planted closer to the center tree or moving toward or away from it at a different angle.

Just my opinion, of course.

Thank you guys (and fiona ) for your nice words and comments! Thanks, Walter, for the complementary photo .The pictures of more trees of mine will definitely follow in next days/weeks.
Regarding the spruce group, I agree with both suggested points: 1.) the angle of branches could be steeper especially on the main tree whose two main branches need to be pulled down, this will be done in the course of next wiring (fall 2010) - the current shiny greyish aluminium wire will be removed and everything will be rewired with copper and pulled down with help of guy wires, then it could gain more representative look at last!, 2.) "trident spear" - it´s very obvious on the photographed front side, when the group is rotated just few ° clockwise/counterclokwise, everything looks better/ok, anyway I will try to move the smallest tree closer to the main tree when the next reppotting is done.
I tried to style trees to have more than just a few front sides, there were also proposals to pick the current left side as new front side, we will see how the group will be developing, progress will be reported.

Nice work Lukas...

I enjoyed viewing the gallery of your website very much. Lots of interesting potential trees...

Regards from Belgium,
Hans

Hi Lucas. Ur English is excellent. When I was in the navy I was in Europe an found that most everyone spoke English very well. In the states its not really necessary to speak other languages so we just never learn. Anyways.......how do ur picea babies backbud?? I have an amazing babies that was removed from a friends garden in a big wood box that I will begin work on next summer as it is extremely vigorous and healthy. Most of foliage is far from trunk and I don't want to make branches unnaturally twisted to get green close to trunk.

Nice work Lukas, I like them very much.

bezmar, thx for your flattering words,but believe me, there is still a lot to improve concerning my english .
As for the backbudding, spruces have a great abbility to backbud on old branches and even on trunk, if they are very healthy and well established - I attach a photo of the same picea group from 09/2009 on which can be observed one new bud right on the trunk and another on one of main branches. Then you have to wait untill new growth sprouted from this buds is strong enough to live without an sacrificial branch (2-3 years) in order to shorten step by step long and weeping branches (also in 2, 3 or more years period) - the perfect example how to work with spruces is this Walter´s "surrealistic" spruce http://walter-pall.de/spruceeuropean_spruce_nr__18.jpg.dir/index.html - I like the tree itself, but I just love the way of training the raw material prior to first styling, all the crown is replaced and built exclusively with newly grown branches.

That is exactly what I wanted to hear! Thank u. I often see spruces in peoples yards that hav had all lower branches removed and quickly replace them w new growth. I will post progression pics as this one developes

Very nice!! I like that pot/stone...I think the opinions given by the two fellow members would improve your already good work and make it great!