Scots Pine... Where To Begin?

Does anybody have any ideas for styling this collected Scots pine? I am not sure where to begin and have not yet decided on a "front".









Thanks, Lee.

Anybody? Something like this maybe?

To be honest, it is too early to style this tree. Instead you have to focus on developing much more growth at the lower part of the tree, and at the inner part of the bare branches, as part of a plan for future styling. Removing the two year old needles in early autumn e.g. will help developing new buds and thereby more branches to work with in a period of some years. Read more about pine techniques at http://www.shohin-europe.com/STARTPAGE/articles.html
Let the top branch grow freely at the same time, thickening the trunk.
Some material needs years of preparation and growth before it is ready for the initial styling.
In the mean time I am sure you will be able to work other trees that are more suitable for styling at this time.

Good luck with it, and best regards
Morten

morten albek wrote:To be honest, it is too early to style this tree. Instead you have to focus on developing much more growth at the lower part of the tree, and at the inner part of the bare branches, as part of a plan for future styling. Removing the two year old needles in early autumn e.g. will help developing new buds and thereby more branches to work with in a period of some years. Read more about pine techniques at http://www.shohin-europe.com/STARTPAGE/articles.html
Let the top branch grow freely at the same time, thickening the trunk.
Some material needs years of preparation and growth before it is ready for the initial styling.
In the mean time I am sure you will be able to work other trees that are more suitable for styling at this time.

Good luck with it, and best regards
Morten

Thanks Morten.
Develope growth on the lower part of the tree? Would you keep the branches outlined below then or do you think they are too low?

At this stage I would keep everything. Later on you will see which branches are weakened and which grows well (and at the right spot). Fortunately pine branches are relatively soft and easy to bend and wire even when a bit thick, so no rush. Remember to fertilize well in the growing season to develop the tree faster.

Regards
Morten

Just thought I would post a quick update on this tree. I have done very little to it as it is still not very long since collecting, but I already think that it has made quite a transformation since the last photos. All I have done is straighten up the angle a little and remove one branch from near the top.



I am planning something like this for the future (it looks much better in my head)

Hey! Maybe I can hop on a plane and go steal your bonsai now! I can hide it under my shirt to get thru the boarding checkpoints and I'm sure the other passengers would think the pine aroma coming off me was very pleasant! I don't think there are any restrictions about carrying a bonsai under your clothing onto the plane like there are with box cutters, bottles of liquid, or sticks of dynamite, so there shouldn't be any problems!

You might want to scour back issues of International Bonsai. Bill has always had articles on early development of various pine species. It could be quite useful to you.

This tree is quickly starting to take shape now. I know that I have done a heck of a lot of work to the tree, considering that it was collected less than a year ago, but it is a young and healthy tree with a good root system. I think it will be OK - I hope it will be OK. Yes, I have been impatiant.

Today



The future?