The Romanian Sabina Juniper gets styled

I posted this tree last year when I gave the tree its first 'true' potting from its collected state. The tree had been established for three years in the plant pot in a semi cascade position.





On removing the tree form the pot the roots did not lend the tree to be a cascade but offered an upright option, this was perfect as it highlighted the exquisite movement in the trunk.



Here is the first styling of the tree, my task is to ensure that the tree thrives, fill out the foliage and repot the tree lower in the pot to eliminate the visual confusion and inverse taper. The tree was styled this weekend at the Best of British by Enrico with a wee bit of help from me.



If anyone has photos of the demo in progress can you post them please as I was far too busy to make any

Sorry I couldn't take any pics of the demo but a great first styling anyway.

how I foresee the new potting depth and pot idea.

WOW ! Fantastic Tony
What a great Transformation.Love it ..

Original position was better

Still lacks something in either position.....Nebari. Fundamental in a decent bonsai design.

mr treevolution wrote:Still lacks something in either position.....Nebari. Fundamental in a decent bonsai design.

In any other case I'd agree with you,but it's quite ok for a juniper to have no nebari,and in fact is rare for them to have a decent nebari.

carlos wrote:Original position was better

Because?

I prefer the higher position too. The rotten and missing deadwood is all part of the story. Nebari is a bonus with trees like this, Treevolution.

beautiful, tony. wonderful material, great styling. will's idea for exposing the bottom of the trunk makes good sense. adds interest/character down low.

best wishes, sam

No stranger to junipers; bonsai or otherwise, but i have not seen many that wow me.
Yes fab movement but lots still look like twisted sticks that are pushed into compost.
The lack of nebari cannot be overcome in my eyes when a tree looks like it has no grasp and could fall over!

Tony, you are a good prospect bonsai richer.
About nebari, like Lee stated, never seen a juniper with a wow nebari, even kimuras junipers do not have a great nebari.
And its a yamadori tree, you have to work with what you get from nature.

Peter

more dynamic

carlos wrote:more dynamic

So its about time you show us your trees.

Kind regards
Peter

landerloos wrote:

carlos wrote:more dynamic

So its about time you show us your trees.

Kind regards
Peter

I thought is was acceptable to express opinions. I am sorry you don't like mine. When ready, I will show.

One question: Don't you think that he actuall position makes the tree go at a backward angle just a tad too much?

tony wrote:how I foresee the new potting depth and pot idea.

Why don't you just graft new roots highet up the trunk?
I like the juniper quite a lot btw.

Hi Tony,

Very good work. Really beautiful tree with great potential.

gretings Pavel

carlos wrote:

landerloos wrote:

carlos wrote:more dynamic

So its about time you show us your trees.

Kind regards
Peter

I thought is was acceptable to express opinions. I am sorry you don't like mine. When ready, I will show.

One question: Don't you think that he actuall position makes the tree go at a backward angle just a tad too much?

Hi Carlos, ofcourse you allowed to give opinions, but we love to get some deeper input, not just more dynamic and so on.
I was not trying to offend you in anyway.
Now about the angle, yes I have to admit that the tree in the photo seems to lean to much to the back, but it is a foto only 2d, in real life 3d it could be it isnt the case, here can only Tony answer your question.

Kind regards
Peter

landerloos wrote: Now about the angle, yes I have to admit that the tree in the photo seems to lean to much to the back, but it is a foto only 2d, in real life 3d it could be it isnt the case, here can only Tony answer your question.

Kind regards
Peter

Am I missing something here? I was under the impression that Tony's pic was a virtual of how he envisages it rather than an actual picture of how it currently looks.

All things are possible if I am right including exposing more of the original tree base and altering the angle.

Maybe Tony would be kind enough to clarify this.


In any event, I am sure Tony will make good job of the tree whatever he decides to do. Having seen it up close and personal (the tree, not Tony) I am more than convinced of this.

mr treevolution wrote:Still lacks something in either position.....Nebari. Fundamental in a decent bonsai design.

For every bonsai enthusiast with experience in styling of yamadori, it goes without saying that it is impossible to have all the good features in every singe yamadori.
So, in this case we can focus on the beautiful live vein/deadwood and interesting styling by Enrico Savini and put the nebari aside, as it is impossible to get all things right since it is beyond our power.

Hi
On the virtual it looks a bit unnatural, the trunk is coming to sudden-abruptly out of the ground.
The other version looks more elegant, but Tony will find a good solution.
Things like this can only really be judged when one sees the tree in life,
it are sometimes some small alterations that make a big difference.
What do you think of this one, isn't she moving beautifully?
i
regards, Sunip

But then,
well, see where it gets,
a skirt with some moss?
You never know is it?

regards, Sunip

Hi Tony, my question? is, has there at any point in the trees development been a
time when the trunk was cut /sawn approx mid way up to enable the trunk
to be given its bend/shape or is that a natural scar across the trunk!!
I agree with keeping the character of the rotted bottom of the trunk it makes
it look more elegant as opposed to the stumpy look in the virtual. .

regards Alex e

Here's a few pictures of Tony's tree to show it does not need inclining towards the front sorry about the background.

This tree is a totally natural creation, nothing has been changed apart from repositioning and removing some branches. Junipers.. even ones in the ground rarely display nebari, and to imply that this tree is 'lacking' in something is an affront to nature.

Any GOOD artist endeavors to work in sympathy with the natural harmony and bring out the best in raw material that they are working. Enrico Savini is one of if not THE BEST bonsai artists in Europe specialising in Junipers (why else would I let another artist work my tree? Answer: Enrico is better than me with Junipers)

Those that witnessed the creation of this Bonsai marveled at Enricos work in transforming a bush (a VERY nice bush) into a fine bonsai. His reputation is on the line every time he 'performs' and I gave him free reign with this tree to create the best he could, I believe he has done that and I would have been VERY happy if I had done the same

I encourage members to have opinions, comment, discuss, argue... but BACK IT UP don't do a 'drive by' remark and think it clever.