making progress - red bougainvillea

the long process from collected stump to bonsai continues. sharing the latest progress on a large red bougainvillea

best wishes, sam


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kauaibonsai wrote:the long process from collected stump to bonsai continues. sharing the latest progress on a large red bougainvillea

best wishes, sam


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Branches are not thick enough, in my opinion. The transition from the large stump to the new growth is too abrupt. Also, the branches are all of the same size. Would you consider placing the tree in a big pot to encourage more growth?

Carlos

thanks carlos. I bow to your wisdom.

best wishes, sam

i don't understand what carlos is saying, perhaps he can show us one of his trees as an example

of course there's always room for improvement, but i think it more than on it's way

carlos wrote:..

Branches are not thick enough, in my opinion. The transition from the large stump to the new growth is too abrupt. Also, the branches are all of the same size. Would you consider placing the tree in a big pot to encourage more growth?

Carlos

Carlos C. ?

-dorothy

Dorothy,

Yes.

Kind Regards,

Carlos

kauaibonsai wrote:thanks carlos. I bow to your wisdom.

best wishes, sam

Well, I don't hink that 'wisdom' is the correct word. My age does not grant me the privilege!!!

I believe that I know a thing or two about bonsai, but i can always learn. Sometimes, even the beginners are able to teach us something. A fresh perspective on things opens up a whole new world of ideas. Given the sarcasm of your reply, you are a bit sensitive when it comes to remarks regarding your work, constructive or otherwise. Remember, in bonsai, thre is always opportunity to improove.

Kind regards,

Carlos

Hi Sam,

There is wisdom in what carlos suggested, the proper ramification of a bonsai tree, that the first branch should be thicker than 2nd branch, 2nd branch is thicker than the 3rd etc. If this could be achieved, you will have a better looking tree. For flowering and fruiting bonsai trees, proper ramicication is not so much an issue, what is more important is for these trees to bloom more flowers and bear more fruits.
Increasing the thickness of the branches of bougies is no problem, just let it grow wild for a year and it is done.

Best regards
ka pabling

good morning carlos and ka pabling:

there is wisdom and a sharp eye in carlos's post. perhaps my choice of words could have been better, because sarcasm was not my intention. please keep in mind the presentation of this tree is as "a work in progress" not as finished bonsai. Additionally, when this massive stump was collected just a few years ago there were no branches whatsoever. As is the way with bougainvillea, growth has been rapid to the point where most of the branch structure for a future bonsai have grown. Currently, the focus is on thickness and ramification , which is being created mainly by clip and grow. While not the fastest way to get tiered branch thickness, the tree is ramifying nicely while the branches thicken.

best wishes, sam

Your tree to me is looking good with the thicker branches and that massive trunk!!!! soon it will be a great bonsai...take care john

thanks john.

beauty is always in the eyes of the beholder.

best wishes, sam

Lovely tree Sam!

IMHO--If the tree is lovely, I don't give a s**t if its not in the formal ideal idea of a bonsai. It looks like bonsai to me and its lovely. Enjoy the tree, the branches will grow thick in time. It's a Bougie anyway, it will grow thick even by just trimming it occasionally.

regards,
jun

thanks jun:

I appreciate your insight and opinion. I am an admirer of your "go for it, try anything style." to me, this kind of thinking creates break-throughs in traditional ways of doing or thinking about things.- whether it be bonsai, architecture, or most other things. Like most who post here, I am a amateur, hobbiest, who happens to be long on age and short on (bonsai) experience. In general terms I know what the "rules" say-and that I am not purposefully out to flout rules promulgated for good reasons by bonsai experts whose level of proficiency I will never achieve. If I (we), waited to post work only after all the styling i's were dotted and the t's crossed, you would never see a post from me or from most of the membership.

The operative words for my work are - amateur and hobbiest. Meanwhile, Do I want to improve? Absolutely !! Have I improved ?? Absolutely !! Will I ever become an "expert" ? No chance !! Am I OK with the rate of improvement and the appearance of some of my trees ? Absolutely !!

best wishes, sam

You have the "spirit" of an artist Sam... and for the younger generation of bonsai enthusiasts here. My unsolicited (as a fellow hobbiest) advice is- Don't let the rigid rules of things hinders your creativity...otherwise you'll wake up someday as an old man (no offense meant) and realized you have missed the time and opportunity to create something that you would really like. In shorter words- Don't grow up in a cage.

...My personal rule/motto is---"Why blend in? When you can stand out".


regards,
jun

thanks jun.

I agree. Absolutely !!

best wishes, sam

Sam,

Interesting tree.

Regards,

Jose Luis

thanks, jose.

best wishes, sam

Dear Sam,
first of all congratulations on the progress achieved untill now, i follow all your posts with extreme interest, and i may say that you were a inspiration when i started to collect my first bougaivillias, i have five at the moment, three are yamadori and two are cuttings of the previous ones, they are all at the beginning of the road that leads to becomming bonsai one day, so i will be following your posts with antecipation and exitement, thanks for letting out so much wisdom (no sarcasm) , so we can learn, and be better bonsai hobbyists as the time goes along.

thank you, ferdy-san.

we are in the same boat- trying to learn and improve. the journey towards knowledge is endless but exciting. while no expert, ask if I can help.

best wishes, sam

G'day Sam...

"...Branches are not thick enough, in my opinion. The transition from the large stump to the new growth is too abrupt. Also, the branches are all of the same size. Would you consider placing the tree in a big pot to encourage more growth?..."'.

As Dorothy said. "...???....".

Sam, my friend, what you are doing with this bougie is cool...IMHO, what's important now is what you want to show off...the color while in bloom, or the branching. If it is the color, you are right on track and the "...not thick enough..." matters not. And as the foliage mass develops you won't even see the "...not thick enough..." branches.

So, keep doing what you're doing, and show us your progress from time to time.

Pat

thanks pat.

if critique - rs would recognize the tree for what it is represented to be - a work in progress, there'd be no problem. common sense, don't you think?

best wishes, sam

bonsaistud wrote:G'day Sam...

"...Branches are not thick enough, in my opinion. The transition from the large stump to the new growth is too abrupt. Also, the branches are all of the same size. Would you consider placing the tree in a big pot to encourage more growth?..."'.

As Dorothy said. "...???....".

Sam, my friend, what you are doing with this bougie is cool...IMHO, what's important now is what you want to show off...the color while in bloom, or the branching. If it is the color, you are right on track and the "...not thick enough..." matters not. And as the foliage mass develops you won't even see the "...not thick enough..." branches.

So, keep doing what you're doing, and show us your progress from time to time.

Pat

Mr. Pat,

The Carlos C.???? does not have anyhting to do with Mr. Sam's tree. It is regarding my last name, which starts with C...

Regards,

Carlos