Another Pro Nana Literati

Eric Group · Apr 12, 2015

First the back story:

Got the tree from a buddy about... a year and a half ago. I posted another literati Pro nana he gave me recently, and this one was it's slightly odder looking brother.

Odd looking because it basically has one big dead section of trunk poking up from the foliage which basically consists of ONE branch that splits off into two sub branches... Since the whole back of the tree is deadwood, this "branch" IS the trunk now.
Let's see some pics..

I did all the work yesterday and this is what it looked like before I started

Closeup of the dead wood... As you can see, it extends further than what is uncovered. O was leaving it because I like the old looking bark, but Ms. Shaner took one look at this tree a few weeks ago and told me I needed to peel that back and find the live vein! So, that was part of the plan!

Eric Group · Apr 12, 2015

So, I knew Iw anted a different angle... something more like: yeahh... that oughta add something to the image.

Got out a little carving tool I bought at Wigerts when I was in Florida and started scraping off that dead bark- went all the wayt to the ground, just like Kathy said it would!!

You see this little hollow loop of wood there? This was a knot that had started to rot out and ANTS had made it their home! About 20 and one larger one (prolly a queen) came flooding out when I poked around in there! I evicted them and burned anyone within in reach of the torch, carved the rot away, and sealed it in flame to harden the wood, and it made an interesting little feature? I think so anyway.. I was just glad the ants were obviously not in there long, and hadn't eaten too far into the wood! It is no hollowed out, there were no ant colonies in the soil... Crisis averted!

Put the wire on next.. didn't get detailed wiring done on the top part yet, still kinda rough, but you can get the idea. I am going to wait until it starts throwing new growth, and finalize it then.

Eric Group · Apr 12, 2015

First: a pic from that night, soon after finishing...

Wasn't super happy with the pic, took one with better light today.

JoeR · Apr 12, 2015

What a vast improvement with very difficult material.

Eric Group · Apr 12, 2015

Thanks Joe!

edprocoat · Apr 12, 2015

Eric looks great ! When I read the title of this thread my first thought was I do not think I have ever seen a literati Pro Nana before. lol I usually see these as cascades or screwed up attempts at styles. Glad to see a nice Literati, thanks.

ed

A Random User · Apr 12, 2015

I see where you are going with this... But gotta say that you are going to need to really crank the two branches in where you need them.
Need to see more of the trunk. I would apply a guy wire to the lower branch, and around the trunk, and pull the lower branch right back literally against the trunk. Then I would suggest that on this lower branch that about the 5th branch up, that you kick the branch back to the right and down, following the trunk line down. The upper branch... which is your heavy back branch, needs to come up. Attach a guy wire around the branch and around the jinned trunk above it, and bring the branch up and towards the jinned trunk, or back into the center of the tree. The smaller branches on the branch will need to be adjusted. Bring them forward and down.

Eric Group · Apr 13, 2015

sawgrass said:
View attachment 71628 I see where you are going with this... But gotta say that you are going to need to really crank the two branches in where you need them.
Need to see more of the trunk. I would apply a guy wire to the lower branch, and around the trunk, and pull the lower branch right back literally against the trunk. Then I would suggest that on this lower branch that about the 5th branch up, that you kick the branch back to the right and down, following the trunk line down. The upper branch... which is your heavy back branch, needs to come up. Attach a guy wire around the branch and around the jinned trunk above it, and bring the branch up and towards the jinned trunk, or back into the center of the tree. The smaller branches on the branch will need to be adjusted. Bring them forward and down.

The large branches are more brittle than you would expect from a Juniper honestly. I am a little worried if I crank them around any more than in have, I could break them or split it where they join. (These pro Nanas love to split at the crotch of two branches!) Also, I think the tree would look more out of balance with the lower branch following that angle... It is tough to get from pics, but this guy is really pushing back at a hard angle from where it leaves the pot!

I am certainly not done with the styling of this tree and I will take a look at your suggestions once it recovers. The top branch still needs more work and refinement for sure. The back of it is really bushy and needs to come down some more I think, And the top part does need to come up a little bit as you pointed out! Thanks for the virt, I will post an update in a couple months when I get it to a more finished stage.

A Random User · Apr 13, 2015

I understand, as far as junipers go, I work entirely with procumbens and prostrata... and to be honest prefer them to shimpaku. Procumbens will actually put out adult foliage that is as small if not smaller than shimps do. They just take a little longer to get there, removing foliage and giving space in between helps bring about adult foliage faster I have found.

As far as crotches ripping, this is just part of the game with junipers and pines. You do what needs to be done, seal them up with cut putty and brace them for a couple of years while they heal. Check out the V notching thread I put up some time back, in essences you are doing what Brian had suggested in the thread. But, I would recommend getting rid of the slingshot look the branches currently have. Good luck.

barrosinc · Apr 13, 2015

This doesn't seem like a procumbens nana to me... more like San José (maybe???)

DougB · Apr 13, 2015

Consider an alternate design. Drastically bend the right (as we look at it) branch down and curve the top of the trunk to the right also. After you know it is surviving the remove and jin the left branch. Just my 1.25 cents worth.

Eric Group · Jul 25, 2015

Here is what the tree looked like today off the bench!

After a bit of trimming and a little tweaking of the wires..

Eric Group · Feb 2, 2016

This guy got a new pot... more of a slip pot than a big root working redo. Just got a pot I thought was a better fit and wanted to change the angle a bit. I haven't trimmed it much lately and plan to let it grow and "puff up" a bit this year, should give me more to work with on the foliage pads... The two D nature of the images makes it look straight and boring at the base, but there is a nice wiggle right at the soil level, it is just front to back- you can see it well in the second pic. I like this tree a lot now... I think it has potential!

Eric Group · Feb 2, 2016

A quick before and after:

sorce · Feb 2, 2016

Eric Group said:
I think it has potential!

Damn Eric, you know what I just realized about a nice picture?
It makes me read less! Lol..

I'm with you...
I think if you can make the first image, as tight as the second, you will be there with a little more fine wiring and time!

One thing I noticed in the very last pic.....
The straighteness of the right branch makes me want to bend IT.

But you "can't" cuz it's on the outside of a curve. I agree there....

I think the left should be brought over for that reason...or removed? However tempting it may be to bend the right one.

I like how the straightness of the jin matches the branch, But the "older", "heavier" low one should be on a lower angle to the jin IMO....

I like it.

What is your plan?

Sorce

Eric Group · Feb 2, 2016

sorce said:
Damn Eric, you know what I just realized about a nice picture?
It makes me read less! Lol..

I'm with you...
I think if you can make the first image, as tight as the second, you will be there with a little more fine wiring and time!

One thing I noticed in the very last pic.....
The straighteness of the right branch makes me want to bend IT.

But you "can't" cuz it's on the outside of a curve. I agree there....

I think the left should be brought over for that reason...or removed? However tempting it may be to bend the right one.

I like how the straightness of the jin matches the branch, But the "older", "heavier" low one should be on a lower angle to the jin IMO....

I like it.

What is your plan?

Sorce

I plan to wire it again once it is nice and settled in this new pot... Maybe this summer. Then I will be going for a better angle on the left branch, more movement in the mower portion of the right branch and overall trying to refine the image a bit more. I could probably get away with some detail work now, but I want to let it grow for a few months and make sure it is happy before I touch it again.

sorce · Feb 2, 2016

Eric Group said:
I plan to wire it again once it is nice and settled in this new pot... Maybe this summer. Then I will be going for a better angle on the left branch, more movement in the mower portion of the right branch and overall trying to refine the image a bit more. I could probably get away with some detail work now, but I want to let it grow for a few months and make sure it is happy before I touch it again.

You fully intend to keep both branches?

I like it like that....something about the FU it says on that trunk....

I'm gonna watch you make it work!

Sorce

jriddell88 · Feb 2, 2016

I'd just remove the lower branch and start from the top

Redwood Ryan · Feb 2, 2016

jriddell88 said:
I'd just remove the lower branch and start from the top

I totally disagree. The second picture in the series from July (after the tree was trimmed) makes a gorgeous front IMO.

Eric Group said:
View attachment 78647

jriddell88 · Feb 2, 2016

Redwood Ryan said:
I totally disagree. The second picture in the series from July (after the tree was trimmed) makes a gorgeous front IMO.

Yea I'd remove the bottom

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