All aboard the Mugo train!

Vance Wood · Feb 25, 2017

Here is one of my Scots Pines in a semi-cascade-Literati style in an octagonal Chines Pot. This one is from a tree I grew from a plug used for Christmas Cultivation.

Vance Wood · Feb 25, 2017

Here is my little Shohin Mugo originally in a 1 gallon container and reduced down to this little Shohin. This little Mugo has been shown before but I wanted to show it in its new pot, another from Stone Garden, and the response fromm repotting last summer.

LeonardB · Feb 25, 2017

Vance Wood said:
The only other thing I can think of that will not look boring to me, which is the real issue as far as I am concerned, a boring rectangular and clunky pot, make the tree look less than it is in my eyes. Over the years I have become really fond of round and oval pots, probably because I tend to design a tree without a specific front at the expense of all other points of viewing.

I remember the day when designing a tree consisted of right branch, left branch, back branch and all the others falling between those below in a reasonable order finishing with an apex. This is what some call cookie cutter bonsai. For what its worth this is more or less the pattern known by some as the rules and there is nothing wrong with "The rules". except they are not commandments from God graven in stone by the finger of The Lord. Very often designing with this system in mind can result in some very strange results if done by a beginner like I was once upon a time. One of the fitst trees I worked on was a young Lodge Pole Pine about 12" tall. I designed an informal upright and when it was view from the so called front it looked fine buy if you turned the tree to either side you notice the chief flaw; the tree was two dimensional, from the side it was like looking at a playing card edge on. The rules were not really specific about depth and balance and I really did not have a clue what I was doing. 1958 circa

The point being that a square or rectangular or angled pot for that matter demands the presentation of a specific front. My sensibilities have changed to allow for an acceptable presentation 360*, thus a roundish pot is more appropriate.

Using an oval would be the best of both worlds then? Front of the tree can still be oriented towards the broader side and still no corners to distract you.
What about using using square pots to give a more masculine orientation to the planting vs the round feminine? At that point, do you just depend on the roughness or character of the bark on the trunk to indicate masculinity as well as the texture of the round pot?

Vance Wood · Feb 25, 2017

I'm kind of a seat of the pants kind of guy. Sometimes I select something just because they float my boat. If I can't get anything to work I will default to the rules?

parhamr · Feb 25, 2017

Y'all ever seen a 7' tall mugo for $140?

It has a ghastly graft:

Vance Wood · Feb 25, 2017

I have never seen the tree but if you look at the base this one is most definitely a graft. Did you notice the seedling coming up at the base right in front of the shot?

sorce · Feb 25, 2017

Vance Wood said:
oval

That's good!

I'm not telling you what The AAC is so when you remember you feel like a teenager again!

Maybe you saw that naked bonsai man on a blog..

...maybe you didn't....

Sorce

Vance Wood · Feb 25, 2017

sorce said:
That's good!

I'm not telling you what The AAC is so when you remember you feel like a teenager again!

Maybe you saw that naked bonsai man on a blog.....maybe you didn't....

Sorce

I don't know what the F you are talking about?

sorce · Feb 25, 2017

Sorry Vance!

I think I was just seeking an excuse to post this so folks CAN go see the naked bonsai man.....

He is in a dangerous place...

Right below that root slayer shovel!

Slice!

http://arborartscollective.blogspot.com/?m=1

Sorce

LeonardB · Feb 25, 2017

parhamr said:
Y'all ever seen a 7' tall mugo for $140?

View attachment 133554
View attachment 133552

It has a ghastly graft:
View attachment 133553

Wow! They all look interesting. Any chance you found any other interesting trunks to photo?
Could you whittle down an ugly graft like that and have it heal over less obvious?

parhamr · Feb 25, 2017

@LeonardB those are all of the mugo photos I took today. I glanced at nearby trees and saw more odd grafts, so I quickly moved on.

This trunk is, uh, interesting, but a Dawn Redwood tree.

LeonardB · Feb 25, 2017

Bolero said:
We need pictures to be belivers...

Chuck,
Built in 82, this has been heating my home in Ferndale all these years ( and it makes a great greenhouse in the early spring ). I usually can add two months to my growing season. It usually gets too warm in May and the plants are removed to the back deck or risk being fried.
Told ya, we were hippies back in the day ( nobody believed in solar power back then, and we built a solarium on the front of the house ). Blew everyone away ( including my folks who thought I should be committed after spending the money and building it myself).
Regards,
Leonard

Vance Wood · Feb 25, 2017

LeonardB said:
Chuck,
Built in 82, this has been heating my home in Ferndale all these years ( and it makes a great greenhouse in the early spring ). I usually can add two months to my growing season. It usually gets too warm in May and the plants are removed to the back deck or risk being fried.
Told ya, we were hippies back in the day ( nobody believed in solar power back then, and we built a solarium on the front of the house ). Blew everyone away ( including my folks who thought I should be committed after spending the money and building it myself).
Regards,
Leonard

We have a passive sun room on the South side of the house. In the winter it helps heat the house.

herzausstahl · Feb 26, 2017

M. Frary said:
We had thunder snow today!
Very rare for here. And I got my trees covered again.

Thundersnow is one of the coolest things ever! We just got snow followed by rain/mist that froze on everything.

tree4me · Feb 26, 2017

I hope everyone fairs well and trees are good. With all the activity on this thread I thought I'd try a video on my phone of one of my Mugo. It's still alive and well, though it's only been 5 months. I also noticed some minor backbudding.

M. Frary · Feb 26, 2017

tree4me said:
I hope everyone fairs well and trees are good. With all the activity on this thread I thought I'd try a video on my phone of one of my Mugo. It's still alive and well, though it's only been 5 months. I also noticed some minor backbudding.

View attachment 133702 View attachment 133703

That's a keeper!
Very nice mugo!

tree4me · Feb 26, 2017

Thanks, for my first pine I got lucky during a nursery crawl.

Rusty Davis · Feb 26, 2017

Yes you did!

parhamr · Feb 26, 2017

@tree4me beautiful! That tree is an epic find.

Regarding the video: the shake-correction from YouTube makes the video a bit disorienting. Next time, leaning your phone upright against something (or using a tripod) will produce better results. You'll also be able to frame the shot with more intention.

I mean this well and as a constructive critique. I have a BFA in visual arts and want to spread knowledge

tree4me · Feb 26, 2017

Rusty Davis said:
Yes you did!

Thanks

parhamr said:
Regarding the video: the shake-correction from YouTube makes the video a bit disorienting. Next time, leaning your phone upright against something (or using a tripod) will produce better results. You'll also be able to frame the shot with more intention.

WOW, you could tell I used that? thanks, any input on picture taking or videoing is GREATLY appreciated.

All aboard the Mugo train!

Lord Mugo

Lord Mugo

Shohin

Lord Mugo

Omono

Lord Mugo

Nonsense Rascal

Lord Mugo

Nonsense Rascal

Shohin

Omono

Shohin

Attachments

Lord Mugo

Chumono

Shohin

Bonsai Godzilla

Shohin

Shohin

Omono

Shohin

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