Juniperus pfitzerian 'old gold'

Fishtank307 · Sep 22, 2017

Hi everyone!

Any thoughts on this tree? Pros and cons? It's for sale at a nursery nearby and I'm planning on (maybe) buying it. Price tag: 170 USD. It would be my first 'somewhat more expensive' tree. Luckily the nursery also offers lessons.
What do you think of the movement of the trunk?

just.wing.it · Sep 22, 2017

The straight section in the middle of the trunk is bothersome to me.

Giga · Sep 22, 2017

I like it, you could slowly shari the straight section down the road to add interest. Very unique and thats my style

just.wing.it · Sep 22, 2017

just.wing.it said:
The straight section in the middle of the trunk is bothersome to me.

Sorry, I didn't finish this thought earlier...

The tree is cool though, I like it overall.
Have you played with different planting angles?
Any more pics?

Fishtank307 · Sep 22, 2017

just.wing.it said:
Sorry, I didn't finish this thought earlier...

The tree is cool though, I like it overall.
Have you played with different planting angles?
Any more pics?

Now I can't unsee the straight section! Thanks for pointing that out! But yeah, maybe shari would create an interesting feature, like Giga said. I haven't seen it in real life yet. I'm going to ask for some more pictures and then I'll post them here. I'd like to see the branch structure more clearly.

choppychoppy · Sep 22, 2017

I would wrap that whole trunk and twist the holy hell out of it and bring the whole canopy down.

Vin · Sep 22, 2017

Yeah, that straight section is a bit of an issue. If it can be bent (which it looks like it can), the only bend that makes sense would mimic the wired section above it and that would be an even bigger issue. @Giga idea seems to make the best sense. Good luck!

Vin · Sep 22, 2017

choppychoppy said:
I would wrap that whole trunk and twist the holy hell out of it and bring the whole canopy down.

That would definitely be the way to go if it works.

Fishtank307 · Sep 22, 2017

choppychoppy said:
I would wrap that whole trunk and twist the holy hell out of it and bring the whole canopy down.

Maybe, with some guidance of someone that knows his stuff

I like the literati style though.. I'm waiting for some more pictures! I can't get this tree out of my head..

Paradox · Sep 22, 2017

Cool looking tree

sorce · Sep 23, 2017

I don't think it is the straight section itself.

The parts emphasizing and amplifying the straight sectioned are making it way worse than it is.

The long flat plane the bottom of the foliage creates is the worst, being the same size as the straight part makes it even MORE evident. That the pots straight line is the same length....x3 bad!

A Stick figures Ala Smoke let's us see how that plane is pointing towards the straight trunk section, and how it is further enhanced with the jins.

Our eyes are longing for the support of a strong trunk underneath that canopy. Support that that we feel should be there via that missing trunk line of the big jin.

But if you start to break up those emphasizers......

Your eye can more easily flow up into and thru and back down the tree.

Bending that trunk up with no reason why is ruining the whole design you are paying at least $70 of the $170 for, as every bit of styling would go straight out the window.

So why not then just buy a $35 one with a shorter more tapered trunk from the nursery?

I like this one though.

With the RIGHT fixes!

Sorce

Fishtank307 · Sep 23, 2017

sorce said:
I don't think it is the straight section itself.

The parts emphasizing and amplifying the straight sectioned are making it way worse than it is.

The long flat plane the bottom of the foliage creates is the worst, being the same size as the straight part makes it even MORE evident. That the pots straight line is the same length....x3 bad!

A Stick figures Ala Smoke let's us see how that plane is pointing towards the straight trunk section, and how it is further enhanced with the jins.

View attachment 161600

Our eyes are longing for the support of a strong trunk underneath that canopy. Support that that we feel should be there via that missing trunk line of the big jin.

But if you start to break up those emphasizers......View attachment 161599

Your eye can more easily flow up into and thru and back down the tree.

Bending that trunk up with no reason why is ruining the whole design you are paying at least $70 of the $170 for, as every bit of styling would go straight out the window.

So why not then just buy a $35 one with a shorter more tapered trunk from the nursery?

I like this one though.

With the RIGHT fixes!

Sorce

Very insightful! Thanks! I really like the 3rd virtual, bottom left. I think that would be the best design for the tree imo, if I (can) buy it.

sorce · Sep 23, 2017

Fishtank307 said:
Very insightful! Thanks! I really like the 3rd virtual, bottom left. I think that would be the best design for the tree imo, if I (can) buy it.

If you can't buy it.....

You CAN go to a regular nursery and come out with 3 pieces of material you can make better than this in less time.

If I am to fully support you as I must.

Understanding this insight says it's a waste of money for you. Not for everyone. But for you....yes.

Belgium huh? That may change my opinion.
But not if Europe in total is your purchasing playground.
Europe has better material IMO.

If that was a Shimpaku, $170 would be worth it.

I wonder how much @Tentakelaertje paid for that J...
Damn new avatars....maybe it was @defra ...

I think it was $35.

That means you can own 3 better trees for that $.
Or 2 and enough wire to fully wire the 2.

IMO.

Don't underestimate your capabilities.

Though.....
I personally do LOVE the base on this tree.

Sorce

defra · Sep 23, 2017

@sorce
Yes that would have been me
35€ for the sabina rockery gem and also 35 € for the communis
But i do like this tree !

sorce · Sep 23, 2017

defra said:
@sorce
Yes that would have been me
35€ for the sabina rockery gem and also 35 € for the communis
But i do like this tree !

Yes those!

Please share the link!

Your opinion is excellent because me....
I would rather have those two Js and a bundle of wire.

This is a good exercise in understanding the value of our $ vs. The value of our creativity.

I think this is a case where @Fishtank307 creativity will net him more valuable final products if approaching it from another angle.

Of course we all have our own bonsai niche...
Methods, practices....

But in the end....

Goes back to we can't speed up time.

But we CAN remove everything that keeps our collection from getting better faster.

This includes determining where best to spend $170.

Sorce

M. Frary · Sep 23, 2017

I'd try to put one bend in the straight section to pull the top over towards the base a little and call it good.

defra · Sep 23, 2017

This is the two @sorce is referring to

Communis 35€
https://bonsainut.com/threads/juniperus-communis-norwegian.26685/

Sabina 35€
https://bonsainut.com/threads/juniperus-sabina-rockery-gem.26684/

sorce · Sep 23, 2017

Thanks @defra!

You see @Fishtank307 if "very insightful" was "I don't get it"....
Buy the damn OLD Gold!

Seems you are creatively beyond that being your best path to the ultimate end goal which is, having a dope collection.
Not a dope tree.

Sorce

defra · Sep 23, 2017

@Fishtank307
Im in the netherlands i dont know how far ruud lagas in vucht in the netherlands is from youre location but thats where i got the two junipers from also i know there are some bonsai nursery's in belgium you can get decent starters for less than 170€ also in februari there is noelanders in genk wich will be full of bonsai stands

Fishtank307 · Sep 23, 2017

@sorce @defra
Okay, maaaaybe I'm just a little too excited over this one tree.. But as I said, I just can't get it out of my head! It's a bit quirky and I like it! Btw, 'very insightful' was indeed sort of a euphemism for 'I don't get it' or 'Okay, I see what you mean, but I couldn't have thought of that myself'!

I still haven't decided though. I was planning on visiting some other nurseries the next few weeks, aside from the one where I found this tree. So yeah, maybe I'll end up with a couple of nice starters that will fulfill my creative-bonsai-styling needs, instead of just one more tree.
I hadn't heard of Ruud Lagas before. Apparently his nursery is just an hour from where I live! And I'm definitely going to Noelanders trophy next year. Last year I couldn't go and I was pretty bummed out about it.
I'm also going to a club nearby that's having a sale/swap event in three weeks. That should be interesting.

We'll see!

Juniperus pfitzerian 'old gold'

Shohin

Deadwood Head

Masterpiece

Deadwood Head

Shohin

Chumono

Attachments

Imperial Masterpiece

Imperial Masterpiece

Shohin

Imperial Masterpiece

Nonsense Rascal

Shohin

Nonsense Rascal

Masterpiece

Nonsense Rascal

Bonsai Godzilla

Masterpiece

Nonsense Rascal

Masterpiece

Shohin

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