small spruce

Djtommy

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The second is my preferred front of the stone but will be harder to get the angle. Might have to build up the soil on the left. Here’s a virt. I think this is probably worst case scenario for rootpad thickness and size. I shoul be able to do better.
I like this the most but still the tree feels there is too much unbalance. Ideally it would be much more to the right of the slap but yeah, if roots say no then I guess no option.
Maybe can wire the root and bring it around?
Another option but I guess not available could be a crescent shaped pot, then more roots to the opposite site of flow is less of a problem.
The last one is interesting but the stone has too much mass below the foliage I find. It’s almost same size as the foliage.
 

wireme

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I like this the most but still the tree feels there is too much unbalance. Ideally it would be much more to the right of the slap but yeah, if roots say no then I guess no option.
Maybe can wire the root and bring it around?
Another option but I guess not available could be a crescent shaped pot, then more roots to the opposite site of flow is less of a problem.
The last one is interesting but the stone has too much mass below the foliage I find. It’s almost same size as the foliage.

Thanks.
I could make it more crescent like by sticking a rock under one side of the slab and then I could shove the tree over to the right. Like this but a bit more. 996E3C0C-F1D6-4477-8ABD-930769570759.jpeg
 

River's Edge

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So, suddenly thinking I may move it this year after all. There has been this stone on a shelf by the door for years here. It collects random pocket items. Pocket change, old screws, driver bits.,,
Looking for a bit this morning and... hey! This has been an option all along invisible plain sight. Funny.

So this tree has only been potted once from collection container onto current stone. At the time it was a problematic one root deal. One root heading right. Maybe now there are more root options close to the trunk, who knows but a planter with some length might still be needed. So this thing, may still be oversized long for the trunk but at least it’s very thin. This shows two sides of the stone with the tree on. View attachment 191668View attachment 191669

The second is my preferred front of the stone but will be harder to get the angle. Might have to build up the soil on the left. Here’s a virt. I think this is probably worst case scenario for rootpad thickness and size. I shoul be able to do better. View attachment 191673
So an improvement over the current situation no doubt, here’s my question should the tree be pushed towards center as much as possible or is it alright hanging over? Maybe some accent on the other side to balance a bit?View attachment 191674
Al opinions welcomed, if I do this it will probably be a couple days from now.
When observing the options, the question occurred, would a darker stone set off the tree image better. That led to the thought of a piece of black volcanic rock from northern Bc. I guess i am not sure about the stone you are suggesting. I love the tree.
 

Djtommy

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I’m thinking more in the way of something like this actually, (picture I took from internet)
But yeah, can always look for something good this year and repot next year
8A6BB1A1-57F3-4C85-A654-43A5D10389D8.jpeg
 

River's Edge

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I’m thinking more in the way of something like this actually, (picture I took from internet)
But yeah, can always look for something good this year and repot next year
View attachment 191777
Not sure how well this will show up. It is a bit darker out at this time of day. Here is a snapshot of the type of rock i was thinking of. This size might be too large but i was thinking of the color setting off the spruce. This one has a pocket to the left of center. The higher portion on the left would form a bit of backdrop. Top height is about 6 inches.
 

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wireme

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Not sure how well this will show up. It is a bit darker out at this time of day. Here is a snapshot of the type of rock i was thinking of. This size might be too large but i was thinking of the color setting off the spruce. This one has a pocket to the left of center. The higher portion on the left would form a bit of backdrop. Top height is about 6 inches.

Hmm, could be better, I don’t know. I tend to work with what I have kicking around, things that I’ve found or have found their way to me somehow. I thought my little slab was going to be quite good actually. I know people say “ if you like it do it”or “if it works for you it’s good” etc but I don’t consider myself a great judge of these things so happy to accept others opinions if you know what I mean. So people seem a little less than stoked with the pairing, now I still have to decide to go for it or not, pretty sure this is my best option, there may be a generic pot close...
If this doesn’t nail it then why bother? On the other hand if it’s better and closer and it’s a step to create the right size rootball...
Horticulturally the tree seems very happy but the pad is getting dense to the point that watering takes a bit more thought and care, percolation is slow, every now and then I dunk it to make sure it hydrates well.
I’ll sit on the maybe for a couple more days. Plenty of other repots going on.
 

River's Edge

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Hmm, could be better, I don’t know. I tend to work with what I have kicking around, things that I’ve found or have found their way to me somehow. I thought my little slab was going to be quite good actually. I know people say “ if you like it do it”or “if it works for you it’s good” etc but I don’t consider myself a great judge of these things so happy to accept others opinions if you know what I mean. So people seem a little less than stoked with the pairing, now I still have to decide to go for it or not, pretty sure this is my best option, there may be a generic pot close...
If this doesn’t nail it then why bother? On the other hand if it’s better and closer and it’s a step to create the right size rootball...
Horticulturally the tree seems very happy but the pad is getting dense to the point that watering takes a bit more thought and care, percolation is slow, every now and then I dunk it to make sure it hydrates well.
I’ll sit on the maybe for a couple more days. Plenty of other repots going on.
I totally agree with" if you like it do it" . That is part of the creative process. I tend to keep, find, pick up and take home all sorts of things that i think might be perfect for something someday!
 

Random User

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It looks like a young-ish happy drunk walking home after a night on the town... :)... I like it.
 

wireme

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I didn't go through all the talk, but I dig this as a front of the pot for the tree. 180?

Sorce

Hasn’t ever occurred to me to look at that but I’ll check it out.

Actually I’ve decided not to be dissatisfied with it as is. Whenever I take a pic to post here I look at the pic and think the combo/placement tree and stone looks terrible but it is a much different feel in person.
In fact as you know I onetime by some miracle found myself with a real live bonsai professional right here in my yard. He looked at this tree, said “well, you’re doing something right here”. Then commented that the pairing and placement was “perfect”. No shit, true story I swear.

Big surprise to me, the tree is only on that stone because it was what I had at the time, placed in that position because it’s was the only way to fit roots at the time.
So, the tree seems perfectly happy there for now so I figure I should be able to resign myself to living with perfect😀.
 

Arcto

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Really like how the tree has matured under your efforts. Bit of a long shot...Have you ever thought of another tree on the right to share the stone with it? Would have to be particular about it. Don’t go to a big box store, buy and jam in a DAS next to it!
 

wireme

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Really like how the tree has matured under your efforts. Bit of a long shot...Have you ever thought of another tree on the right to share the stone with it? Would have to be particular about it. Don’t go to a big box store, buy and jam in a DAS next to it!

Very interesting idea. I like it in theory.. hmm.

I’ve got at least one very small but interesting and aged collected potentilla here? No, probably not, I think it’s too big. Or maybe not a tree but accent plant of sorts. There’s a little bit of club moss down on the right, it looks nice when it’s healthier and larger than now.
 

Vance Wood

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Hasn’t ever occurred to me to look at that but I’ll check it out.

Actually I’ve decided not to be dissatisfied with it as is. Whenever I take a pic to post here I look at the pic and think the combo/placement tree and stone looks terrible but it is a much different feel in person.
In fact as you know I onetime by some miracle found myself with a real live bonsai professional right here in my yard. He looked at this tree, said “well, you’re doing something right here”. Then commented that the pairing and placement was “perfect”. No shit, true story I swear.

Big surprise to me, the tree is only on that stone because it was what I had at the time, placed in that position because it’s was the only way to fit roots at the time.
So, the tree seems perfectly happy there for now so I figure I should be able to resign myself to living with perfect😀.
Sometimes, as you well know, shit happens, ---- so too does art.
 

sorce

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“perfect”

I can see that, it has a character.

What's the view's eye view of it?
I only like thin side view of the rock opposite because the only pics I saw were these rabbit eye views. But I only went back to page 3.

I still can't believe how said professional was already back here before we heard of it! Ah, it just shows your reserve. I would have blabbed it into non - existence!

What I find capitally amazing, is, these lessons you learn about doing this really well, almost never come from looking at trees. Glad you posted in that other thread, so people know you can "shine" lol. What I appreciated most from you in that thread, was the bit on how not running Newbs off is better than seeing trees from Learned ones. Or However that went. I feel the same way.

Anyway it's about these small lessons you learn from folk that can slip by if you're not looking for them. Much more rewarding, much more capable of rounding out ones approach. The basics are all in the books, no need to rehash that stuff over and over. These backyard Nuances are what really help folks.

Long Breathed Bump!

Sorce
 
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