Mirai BC #1

rockm · Aug 3, 2018

This article on BC styling from Ryan Neil is kind of interesting. The tree, I think, is just OK. Not really all that.

There are members here who have BC that are light years ahead of this one. What struck me is that Ryan developed it with an idea in his head about what BC look like. He's pretty close, but I think like others who haven't had this species as part of their lives for a while, he misses with the design.

His work is outstanding and flawless with any number of western conifer species, but when it comes to eastern U.S. species, he seems a bit out of his depth. That's not really surprising though.

Just my opinion, your mileage may vary.

https://bonsaimirai.com/node/823

Dav4 · Aug 3, 2018

I like the design, but wish the flat top wasn't quite so flat. It's a good tree.

rockm · Aug 3, 2018

Dav4 said:
I like the design, but wish the flat top wasn't quite so flat. It's a good tree.

That was what I thought too. "Flat top" can be taken too literally.

Tentakelaertje · Aug 3, 2018

No comments on the design as they don't grow here, but mr. Neil proves again that starting out with a great trunk is an easy fix to get a great tree (not necessarily but way easier than starting out with a shit trunk). I like his trunks and I would like those trunks as well.

RobertB · Aug 3, 2018

I have grown up around bald cypress my whole life and love this tree. Everything about it. I think the top is a little flat but it is still one of my favorites by far.

MrWunderful · Aug 3, 2018

I think its really cool looking. But I believe the tree was at about 80% done before he got it, wasnt it?

Mellow Mullet · Aug 3, 2018

It doesn't even appear to be a bald cypress, it looks to be a pond cypress.

I agree, it is just kinda, "meh"

RobertB · Aug 3, 2018

it definitely looks like a pond cypress

coh · Aug 3, 2018

I'll start out by saying that I've never seen flat top bald (or pond) cypress in its native environment, I've only seen it through photos and bonsai.

What I find most interesting is the similarity of this tree to the one he referenced in the 2012 National Exhibition (which won an award). That was a Michael Feduccia tree, and he's a Florida guy. So if you have access to photos of that tree, do a comparison and tell me what you think of that tree as well. It also has a rather flat canopy, wide lower trunk, tall...the main difference I see is that the Neil tree has more movement in the upper trunk, a significant unhealed scar, and some inverse taper in the upper part of the trunk. I think those aspects (taper and scar) take away a bit from the overall impression. Also the canopy on the Neil tree is very symmetrical compared to the Feduccia tree.

I also don't see a lot of ramification in the Neil canopy. Others have talked about that being difficult to achieve with these trees, so maybe it will look better in a few more years.

Cadillactaste · Aug 3, 2018

Mellow Mullet said:
It doesn't even appear to be a bald cypress, it looks to be a pond cypress.

I agree, it is just kinda, "meh"

Dang...point on. Checking the foliage closer. It's a pondy for sure!

rockm · Aug 3, 2018

Mellow Mullet said:
It doesn't even appear to be a bald cypress, it looks to be a pond cypress.

I agree, it is just kinda, "meh"

Funny thing about Florida collected bald cypress. It has foliage that closely resembles pond cypress. I've seen that repeatedly with Fla. collected and La. collected tree comparison. La.. Miss. and Ala. BC tend to have the feather-like leaves. EVERY "BC" specimen or collected raw stock tree that I have seen from Fla. has this kind of foliage as its primary. I've seen dozens over the year, as my bonsai nursery friends brought them up from Fla. nurseries. they still have a couple they've worked for 20 years. Those trees have this awl-shaped foliage.

I think the Fla. trees are are capable of growing the feather like foliage, and sometimes have a mix of both.

I suspect the Fla. trees are some kind of hybridized species between the two...

Clicio · Aug 3, 2018

I just love that tree.

Mike Hennigan · Aug 3, 2018

Mellow Mullet said:
It doesn't even appear to be a bald cypress, it looks to be a pond cypress.

I agree, it is just kinda, "meh"

I believe he has since noted on one of his streams that it is a pond cypress, informed by @BillsBayou i believe. Which is strange because that was a number of months ago, not sure why he wouldn’t have fixed the error on the website.

choppychoppy · Aug 3, 2018

rockm said:
Funny thing about Florida collected bald cypress. It has foliage that closely resembles pond cypress. I've seen that repeatedly with Fla. collected and La. collected tree comparison. La.. Miss. and Ala. BC tend to have the feather-like leaves. EVERY "BC" specimen or collected raw stock tree that I have seen from Fla. has this kind of foliage as its primary. I've seen dozens over the year, as my bonsai nursery friends brought them up from Fla. nurseries. they still have a couple they've worked for 20 years. Those trees have this awl-shaped foliage.

I think the Fla. trees are are capable of growing the feather like foliage, and sometimes have a mix of both.

I suspect the Fla. trees are some kind of hybridized species between the two...

I've collected dozens of cypress and live in north florida and have seen countless BC and PC. I have never seen any foliage on BC to support what you are saying.

rockm · Aug 3, 2018

choppychoppy said:
I've collected dozens of cypress and live in north florida and have seen countless BC and PC. I have never seen any foliage on BC to support what you are saying.

Well, I can't explain it. Just what I've seen on this end from Fla. collected trees. Might depend on the source locations down there. Don't really know.

Paul2229 · Aug 3, 2018

I dont like it. I can appreciate the time and work it has taken but aesthetically its not my cup of tea

PiñonJ · Aug 3, 2018

I saw this tree a couple weeks ago. With the full summer foliage, it’s a bit tuft-like. But check out these other Mirai BC’s:

If you google ‘ancient bald cypress,’ you’ll see the kind of images that are inspiring Ryan, like this:

Or this:

Both of these images come from Bill Valavanis’s bonsai blog.

coh · Aug 3, 2018

Man, the amount of work that is going to be needed on that second tree (the group planting)...I shudder just thinking about it. Beautiful clump, though.

Vin · Aug 3, 2018

RobertB said:
it definitely looks like a pond cypress

I thought exactly the same thing when I saw it.

Vin · Aug 3, 2018

rockm said:
I think the Fla. trees are capable of growing the feather like foliage, and sometimes have a mix of both.

There is a place East of here that is supposed to have BC with feather-like foliage. Something to do with the soil compaction just below the topsoil.

Mirai BC #1

Spuds Moyogi

Drop Branch Murphy

Spuds Moyogi

Omono

Chumono

Omono

Masterpiece

Chumono

Imperial Masterpiece

Neagari Gal

Spuds Moyogi

Masterpiece

Chumono

Chumono

Spuds Moyogi

Seedling

Omono

Imperial Masterpiece

Imperial Masterpiece

Imperial Masterpiece

Similar threads