Boy, where do I start?
research pruning, cutting, substrate and keeping the tree healthy where you live
A gentle rebuke outlives a thousand compliments. Thank you Tieball. The closest Bonsai club familiar with this Zone is a club in Phoenix and I need to join.
I think that second branch you see as a problem is a blessing. For your drawing, I would determine which is the thicker branch and use that as the main trunk line
With closer study, I see the split rises off the main trunk line which will provide tremendous foliage as the sweep rises to the lip of the pot. A blessing, indeed.
I take more time to apply the wire now, knowing that I worked a little harder to get a nice run of copper.
The cascade trunk is so stiff near the first acute bend - Do I start the wire lower, on the main trunk before the split to the cascade trunk? I want to start the bend ~ 2" beyond the acute bend but I wonder if I can still get the desired steepness into the cascade without such an acute bend so near the elbow. It would help to have the appropriate pot so I can assess the angles. I still don't know what angle to set the main trunk or if the pot will need to be tilted. (forgive the out loud thinking... I don't even have my questions clear yet.)
Timing, winter is a good time for wiring. Winter only light pruning. (Light = less than 25% total volume) Heavy pruning is done in summer.
Thanks! - I'd like to the get the trees ready for Spring repotting - my son has a brain tumor and yesterday was the start to 6 weeks of radiation therapy - 120 miles a day, 5 days a week - I don't want to hurry the trees but, tbh, we are both so excited to have them here and we see
so much potential in them every day, it's hard to stay hands-off if we can absolutely avoid it. This has been
really good for Sean - my son. He's been through a lot the last two years.
Buy it from Stone Lantern Bonsai Supplies and Books.
Leo, thanks for the pointer. I see a sufficient tool/supplies kit can be pricey - so every little bit helps.
Tip it a bit further to get the best initial trunk angle then worry about the trunk. If you need to remove a couple of roots to get this rotation that should not be a problem for a juniper.
Shibui, thank you so much for your help. Tipped a little more... Would you use a tipped-pot presentation or vertical with the main trunk nearly vertical? It's going to be in a nursery pot until Spring so I don't know the roots yet. It appears it will need work to develop good Nebari but I haven't cleared any soil from the top to see what's hidden.
Winter is a good time to bend junipers as the bark is less likely to slip when the tree is less active.
This comforts me. I don't believe I'll need anything extreme with this stock - but knowing I can slowly begin structural first styling now, without unnecessarily troubling the tree allows me to move forward.
Also. Look at the tree from many angles with critical thoughts about what you see.
Again, Tieball - my thanks. With my son's cancer still so aggressive, distraction is an issue and your insight is
really useful. I did just that today - just sat with the tree awhile and it was like starting to get to know it... does that sound weird? I actually began to see more clearly and I started to relax. We did a
very little bit of trimming, which helped see better.
Many thanks to you all - you all put smiles on our faces.