Blaauw Juniper

Rick Moquin

Omono
Messages
1,241
Reaction score
20
Location
Dartmouth, NS Canada
USDA Zone
6a
This is a juni I acquired last year at a steal ($35 Cd) from a local nursery (pic 1). I purchased it for the trunk girth (over 3"), dramatic taper (pic 3) and low branching. This tree was grown in a crowded condition or was never rotated as the growth was one sided (pic 2). The nebari is nearly 360 degrees so that should not present a problem in the future. I got rid of all unnecessary branching, planted in a grow box and left to recuperate for the next couple of years. Alot of these branches will not form part of the future tree, they were left there for growth purposes.
 

Attachments

  • 15 May 06 002.jpg
    15 May 06 002.jpg
    87.3 KB · Views: 196
  • 15 May 06 015.jpg
    15 May 06 015.jpg
    75 KB · Views: 193
  • Pic 4.jpg
    Pic 4.jpg
    40.3 KB · Views: 288

Rick Moquin

Omono
Messages
1,241
Reaction score
20
Location
Dartmouth, NS Canada
USDA Zone
6a
... a year later, under Persiano's suprefeeding program, it has come along quite nicely. Albeit I didn't foresee working on this tree for another 3-5 years, I believe with this seasons growth preliminary styling may commence as soon as next summer, the summer of '09 at the latest.

So I post pics at various angles and although I have an idea where I want to go with this tree, I am seeking your expert opinions on possible ways ahead.
 

Attachments

  • 07 June 07 132r.jpg
    07 June 07 132r.jpg
    42.7 KB · Views: 135
  • 07 June 07 133r.jpg
    07 June 07 133r.jpg
    42.5 KB · Views: 109
  • 07 June 07 135r.jpg
    07 June 07 135r.jpg
    39.1 KB · Views: 108
  • 07 June 07 137r.jpg
    07 June 07 137r.jpg
    45.5 KB · Views: 129

Rick Moquin

Omono
Messages
1,241
Reaction score
20
Location
Dartmouth, NS Canada
USDA Zone
6a
and a few more
 

Attachments

  • 07 June 07 138r.jpg
    07 June 07 138r.jpg
    43.2 KB · Views: 54
  • 07 June 07 140r.jpg
    07 June 07 140r.jpg
    44.3 KB · Views: 47
  • 07 June 07 142r.jpg
    07 June 07 142r.jpg
    43 KB · Views: 52
  • 07 June 07 145r.jpg
    07 June 07 145r.jpg
    37 KB · Views: 69

Rick Moquin

Omono
Messages
1,241
Reaction score
20
Location
Dartmouth, NS Canada
USDA Zone
6a
last but not least.

In providing feedback and future "fronts" for this tree, can you explain why. As mentioned the nebari does not play a role in front selection, therefore feel free to chose one that suits this tree the best. Thanks in advance...
 

Attachments

  • 07 June 07 148r.jpg
    07 June 07 148r.jpg
    42.2 KB · Views: 50
  • 07 June 07 149r.jpg
    07 June 07 149r.jpg
    46.7 KB · Views: 65
Messages
1,773
Reaction score
15
Location
Ottawa, KS
USDA Zone
6
As to fronts, I like your first and eighth images for the movement shown. My first choice is your first. Not only will it have good movement, I think it shows the most potential for jin and shari. I would not do any styling with it in the box, though, I would repot into a training pot and make my final styling plan at that time.
 

JasonG

Chumono
Messages
786
Reaction score
18
Location
NW Oregon
Hey Rick,

This little guy has some potential and a good learning tree.... I think I like picture #7 the best as the front. You still capture some of the movement and stubs for jins. The jins won't be in your face with this angle but will still be there just not as strong. I also choose this front because of the little branch I circled in yellow that has potential to be a good future leader. It looks lush with growth and will make a nice compact apex with a few more years growth.

Where I tend to disagree with Chris is I would work on it now. If it were my tree I would start by wiring some movement into the branches and future apex, doing deadwood work and again IF it were mine I would try to make it look crediable from multipule sides not just one front. But that is me, I tend to like trees that are good from all angles....

Anyways that is my 2 cents worth :)
 

Attachments

  • 07%20June%2007%20142r.jpg
    07%20June%2007%20142r.jpg
    44.5 KB · Views: 109

Jay Wilson

Shohin
Messages
436
Reaction score
14
Location
Polk City, Fl.
Rick,
I certianly can't give any expert opinion on styling this tree but it seems that you're getting some good opinions anyway. I do tend to like #7 and Jasons ideas though.
It's good to see someone else using guy wires...

Thanks for sharing!

Jay
 

grouper52

Masterpiece
Messages
2,377
Reaction score
3,718
Location
Port Orchard, WA
USDA Zone
8
Hey, Rick! I recall seeing your pic #3 of this tree before, so it's nice to see how it has grown out and to see the various angles. I liked my first view of this tree, but like it even more now that you've shown some possibilities. I'm basically in agreement with the others here, though I can't pin down my favorite angle quite as easily. Keep us posted as it develops. Thanks.

grouper52
 

Tachigi

Omono
Messages
1,198
Reaction score
67
Location
PA.
USDA Zone
6b
Rick, Beautiful! Kinda hard to give suggestions when the nebari is covered by boards and weeds ;). However 1352 and 1358 seem like good canidates for fronts some interesting movement there. I reserve the right to change my mind though when you expose the base :)
 

Rick Moquin

Omono
Messages
1,241
Reaction score
20
Location
Dartmouth, NS Canada
USDA Zone
6a
Thanks for the insight folks.

Tom, the attached photos were the original. I understand that the nebari may assist you in your deliberations. However, with the exception of adding an inch or so to the trunk length, the nebari is fine feeder roots that I will be able to flare out in subsequent years. There are no "major" roots to worry about, if I recall correctly.
 

Attachments

  • Front.jpg
    Front.jpg
    46 KB · Views: 42
  • Right.jpg
    Right.jpg
    38.8 KB · Views: 32
  • Back.jpg
    Back.jpg
    43.1 KB · Views: 29
  • Left.jpg
    Left.jpg
    42 KB · Views: 37

Rick Moquin

Omono
Messages
1,241
Reaction score
20
Location
Dartmouth, NS Canada
USDA Zone
6a
As to fronts, I like your first and eighth images for the movement shown. My first choice is your first. Not only will it have good movement, I think it shows the most potential for jin and shari. I would not do any styling with it in the box, though, I would repot into a training pot and make my final styling plan at that time.
That's what I thought also last year. I was going to wait until it provided me with some beack budding and hence more options. The jin and shari work will indeed be extensive on this tree. Wrt the training pot, that's the third recommendation I have received. I need to think about that one.

The energy on this tree is apically concentrated. Although I got a profusion of back budding last year where all the cuts were made, the energy is top heavy.

I believe giving it a chop and reducing the branch length further will induce back budding by re-directing some of that apical energy.
 

Attachments

  • chop.jpg
    chop.jpg
    49.3 KB · Views: 35

Rick Moquin

Omono
Messages
1,241
Reaction score
20
Location
Dartmouth, NS Canada
USDA Zone
6a
I think I like picture #7 the best as the front. You still capture some of the movement and stubs for jins. The jins won't be in your face with this angle but will still be there just not as strong.
THat is indeed something I have been toying with Jason.
Where I tend to disagree with Chris is I would work on it now. If it were my tree I would start by wiring some movement into the branches and future apex, doing deadwood work
Although ti seems lush, it is not ready to be worked on yet. All the major branches you see on the tree with the exception of your circled one will nto be there in the future. Therefore wiring is not critical at this time, as a reduction in length would be more appropriate for the time being.

The jin and shari work, could be done, but then again I have alot of new growth all around those areas that render that decision difficult until I can find a direcxtion to take this puppy.

IF it were mine I would try to make it look crediable from multipule sides not just one front. But that is me, I tend to like trees that are good from all angles....
this is something I have also picked up from Walter and I endeavour to do just that with all my trees. In the end though, I don't have Walters talent and until such time as I perfect my craft, we will have to settle on a single front for the time being, while keeping in mind the crdibility of the other views.
 

Rick Moquin

Omono
Messages
1,241
Reaction score
20
Location
Dartmouth, NS Canada
USDA Zone
6a
Having taken the advise of many under advisement, I went ahead and potted it up. The pot is a 12x10x3 Tokoname Flame Pot.

The branches have been reduced as much as I dare, and top has been chopped off. This should promote new budding. The tree is still a little tall but will remain as such for a future jinning of the top. As mentioned the roots are all fine feeder roots which necessitated anchoring the tree to the pot with wire and brass screws as that was the only way to secure the tree in the pot. You will notice the flare at the base of the tree (covered in soil) for the time being. I plan on letting the soil errode over time, allowing the roots exposure to harden off.
 

Attachments

  • 22 June 07 007r.jpg
    22 June 07 007r.jpg
    42.8 KB · Views: 78
  • 22 June 07 008r.jpg
    22 June 07 008r.jpg
    42.6 KB · Views: 56
  • 22 June 07 009r.jpg
    22 June 07 009r.jpg
    42 KB · Views: 53
  • 22 June 07 010r.jpg
    22 June 07 010r.jpg
    44.9 KB · Views: 63

Rick Moquin

Omono
Messages
1,241
Reaction score
20
Location
Dartmouth, NS Canada
USDA Zone
6a
the final angles and the last being a close up of the anchoring and nebari. Proportion wise I believe this pot is a perfect match! What say you??
 

Attachments

  • 22 June 07 011r.jpg
    22 June 07 011r.jpg
    43.1 KB · Views: 39
  • 22 June 07 012r.jpg
    22 June 07 012r.jpg
    41.2 KB · Views: 33
  • 22 June 07 013r.jpg
    22 June 07 013r.jpg
    40.8 KB · Views: 36
  • 22 June 07 014r.jpg
    22 June 07 014r.jpg
    44.2 KB · Views: 34
  • 22 June 07 007z.jpg
    22 June 07 007z.jpg
    47.7 KB · Views: 87
Last edited:

grouper52

Masterpiece
Messages
2,377
Reaction score
3,718
Location
Port Orchard, WA
USDA Zone
8
Rick, where'd you get that beautiful pot!? :)

Does the bark of this juniper take on the red color that shimpaku does when manicured? - if so, it might match well with the red of the pot's flames. A subtle wavy shape to any future branches, jins and sharis may also resonate well in the future. The proportions look pleasing to me, especially if I imagine the tree a bit more grown out. I'd be curious to know the opinion of others who are more experienced with pot selection, though.

grouper52
 

Smoke

Ignore-Amus
Messages
11,668
Reaction score
20,724
Location
Fresno, CA
USDA Zone
9
Looks like a Shigaraki pot....
 

Tachigi

Omono
Messages
1,198
Reaction score
67
Location
PA.
USDA Zone
6b
Rick nice pot and tree combo. I have one question. Since junipers don't heal (callous over) over damaged wood and in fact retreat from it much of the time. Do the anchor screws make you at all apprehensive? I've seen this technique done on deciduous trees and anchors put in conifer deadwood, but never on live conifer tissue ...really curious about this.
 

Graydon

Chumono
Messages
717
Reaction score
11
Rick, where'd you get that beautiful pot!? :)

grouper52

Tokoname crackle/flame pot. Nice, I love them. They don't make them anymore. Bonsai Monk has a few on the back room shelves... I think.

I saw someone win one of these at the BSF last month in a $5 raffle on the last day. He stopped by the Bonsai Monk booth and we looked up the price, close to $250. That was a score.
 

grouper52

Masterpiece
Messages
2,377
Reaction score
3,718
Location
Port Orchard, WA
USDA Zone
8
Tokoname crackle/flame pot. Nice, I love them. They don't make them anymore. Bonsai Monk has a few on the back room shelves... I think.

I saw someone win one of these at the BSF last month in a $5 raffle on the last day. He stopped by the Bonsai Monk booth and we looked up the price, close to $250. That was a score.

Rick,

Should we tell them? ;)

grouper52
 
Top Bottom