CA Juniper refinement

[bonsaibp]

I dug this tree in Tehacapi CA in 1995 training started in 1999
yesterday was time for a little trimming and wiring
Before-

After-

I'll be showing this next spring at the CA Bonsai Society Show.

 

[Vance Wood]

Spectacular tree. Have you ever considered grafting Shimpaku shoots into this tree?

 

[misfit11]

Great tree and beautiful styling, Bob. Most def a show tree! Congratulations... I'm jealous.

 

[bonsaibp]

Spectacular tree. Have you ever considered grafting Shimpaku shoots into this tree?

Nooooo. It's a CA Juniper not a shimpaku!
I'm not one for grafting. It's just a personal thing for me. I have one CA Juniper that I grafted with Shig Nagatoshi-( Roy's dad) and I've never liked it. I just think that they deserve to keep their own foliage. I know it's a little harder to work with but I feel I need to remain true to the tree if that makes sense.

 

[misfit11]

Nooooo. It's a CA Juniper not a shimpaku!
I'm not one for grafting. It's just a personal thing for me. I have one CA Juniper that I grafted with Shig Nagatoshi-( Roy's dad) and I've never liked it. I just think that they deserve to keep their own foliage. I know it's a little harder to work with but I feel I need to remain true to the tree if that makes sense.

I agree, Bob. You've done a wonderful job with this tree as far as refining the native foliage. I realize some don't like the look of the course CA growth, but I think it gives it more of a naturalistic, harsh desert environment look to the tree. Shimpaku growth is too refined, IMO, for a tree with lots of deadwood. It's as if the tree was subjected to an extremely harsh life for a while and then things suddenly got better and created this lush dome of thick, green foliage.

 

[Poink88]

Nice tree Bob. Is the deadwood/live vein natural or man made?

 

[PaulH]

Nice pot too!

 

[Juniperus Californica]

Add Movement by Removing a Branch

Nice tree, I would consider getting rid of the lower left branch to give the tree more movement and I would also lower the apex.

 

[bonsaibp]

Nice tree Bob. Is the deadwood/live vein natural or man made?

The deadwood is 98% natural. I cleaned up and defined the lifeline and carved a few cuts,
the rest is Ma Nature

Nice tree, I would consider getting rid of the lower left branch to give the tree more movement and I would also lower the apex.

Thanks for the suggestion.

I agree, Bob. You've done a wonderful job with this tree as far as refining the native foliage. I realize some don't like the look of the course CA growth, but I think it gives it more of a naturalistic, harsh desert environment look to the tree. Shimpaku growth is too refined, IMO, for a tree with lots of deadwood. It's as if the tree was subjected to an extremely harsh life for a while and then things suddenly got better and created this lush dome of thick, green foliage.

Thanks. Most of my trees that feature a lot of deadwood don't have thick lush foliage pads maybe a little more than this one does now.

Nice pot too!

Thanks.You noticed that. It's an old Yamaki pot.

 

[MACH5]

Great tree with very nice styling Bob! Congrats!