Eastern Red Cedar no. 1

[Shogun610]

Going to be styling this collected Eastern Red Cedar Nov. 20 with Bob and Todd. Really looking forward to it , planning and scheming some ideas for it. Thinking of making foliage pads along the right side of the tree , and using left to carve the deadwood .. but up to will have foliage or over time be some deadwood as well. Attaching two bonsai one is a ERC other a Hinoki , but using those as my inspiration/direction for this ERC it’s ramrod straight.

 

[Tieball]

I like what you’re thinking. It has excellent possibilities.
Don’t over carve, or carve at all, the deadwood right away. After you’ve pruned and set a direction let that grow on you before doing anything to the deadwood. An image, a visual, will unfold in front of you. Let it happen. You’ll be more engaged yourself.

 

[Crazy Diamond]

How tall is it? I think is better to remove all the juniper berrys not letting the tree spend to much energy in them

 

[Shogun610]

How tall is it? I think is better to remove all the juniper berrys not letting the tree spend to much energy in them

W foliage included its 4ft tall.. yeah I was gonna do that this week. But it’s been like this for 3 years so it’s not hurting it.. but since it’s gonna be styled soon.. it’s a good idea

 

[Shogun610]

still have some detail wiring to finish , but I’m quite happy w the result. The top will fill out more and in future perhaps keep that and refine that more , but as this is a Juniper didn’t want to remove too much foliage. I know it’s leggy but the movement of the branches still are interesting. It’s a ERC, it’s not a Shimpaku, it’s not even a RMJ. That’s whats gotta be accepted with natives if we want to uncover more potential. Anyway , thanks to Todd for helping me style it and help with direction.

 

[Shogun610]

Close up of some wiring

 

[Colorado]

Looks like you’ve got the bones at up nicely! What is your plan for the tree for next year?

I love the berries!

 

[Shogun610]

Looks like you’ve got the bones at up nicely! What is your plan for the tree for next year?

I love the berries!

Just going to keep it at my house , and not let it freeze then take to studio and put into cold greenhouse for winter. Let it grow especially let the top fill out and side branches on the left .. a lot of ERC that are old have deadwood on one side and old gnarled branches on the other so we’ll see .. but it’s a good start especially for ERC IMO.

 

[penumbra]

better to remove all the juniper berrys not letting the tree spend to much energy in them

I believe this is an over exploited myth in most cases.

 

[Shogun610]

I believe this is an over exploited myth in most cases.

I like the berries and is a distraction for feedback on this .

 

[rockm]

Going to be styling this collected Eastern Red Cedar Nov. 20 with Bob and Todd. Really looking forward to it , planning and scheming some ideas for it. Thinking of making foliage pads along the right side of the tree , and using left to carve the deadwood .. but up to will have foliage or over time be some deadwood as well. Attaching two bonsai one is a ERC other a Hinoki , but using those as my inspiration/direction for this ERC it’s ramrod straight.

Bob and Todd of Gardens Unlimited?

 

[Shogun610]

Bob and Todd of Gardens Unlimited?

No Bob of Kifu Bonsai , whom is my teacher and Todd Schlafer flew in for a byot workshop

 

[Shogun610]

Bob and Todd of Gardens Unlimited?

I can probably move branches around a bit towards the crown or second from the crown .. but not sure yet

 

[OTown]

No Bob of Kifu Bonsai , whom is my teacher and Todd Schlafer flew in for a byot workshop

Out of curiosity, did either Bob or Todd have an opinion on E. Red Cedar as bonsai? I've heard the foliage growth is unpredictable and the species is "frustrating".

 

[Shogun610]

Out of curiosity, did either Bob or Todd have an opinion on E. Red Cedar as bonsai? I've heard the foliage growth is unpredictable and the species is "frustrating".

The foliage on this is more predictable for this particular tree. It’s scale foliage like a Shimpaku… it’s just dependent on the tree itself. Considering this was originally collected by Bob and he has others he …likes natives and Todd liked it too. It’s just a case by case basis with ERC IMO. This is bigger , but it’s styling is limited I can only do a formal upright w tight Jin But I’m happy with that for this specific tree.

 

[Crazy Diamond]

A lot of factors can influence things like that, but for example if you think about it the really good Shimpaku trees with best foliage descend from a few select yamadoris collected in the mountains of Japan and then propagated over the years, the vast majority of Juniperus chinensis have a crap quality for bonsai like most Virginianas, but certain trees can have a good genetic for bonsai, and thanks to the people who can see that potential we have all the cool cultivars like Seiju elms or the best Shimpaku junipers

 

[Leprous Garden]

Careful Arnold you're getting dangerously close to making sense.

 

[Shogun610]

Last change before winter.. foliage is winter color now

 

[Crazy Diamond]

Careful Arnold you're getting dangerously close to making sense.

Making sense? I think that only happens when I get slightly drunk in full moon and the magic leprechaun comes to watch the wizard of oz with me

 

[OTown]

The foliage on this is more pr

Making sense? I think that only happens when I get slightly drunk in full moon and the magic leprechaun comes to watch the wizard of oz with me

Sounds like I caught Arnold on a good day! The argument does make sense and makes me thing that I should try an air layer of the big ERC in my hard.