Home Depot Arizona Cypress

[A Random User]

Here is an Arizona Cypress that has occupied my time recently...
along with alot of other things.
I have this thing sitting around for a very long time, one of my trees that
somehow managed to survive the earlier days of my Bonsai inexperience
when most did not.

This winter, it caught my eye and I decided that since our winter was very,
mild, I would do something with it... The pot some might have seen posted
before, I had Chuck Iker make it for me. Seeing that the tree kinda reminded
me of something one might find in the high deserts of New Mexico, Arizona,
Colorado, etc... A place that I spent alot of time at in earlier days, I
decided I wanted a pot that resembled those made by the Hopi or Navajo
Indians... So I gave him the dimensions, he made it, fired it with an Oxide glaze,
and I painted the motifs.

Quite a few pics coming... give me a minute before posting so I can get them
all up.

 

[A Random User]

 

[A Random User]

That's it...

Oh, one more thing I wanted to say...
It is planted in Bonsai soil, but has a top dressing of Turface, to give
a more realistic desert floor look, but unfortunately it has been raining,
and when Turface gets wet, it just kinda looks like regular Bonsai soil...
So, you will just have to use your imagination...

 

[Poink88]

Not sure if it is good or bad but the pot keeps pulling my eye and end up looking at it. It is much nicer w/ a tree.

The style is not me...but it reminds of the last Noelanders Trophy 2012 winning willow tree (impressive but did not float my boat ) but what do I know...Noelanders judges thinks otherwise.

 

[xray360]

You have any before shots of this tree? I always like seeing home depot stock being turned into bonsai since it was not grown to be a bonsai.

 

[A Random User]

Not sure if it is good or bad but the pot keeps pulling my eye and end up looking at it. It is much nicer w/ a tree.

The style is not me...but it reminds of the last Noelanders Trophy 2012 winning willow tree (impressive but did not float my boat ) but what do I know...Noelanders judges thinks otherwise.

No problem...
Not everything is going to appeal to everyone.
I am always trying to force myself out of the mold
of always styling trees in a particular way...

I don't know if this makes sense, but I have noticed that
alot of times Bonsai artist have a tendency to style every
tree a certain way, in so much as they often become known
for it... Nothing wrong with it... I just personally find it
keeps me on my feet if I am always trying to make an
effort with each tree to go somewhere I haven't been before.

Some times it works... some times not so much... But, each
time I grow, and that to me is the most important thing !!!

 

[A Random User]

You have any before shots of this tree? I always like seeing home depot stock being turned into bonsai since it was not grown to be a bonsai.

Sorry... no I don't. When I first started doing Bonsai.
I like alot of folks out there I am sure, didn't dare take
any photos of my trees...

But, I am going by Home Depot in the morning and
I am sure I can grab a photo of one that will pretty
much play the part...


PS. I by no means think this is some amazing tree...
far from it... But, I do think it shows what can be
done with even crappy material... To me, It holds
more sentimental value and was fun to do !!!

 

[bonhe]

Hi Sawgrass, it is interesting to see Arizona cypress in the willow type! I think you will spend quite a bit of time to keep it in shape since Arizona cypress tends to grow upward!
Bonhe

 

[Poink88]

No problem...
Not everything is going to appeal to everyone.
I am always trying to force myself out of the mold
of always styling trees in a particular way...

I don't know if this makes sense, but I have noticed that
alot of times Bonsai artist have a tendency to style every
tree a certain way, in so much as they often become known
for it... Nothing wrong with it... I just personally find it
keeps me on my feet if I am always trying to make an
effort with each tree to go somewhere I haven't been before.

Some times it works... some times not so much... But, each
time I grow, and that to me is the most important thing !!!

You know I agree with you (esp the last paragraph).

I personally prefer more traditional/natural design and not as adventurous as you. I actually envy you in that sense. I experiment more on different methodology or try the old forgotten gardening techniques others think is not suitable for bonsai culture. I believe there is room for it...then again, maybe I am mistaken. Either way, I intend to find out.

 

[A Random User]

Hi Sawgrass, it is interesting to see Arizona cypress in the willow type! I think you will spend quite a bit of time to keep it in shape since Arizona cypress tends to grow upward!
Bonhe

And, this thing grows like a weed...
No worries though, since the look I am going for is suppose
to have a minimal foliage type look... I let it grow as it pleases
to help build up it's strength, then just wack off everything
growing up!!!

 

[bonhe]

And, this thing grows like a weed...
No worries though, since the look I am going for is suppose
to have a minimal foliage type look... I let it grow as it pleases
to help build up it's strength, then just wack off everything
growing up!!!

It reminds me about tamarix!
Bonhe

 

[BigDave]

View attachment 36755

Very brave design, I like the last photo in post 1 as front.

Pot reminds me of my friend's work, too tall, who does similar motifs

 

[A Random User]

Very brave design, I like the last photo in post 1 as front.

Pot reminds me of my friend's work, too tall, who does similar motifs

I've got the first photo in post one as the front, mainly because
of the deadwood going up the front, but I agree the pic you like
would make a very nice front as well...

I like your friends pot as well, does he do smaller pots???

 

[A Random User]

It reminds me about tamarix!
Bonhe

Agree... it does look like a Tamarix.

 

[BigDave]

I've got the first photo in post one as the front, mainly because
of the deadwood going up the front, but I agree the pic you like
would make a very nice front as well...

I like your friends pot as well, does he do smaller pots???

Makes sense.

Check out too talls stuff, he uses a tatoo machine to carve clay

http://ceramictattooart.com/

 

[Victrinia Ridgeway]

Your effort is whimsical and charming. I'm delighted by it. I even love the, at first glance, appalling pot choice. lol I came to the opinion that it added to the whimsy of it all.

Thank you for adding delight to my day.

Kindly,

Victrinia

 

[A Random User]

Makes sense.

Check out too talls stuff, he uses a tatoo machine to carve clay

http://ceramictattooart.com/

MAN !!! He is going to have some people in the tattoo world up
in arms... I can hear it now, "you can't use a tattoo gun to carve clay"...
I'm sure everyone thought the same of the first guy to go down a ski
slope on a snowboard... "you need two of those things to ski"...
Awesome !!! Thanks for sharing!!!

 

[A Random User]

Your effort is whimsical and charming. I'm delighted by it. I even love the, at first glance, appalling pot choice. lol I came to the opinion that it added to the whimsy of it all.

Thank you for adding delight to my day.

Kindly,

Victrinia

Thanks for your kind words !!!

The pot decision was something of a middle ground...
Where if one was to literally take a Hopi pot and a Bonsai pot
a merge them together, this I feel is what you might end up with it.
Because the paint was not fired into the pot, I had to use
an oil base sign paint, so as to be sure and hold... The shine
will diminish over time giving a more realistic look.

 

[Juniperific]

I like it.. nice job.