My first forest

[willhopper]

Today, I created my first forest. These are Water Jasmines and I used muck and moss with a bonsai soil substrate. It was fun. I used a wire grid to anchor the trees. I still have to style/trim it a little more but I thought I’d post it here.

 

[sorce]

https://bonsainut.com/threads/your-first-forrest.25566/

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Other than the moss being symmetrical, Id say it's pretty nice!

I'll bet you can adjust your trail a bit, with smaller rock particles, kill that symmetry, and really make this pop.

Flat top trees? Could work!

Nice.

Sorce

 

[twisted trees]

Nice. Good spacing. Maybe a bit much between the two clumps. Excellent job.

 

[willhopper]

https://bonsainut.com/threads/your-first-forrest.25566/

Share it!

Other than the moss being symmetrical, Id say it's pretty nice!

I'll bet you can adjust your trail a bit, with smaller rock particles, kill that symmetry, and really make this pop.

Flat top trees? Could work!

Nice.

Sorce

Thanks, Sorce. Yeah, I’m using those stones just as a placeholder because I didn’t want it to just be muck while I decide what to do. I considered bonsai soil for the path because it looks like a forest floor, but I don’t think it would stay in place and might wash out during watering. I might make the path a little wider by cutting into one of the mounds to avoid symmetry and insert a natural boulder.

 

[willhopper]

Nice. Good spacing. Maybe a bit much between the two clumps. Excellent job.

Thanks for the input. So you think the path is too wide? Because I’m actually considering opening it up a bit on one side to kill the symmetry.

 

[twisted trees]

I don't see the symetry as being a product of the gap. The group on the right has fewer trees and should have less visual weight. Shorten it a bit and thin it some.

I think the gap is just a bit too much of a change from the other gaps when looking at the negative space.

 

[willhopper]

I don't see the symetry as being a product of the gap. The group on the right has fewer trees and should have less visual weight. Shorten it a bit and thin it some.

I think the gap is just a bit too much of a change from the other gaps when looking at the negative space.

Ah, gotcha. Yes, I will shorten a tad because I’d like to keep the Scalene Triangle intact with the canopy. Thanks for the tip!

 

[willhopper]

So, I thinned the right side a bit, shortened it some and I added a little moss to the left mound so that it narrows the path and cuts down on the “roundness” of the mound. I think the right side still needs thinning but I’m going to wait until I have some of my club members look at it and critique it.

 

[bonsaidave]

Nice first forest. You could use smaller pebbles to make the scale look better.

 

[willhopper]

Nice first forest. You could use smaller pebbles to make the scale look better.

Thanks, Dave, good idea. I’m still tinkering so that may be what I do. Much appreciated.

 

[twisted trees]

Now that I count the tree there are four on each side. 5 and 3 would help break up the symmetry.

 

[willhopper]

Now that I count the tree there are four on each side. 5 and 3 would help break up the symmetry.

No, it’s five and four, it’s just the angle of the second photo. The left side is dominant with the lead No. 1 tree.

 

[twisted trees]

No, it’s five and four, it’s just the angle of the second photo. The left side is dominant with the lead No. 1 tree.

Very good.

 

[twisted trees]

No, it’s five and four, it’s just the angle of the second photo. The left side is dominant with the lead No. 1 tree.

The next repotting think about turning it a bit so it photographs all the trees. These are all just refinement points. I wish my first forest was as good. I wasted years on it.