My First Rocky Mountain Juniper

[Tidal Bonsai]

First of all, I wanted to thank Randy Knight for collecting this beauty 3 seasons ago, and Jim Doyle of Nature’s Way for trusting me to care for it! Collected shohin size trees with good age are not easily found, I am very thankful to be able to add this to my collection!!!

This tree is estimated at 50 years old, has approximately a 1.5 inch trunk at the widest point, and is a hair over 8 inches as it is now. The rest of the season it will get TLC, and sometime in the future it will be styled by a good artist. Progress shots to follow.

 

[Johnnyd]

That's going be a winner!

 

[Tidal Bonsai]

That's going be a winner!

I feel the same way! One day it will be on top of a Shohin display!

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

Nice one! Have fun!

 

[Tidal Bonsai]

Growing strong in NJ, and getting less floppy! Its really interesting how quickly this prticular tree takes energy away from floppy foliage and invests into upright growth. It wants to be a bonsai so bad!!! However, I am still growing it out wild so it can be styled...next season

 

[Alkabides]

I like that pot. Remember, you aren’t supposed to put bonsais in bed with you overnight.

 

[Tidal Bonsai]

I like that pot. Remember, you aren’t supposed to put bonsais in bed with you overnight.

Haha! Using the word “floppy” opens you up to all kinds of shenanigans

It may be hard to see, but that’s a simple mica pot. It was repotted at Nature’s Way in the spring (just before purchase). The tentative plan is to grow out this season, wire/set structure next season, and repot it into a ceramic in 2022. The styling will have some impact on the ceramic so I have a couple options in the shed (rectangle from Matt O., and an oval from Sam Miller). I am even toying with some small Bigei mokka pots I have seen online. This is just a silly sketch from what I am seeing in the tree ATM, when I work with a good artist, this all may change.

 

[sorce]

Remember, you aren’t supposed to put bonsais in bed with you overnight.

I think it would be a riveting experience.

Sorce

 

[Alkabides]

I think it would be a riveting experience.

Sorce

C’mon, let’s not disappoint the trees too
Sara Rayner a few new things on her site. Some really nice pottery, at least I think it’s pretty nice. Looking forward to seeing this tree down road, good luck.

 

[Tidal Bonsai]

Backbud City!!!

 

[Tidal Bonsai]

This is one of the trees that is coming with me to Natures Way in November for styling with Todd Schlafer. This week I cleaned up the bark on the live side and tried to expose more of the deadwood for weathering. Old bark is a PITA to remove

 

[Tidal Bonsai]

This tree got its first styling by Todd Schlafer at Nature’s way in PA, and I couldn’t be happier!!! Thanks to the Bonsai Nut that made this happen!
Before...

After!!!

 

[Tidal Bonsai]

In the past few seasons this tree has never pushed out scale foliage, and continued to get leggier and leggier. I don’t feel like I can make a convincing tree unless I get better foliage. While I tried to make the native RMJ foliage work, ultimately I decided to graft on Itoigawa from Ed Clark.