No Way Jose Part 1

october

Masterpiece
Messages
3,444
Reaction score
325
Location
Massachusetts
This is a San Jose juniper that I have been training for about 4 years or so. I have changed my mind on the design constantly. I almost gave up on this tree a few times.. However, I knew that there was a bonsai in there somewhere....Well, after more than 2 1/2 years of studying and tilting the tree in every which way. The key finally revealed itself. It was to basically turn the tree completely on its side.

Well, here is the pic progression...

The tree was pulled out of the nursery container, root pruned and placed in a nursery pot. some trimming was done to create a future informal upright...

The apex branch was very thin and not, at all, in proportion to the rerst of the tree. This problem, along with the top, left side branch was way to thick. Although these flaws may be somewhat correctable. The tree would probably never look right. Now, I chopped half the tree off and did further pruning.

Still not happy with the design, I desided to chop off the rest of the tree above the first branch. I thought that I could develope that one pad into something.

Yet again, not happy with this design, One day I tilted the tree completely on it's side. It was at this point I thought that I may be on to something.
 

Attachments

  • DSCN0744.jpg
    DSCN0744.jpg
    191 KB · Views: 109
  • 3.jpg
    3.jpg
    189.5 KB · Views: 110
  • 4.jpg
    4.jpg
    185.7 KB · Views: 118
  • 5.jpg
    5.jpg
    193.2 KB · Views: 110

milehigh_7

Mister 500,000
Messages
4,920
Reaction score
6,096
Location
Somewhere South of Phoenix
USDA Zone
Hot
Growing up in Colorado, I have seen many junies poking out of a rocky cliff just like that. I like it!
 

october

Masterpiece
Messages
3,444
Reaction score
325
Location
Massachusetts
Part 2

Here is the tree beginning its rebirth as a cascade. I cut off half the root ball on one entire side. I left the roots on the other side that would go into the pot. Now, the tree will have to reconfigure the way it takes in nutrients. If the tree can do this, it would survive. Since the tree had no root ball on the what is now the top, I decided to just somewhat leave that area exposed.. Eventually, the small roots that were left would die from exposure and the tree would have no choice but to live off of the remaining roots. The tree was left alone and grew incredible well.. The branch that was to become the nes apex thickened very quickly and what was formerly just a small undeveloped pad, was now a workable material to construct a whole tree.

The last pic is branch and trunk outline that is not very visible in the pic. The trunk has more curve than my highlighting showed. The foliage could not really be trimmed at this time because it was too young and there would be much browning. Also, if young foliage is cut, there is a chance that it will not grow back in that area.

Eventually, the tree will go in a crescent moon rock pot. This will accent the tree and also hide the stump where the half of the root ball was cut off

Rob
 

Attachments

  • 6.jpg
    6.jpg
    195.6 KB · Views: 83
  • 7.jpg
    7.jpg
    179.6 KB · Views: 77
  • 8.jpg
    8.jpg
    182.3 KB · Views: 92
  • Copy of 8.jpg
    Copy of 8.jpg
    183.8 KB · Views: 82

october

Masterpiece
Messages
3,444
Reaction score
325
Location
Massachusetts
p.s........... The final "front" of the tree was formerly the back. I changed the view last season..

Rob
 

Bill S

Masterpiece
Messages
2,494
Reaction score
28
Location
Western Massachusetts
USDA Zone
5a
Good job as usuall Rob. Now when are you going to replace all the foliage with Shimpaku???;)
 

october

Masterpiece
Messages
3,444
Reaction score
325
Location
Massachusetts
Thanks Bill...lol.....Ya, that San Jose foliage is pretty awful...I will be doing some work on this tree next month. I'll post some new pics then.....as far as grafting shuimpaku foliage.. The tree has already forgiven me for cutting the entire right half of the root ball off and sticking the tree in the pot on it's side...Any more work and the tree might just say..."That's it, I can't take anymore, I'm fire wood"...lol

Rob
 

Bill S

Masterpiece
Messages
2,494
Reaction score
28
Location
Western Massachusetts
USDA Zone
5a
Hey just kidding with you Rob, I am not totally against the san jose foliage, but the shimp foliage is definately nicer. Might be a great way to go after learning some grafting though. As if you needed to be told that.

Keep up the great work. Anything you have definately scheduled for at NEBG's? When I saw the April schedule my first thought was cool, but it's the same weekend as our MABS show in NY.
 

noissee

Mame
Messages
135
Reaction score
0
Location
florida panhandle
It looks like procumbens. How do you tell the difference? Will the adult foliage look different?
 

HotAction

Chumono
Messages
674
Reaction score
21
Location
Syracuse, NY
USDA Zone
5
Rob, nice progression and good job finding the bonsai that was hiding in there.

Dave
 

october

Masterpiece
Messages
3,444
Reaction score
325
Location
Massachusetts
Thanks Bill........ Well.. I will probably be taking a coupleof the open workshops this Spring. Also, the phoenix graft workshop looks very interesting....Many times I just go up there in the late morning on a Wednesday and work on my trees till the workshop comes around at night. The owner of the nursery usually just lets me work in the workshop green house during the day. NE Bonsai is truly one of the best and most friendly nurseries around..

Thank you catfish chapstick... Well, there is a long way to go still.. This foliage is difficult to work with,..due to the species and the fact that it is young... I will not be able to just prune... because it may not grow back in those areas.. I may have to just let it contiunue to grow out much more.. However, I cannot say until I actually review the tree next month.

Hello noissee.... San Jose foliage is much more course and messy and tends to be a different shade of green..

Thanks HotAction........ Well, hopefully, my furture plan of getting it in a nice crescent pot will come into play within the next 1 1/2 years

Rob
 
Top Bottom