markyscott
Imperial Masterpiece
It was a strong contender, but I have dogs. I'm worried that they might not get along well with the bunnies.
S
Old Kishu
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It was a strong contender, but I have dogs. I'm worried that they might not get along well with the bunnies.
S
markyscott
Imperial Masterpiece
Well - in the end I liked the color of #1 and #3 - I thought the red looked good with the trunk. I liked the size of #2 and #3 - #1 and #4 looked really big. I ruled out #4 early - the masculine lines and dark tones didn't go well with the tree. I thought the tree would be better displayed in a pot with more feminine lines - that was #3. So the color, the size and the feminine lines all tilted me in favor of #3. It was a really tough call with #1 though - as you can see in the picture we had that pot all wired up and ready to go. But #3 carried the day in the end. Hope you all like it:
We'll call it done for today.
Scott
We'll call it done for today.
Scott
thumblessprimate1
Masterpiece
So much win!
ColinFraser
Masterpiece
I needed a good laugh today, and I've missed that pot! You have my genuine thanks.
Smoke
Ignore-Amus
I took the liberty of reducing the photo so as to get it all in the same view without toggling. I also straightened the image and cropped it. I also adjusted the color temperature on the right photo to get the bark as close to the same color as uncorrected color temp on the left tree. You guys did a great job with this tree. I only offer this as an exercise for those not familiar on matching trees to pots. The lines on the right pot are pretty rigid and the left pot does match the shape of the tree better. Just a little larger for me.
Damn nice tree though. You'll find the right pot I'm sure.
I still think it's under potted.
Damn nice tree though. You'll find the right pot I'm sure.
I still think it's under potted.
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markyscott
Imperial Masterpiece
Thanks Al - I appreciate your insight on this. It was a difficult choice between these two, but it was really nice to have some different pots (style, color, size) we could compare. We had a long and interesting discussion about the merits and drawbacks of the alternatives. Those were exactly the issues we discussed with the pot I ended up going with - the more appropriate lines and better color but a bit undersized. I probably have 40 large pots in the back, but none were exactly right. We'll have another go in a couple of years and we all can redo this conversation. If I keep buying pots that are not exactly right for my trees, I can justify to my wife that I need to get more. All part of a grander strategy!
Scott
Steve Kudela
Shohin
That's the one.................looks good!
markyscott
Imperial Masterpiece
Thinking more about pot choices. There's something about this tree that reminds me of a very famous collected tree in Japan called Zui-un. It was featured in Bonsai Today #35. Here's a picture from 1939:
The pot choice at this time was a reddish brown pot with hard lines. Lots of horizontal movement and fairly shallow for a juniper. This looks more like a pot for a more formal arrangement to me - something a more formally styled pine might look good in.
Heres another picture - this was taken in 1981 when the tree won the Dai-Kan-Ten:
This was when it was under Kimura's care. You can see that Kimura changed the front. This is the aspect that reminds me of my tree. You can see that Kimura put it in a pot with softer lines. Kimura often chooses brown tones to exhibit junipers and red tones for pines - just the opposite of convention. It's also a bit deeper. I think it looks better in this pot than in the original 1939 picture.
Around 1990 the right branch died (funny, but the BT article states that Kimura removed it on purpose but I have it on good authority that it died. I guess that reporting it had been removed was more respectful to Mr. Kimura). However it was removed, this is the appearance in 1990:
You can see that Kimura moved it into a pot with similar soft lines, but a deeper red in color. It looks really good in this container, in my opinion.
In the mid 90s, Kimura changed the container again. This time to this pot:
Very soft lines with cloud feet and gracefully sloping sides. Red in color, like the other pot. Here's the tree in this container (my centerfold pictures sure have changed over time):
I really think this is the best looking pot for this tree, but it's fascinating to note how much the container choice changed over time.
Which container do you like for this very famous juniper?
Scott
The pot choice at this time was a reddish brown pot with hard lines. Lots of horizontal movement and fairly shallow for a juniper. This looks more like a pot for a more formal arrangement to me - something a more formally styled pine might look good in.
Heres another picture - this was taken in 1981 when the tree won the Dai-Kan-Ten:
This was when it was under Kimura's care. You can see that Kimura changed the front. This is the aspect that reminds me of my tree. You can see that Kimura put it in a pot with softer lines. Kimura often chooses brown tones to exhibit junipers and red tones for pines - just the opposite of convention. It's also a bit deeper. I think it looks better in this pot than in the original 1939 picture.
Around 1990 the right branch died (funny, but the BT article states that Kimura removed it on purpose but I have it on good authority that it died. I guess that reporting it had been removed was more respectful to Mr. Kimura). However it was removed, this is the appearance in 1990:
You can see that Kimura moved it into a pot with similar soft lines, but a deeper red in color. It looks really good in this container, in my opinion.
In the mid 90s, Kimura changed the container again. This time to this pot:
Very soft lines with cloud feet and gracefully sloping sides. Red in color, like the other pot. Here's the tree in this container (my centerfold pictures sure have changed over time):
I really think this is the best looking pot for this tree, but it's fascinating to note how much the container choice changed over time.
Which container do you like for this very famous juniper?
Scott
Smoke
Ignore-Amus
I hope that everyone notes that the extreme top heavy nature of these tree has needed a much deeper and larger pot to counterbalance the canopy. Just a note to counter the color issue which for me is secondary to size.
markyscott
Imperial Masterpiece
Thanks Al - we're all students here and I appreciate feedback from one with as experienced an eye as yours.
Scott
0soyoung
Imperial Masterpiece
But, when I flicked through the choices repeatedly, #2 made the most interesting tree for me. Possibly it is because of the 'tension' created by the small pot and large canopy on a slanting trunk? With the other options, the pot seemed to become the focal point, for me, instead of the tree.
Steve Kudela
Shohin
The 1939 view of this tree reminds me of the logo tree for the Royal Bonsai Garden. I love this juniper. For me, the 1939 view is the best. I don't mind the harder lines of that pot...............to my eye, the tree is a little harder, more rugged in appearance. This stuff is hard to put into words, there seems to be a little bit of tension present in the 39 view that I find very appealing. I could see the 39 tree with the pot in the second picture. In the last 2 pics, the tree has a more lush, less rugged appearance and those pots work better with it. I'd like to see that one brought back to the older view............call me crazy, that's ok...............SK
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Seriously, I preferred the second choice that you presented yesterday, and I was somewhat surprised that you didn't choose that one as well... but I was 1/2 serious when I said that the pots are distracting to the visual aspect of the tree.
I think everyone makes very good arguments for what they see... deep pot, size colour, but I'm wondering if you can take that last pot that Kimura used, and mock it up on the computer with your tree... BUT, darken the image of the pot to almost black, so the pot doesn't draw the eye from the tree. The 1981 Dai-Kan-Ten picture presents the tree the best for me, because if the dark nature of the pot, forces my eye to the tree right away... I know that this "dark colour" is only due to shadow, but it shows the effect that I'm trying to convey. I like the Last Kimura pot, because it's shape more closely accentuates the flow of the tree trunk, but IMHO it would have been the perfect pot, BEFORE the lower branch was lost... the hard lines of the rectangles distracts me right away, and even though I can see the value in using a reddish colour, I'm wondering if a darker colour would be better.
In a lot of ways, I almost prefer the original Suthin pot, but It needs to be darker IMHO...
I think everyone makes very good arguments for what they see... deep pot, size colour, but I'm wondering if you can take that last pot that Kimura used, and mock it up on the computer with your tree... BUT, darken the image of the pot to almost black, so the pot doesn't draw the eye from the tree. The 1981 Dai-Kan-Ten picture presents the tree the best for me, because if the dark nature of the pot, forces my eye to the tree right away... I know that this "dark colour" is only due to shadow, but it shows the effect that I'm trying to convey. I like the Last Kimura pot, because it's shape more closely accentuates the flow of the tree trunk, but IMHO it would have been the perfect pot, BEFORE the lower branch was lost... the hard lines of the rectangles distracts me right away, and even though I can see the value in using a reddish colour, I'm wondering if a darker colour would be better.
In a lot of ways, I almost prefer the original Suthin pot, but It needs to be darker IMHO...
Vance Wood
Lord Mugo
Smoke: Did you mean you wanted a larger pot or you thought the tree was in a pot that was too large? Personally I think the tree needs a bit larger pot. I also believe the tree is beautiful. When it comes to pots I am not always on the mark. My options are limited by my income so I tend to think in smaller circles.
Smoke
Ignore-Amus
I too think it needs a larger/heavier pot. I too agree that the tree is awesome.
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"When it comes to pots I am not always on the mark. "
Same here... but for the most part, if you aren't going to show it, the pot doesn't really matter much anyway.
BUT, if a guy was going to show this tree in a high publicity event, having a bad pot would be a lot like having a pretty little girl friend, who'd spent hours on her make-up and hair, put on a body hugging cotton summer-dress; along with her very best shy white smile... and the first thing that you noticed was that her rubber boots were the wrong colour AND size!
Same here... but for the most part, if you aren't going to show it, the pot doesn't really matter much anyway.
BUT, if a guy was going to show this tree in a high publicity event, having a bad pot would be a lot like having a pretty little girl friend, who'd spent hours on her make-up and hair, put on a body hugging cotton summer-dress; along with her very best shy white smile... and the first thing that you noticed was that her rubber boots were the wrong colour AND size!
Potawatomi13
Imperial Masterpiece
Potawatomi13
Imperial Masterpiece
Personally feel 1939 pic of tree as "less is more" was much more attractive
. And great artwork(not a photo).
. And great artwork(not a photo).
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Potawatomi13
Imperial Masterpiece
Had originally picked #2 as best pot for OP tree. However after pics of Kimura Juniper believe very last pot is best for both trees. Really made first 4 pots look undesireable to me. Nice to have unlimited selection(and money)
.
.Potawatomi13
Imperial Masterpiece
Kimura tree great tree but does anyone else notice appearance of reverse taper in every pic
. And yet is still world class tree.
. And yet is still world class tree.
