RMJ #4

[MACH5]

RMJ originally collected by Andy Smith at an altitude of 3000 ft. back in 1998. I had styled this tree a couple of years back but after a surprising discovery of a long segment of the trunk still under the soil, it required me to completely rethink its design. While I planned a new approach, it fell under neglect eventually outgrowing its original silhouette and structure set forth at the first styling and completely lost its shape.

The juniper how it appeared before the redesign.








Before the work, I wanted to clean the dirty trunk. First with a brush and then with a mini high pressure cleaner.








A few photos of the styling work in progress.












The completed restyling at least for now. The deadwood has not yet been treated with lime sulfur and hopefully next year it can be repotted into a more appropriate container. Perhaps a small round namban style pot? As the tree develops, I'd like to keep most of the foliage pads small and delicate to complement the graceful and twisting thin trunk.




















A quick at-a-glance before and after.

 

[Dav4]

Fantastic material and great first styling. Just wondering... have you thought of losing that long, first branch falling to the left and pulling the lowest cascade branch around and more to the side/front- it appears to be a back branch now. I'm not sure if it's possible or not, but a trunk like that wants less foliage in the final design, and having that lowest branch moving to the right would really set off the movement in the trunk.

 

[Giga]

Looks great!

 

[Wilson]

Good save! I enjoy these tall sinuous trunks a lot! They seem to communicate so well the struggles of a harsh environment. I am sure that since it is back into your focus, it will thrive.

 

[MACH5]

Fantastic material and great first styling. Just wondering... have you thought of losing that long, first branch falling to the left and pulling the lowest cascade branch around and more to the side/front- it appears to be a back branch now. I'm not sure if it's possible or not, but a trunk like that wants less foliage in the final design, and having that lowest branch moving to the right would really set off the movement in the trunk.

Thanks Dave! Yes, did think about it and almost went for it. I did not, since I have already removed enough from the tree. I also decided to keep it (at least for now) because I sort like it framing the trunk as it rises. But I can see the design working without it. The right branch can be brought forward but have to check to see if it won't look too forced or awkward.

I can also see it without both descending branches and working with just the top.

 

[MACH5]

Good save! I enjoy these tall sinuous trunks a lot! They seem to communicate so well the struggles of a harsh environment. I am sure that since it is back into your focus, it will thrive.

Thanks Wilson. This RMJ reminds me more of an Asian juniper, like a shimpaku, than the more typically rugged junipers found in the Rockies. Because of it, I have been thinking about grafting it possibly with kishu (or itoigawa) in the future. I think it would fit well with the feeling of this sinuous and elegant trunk. Not sure yet but a thought.

 

[Gary McCarthy]

WOW....NICE!!!

In the "AFTER" picture I like how the branches on each side of the tree slope at the same angles. The branches on the left side slope down a little more than the ones on the right side, but each side keeps the same slope.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Looks great Serg. But I can't wait until you finally cave and get a really nice Shimpaku.

 

[yenling83]

Very nice! Really like the angle you selected! That eliminated both the straight section of trunk at the bottom and shows a thicker part of the trunk coming out of the soil. Movement in the trunk flows really nicely! In terms of keeping it native RMJ or grafting Kishu/Itoigawa I don't think you can go wrong either way.

 

[barrosinc]

Looks great Serg. But I can't wait until you finally cave and get a really nice Shimpaku.

Or start grafting shimpaku

 

[Redwood Ryan]

Please don't ever leave this forum. Your work is incredible.

 

[PiñonJ]

Beautiful work, as usual! Just my $.02, but for bunjin style, I don't think you can beat the sparse, flat pads of RMJ foliage. You already have a good selection of branches. Grafting doesn't seem necessary.

 

[MACH5]

Looks great Serg. But I can't wait until you finally cave and get a really nice Shimpaku.

Thanks Bri! One of these days... one of these days!

 

[MACH5]

Very nice! Really like the angle you selected! That eliminated both the straight section of trunk at the bottom and shows a thicker part of the trunk coming out of the soil. Movement in the trunk flows really nicely! In terms of keeping it native RMJ or grafting Kishu/Itoigawa I don't think you can go wrong either way.

Thanks Jeremy! I am a big fan of your work!

Indeed the bottom straight piece was a problem. There were a few good angles for the upper part of the tree but the bottom forced me into just a couple of choices. Luckily I was able to find a good compromise and avoid the straight section altogether.

 

[MACH5]

Or start grafting shimpaku

Max, yes but overall I do like the scraggly look of RMJs foliage. I know... go figure! I think I am perhaps in the minority on this. I believe Ryan Neil also loves them as they come. I don't think he has any intentions on grafting his. I'm sure a few others feel the same but most seem intent in eventually grafting their Rockies.

I will admit that RMJs can be challenging, depending on the tree, to manage the floppy if unwieldy foliage!

 

[MACH5]

Please don't ever leave this forum. Your work is incredible.

Thanks Ryan! I do appreciate the sentiment.

 

[MACH5]

Beautiful work, as usual! Just my $.02, but for bunjin style, I don't think you can beat the sparse, flat pads of RMJ foliage. You already have a good selection of branches. Grafting doesn't seem necessary.

LOL believe me you don't have to go to great lengths to convince me! To your point, since the foliage pads will be small, I may be ok leaving as is. The foliage of this tree is pretty fine. My thought was that kishu or itoigawa foliage might lend the elegant and graceful feel of the tree a slightly more refined quality? For now just a thought I am playing with.