Should I buy this crazy Telperion Farms tree?

[Brain Treez]

A veteran club member is offering me this tree for what I suspect is a steal at $250. It would be the biggest and oldest piece of material I own by far. I have not seen the tree in person yet.

There's a lot going on here, but the vast majority of foliage is out at the ends of this bramble of branches. Does the uniqueness of the multiple trunks make up for it? Can grafting likely solve any pad placement issues regardless?

If I do end up getting it, I'll bring it to a workshop with Scott Elser this spring.

Thoughts?

 

[Ruddigger]

Yes.

 

[Brain Treez]

Yes.

That was my instinct, but I just want to make sure my brain wasn't short circuiting and I was missing something.

 

[Dav4]

Intimidating material but absolutely get it. With proper technique, you can drive the growth inwards and that trunk(s) must be 25+ years old, and maybe older.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Absolutely.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Absolutely. However it is advanced material. It would be great material to bring to a workshop with a pro who might help you lay out the primary structure.

 

[leatherback]

yup. Show progression please

 

[Brain Treez]

Absolutely. However it is advanced material. It would be great material to bring to a workshop with a pro who might help you lay out the primary structure.'

That's the plan: a Scott Elser workshop this spring. I'll be looking for first steps to steering this towards a refined tree. I am not expecting a quick transformation.

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

This is way above my head, and I've tackled difficult stuff.
I would pass on this for the sake of not wanting another 10 year project.
All the love to telperion and you, but I'm not seeing it.

 

[treetrunks]

I would pass on this as well.

Do YOU have at least some vision for where you would like to take this tree? I wouldn’t rely on a pro to answer that for you.

 

[Brain Treez]

I would pass on this as well.

Do YOU have at least some vision for where you would like to take this tree? I wouldn’t rely on a pro to answer that for you.

A thorough evaluation of any raw material based on a few photos is always going to be flawed. I'll know more when I see it in person. Might even be able to split it into two very different trees.

 

[Vince Sartain]

A thorough evaluation of any raw material based on a few photos is always going to be flawed. I'll know more when I see it in person. Might even be able to split it into two very different trees.

That's exactly where my head went in looking at your photos. Two trees for the price of one and actually probably better trees in the end. Yes, it's going to be a long term project but isn't that the most fulfilling part of bonsai. I know it is for me.

 

[MrFancyPlants]

Could be some interesting trunk under the soil connecting the two. I’ll vote yes, buy it.
And then I’ll Vote for “send it to S.C.” Juniper seem to love it here.

 

[leatherback]

Might even be able to split it into two very different trees.

I was thinking more of a clump/raft/grou[p style from this front:

 

[MrFancyPlants]

This is what chatGPT gave me; I’m not sure I see quite how to get there from here, but I bet there is a hunk of trunk under there.

Semi-cascade Chinese style bonsai with foliage clouds and a cascading section using this uploaded photo juniper as source material. Rearrange the potting angle and cut branches and pretend much time has passed to regrow foliage.

 

[leatherback]

This is what chatGPT gave me

don't use it for bonsai design. This tree is not in the raw material.

 

[Ruddigger]

I’d probably do a bunch of air layers and make a fat base shohin with the bottom.

 

[leatherback]

this looks like a base you could work from

 

[TomP]

Yes. In the hands of someone good at design (and a hell of a lot of copper wire) this could be qute nice

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

There’s a real chance you can saw this in half and have 2 great trunks.