River's Edge
Imperial Masterpiece
In this day and age it seems appropriate to introduce an Idea Virus. A germ that can multiply and spread as it grows.
What is your process for deciding what to keep and what to develop? As I get older the focus becomes how many trees do I wish to care for and which ones should I keep? Advancing age often includes downsizing and making hard choices. Strictly voluntary participation. But what if one day per year was set aside for a BET!
Otherwise known as Bonsai Evaluation Technique. This was an exercise with Michael Hagedoorn many years ago during one of his intensive classes.
Simple process of walking around your personal collection and placing a value on each of your trees using a scale of 1-10.
Rule#1 Disregard foliage and branching in the evaluation. ( easy to change )
Rule #2 Key in on the basic elements that are critical to the species under consideration.
Trunk, Nebari, Movement, Taper, Age
Rule #3 Keep only those that score a minimum of 6 or 7 to begin with, adjusting the number as your collection improves. If ties occur keep the material that can be most easily improved. Have a target in mind for overall number of trees you wish to keep in your personal collection.
Note: this can become a more effective process when one becomes familiar with standards or expectations for species. Notes from judges or show standards can be useful here.
Likely benefits would include improving your collection, ability to select additional trees for your collection and improved appreciation for Show Quality Bonsai.
Practical benefits include spending more time with material that holds higher promise and potential results.
** Most applicable to developed trees as opposed to young trees under development, however focussing on key elements is valuable to remind us of those steps needed in development.
Does this process have any use for beginners or those working with developmental material and or selecting new material? Absolutely, a better understanding of what to develop and or look for in acquisitions.
What is your process for deciding what to keep and what to develop? As I get older the focus becomes how many trees do I wish to care for and which ones should I keep? Advancing age often includes downsizing and making hard choices. Strictly voluntary participation. But what if one day per year was set aside for a BET!
Otherwise known as Bonsai Evaluation Technique. This was an exercise with Michael Hagedoorn many years ago during one of his intensive classes.
Simple process of walking around your personal collection and placing a value on each of your trees using a scale of 1-10.
Rule#1 Disregard foliage and branching in the evaluation. ( easy to change )
Rule #2 Key in on the basic elements that are critical to the species under consideration.
Trunk, Nebari, Movement, Taper, Age
Rule #3 Keep only those that score a minimum of 6 or 7 to begin with, adjusting the number as your collection improves. If ties occur keep the material that can be most easily improved. Have a target in mind for overall number of trees you wish to keep in your personal collection.
Note: this can become a more effective process when one becomes familiar with standards or expectations for species. Notes from judges or show standards can be useful here.
Likely benefits would include improving your collection, ability to select additional trees for your collection and improved appreciation for Show Quality Bonsai.
Practical benefits include spending more time with material that holds higher promise and potential results.
** Most applicable to developed trees as opposed to young trees under development, however focussing on key elements is valuable to remind us of those steps needed in development.
Does this process have any use for beginners or those working with developmental material and or selecting new material? Absolutely, a better understanding of what to develop and or look for in acquisitions.
