Telephone Poll JBP - A Progression

PeaceLoveBonsai

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Back in 2016, I purchased a JBP from my buddy @Stickroot As Purchased:

98DCC9AE-792B-45E6-B399-CF799B55409D.jpeg

As you can (sort of) see, this tree was as straight as a telephone pole.

Adam went to work creating a device that would twist (and split) the trunk.

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The resulting trunk split.

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I let it grow. In the summer of 2017:

8B24A595-80A2-4F86-A8E9-2C8B1F89AEC4.jpeg


2018 I cut the top and repotted.

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PeaceLoveBonsai

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In the summer of 2019, It was growing very strong.
EAD44194-9E59-43AC-AB43-BD99E3E43B61.jpeg

I took the tree to Bjorn’s and candle cut and styled for the first time.

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The work was very aggressive that summer, but it responded pretty well. Here is a phot from the fall of 2019.

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I decided to decandle again. Summer of 2020

01FE83F1-F434-451D-B5B1-14429F6F1CE4.jpeg394CBB11-6312-40D0-A5DD-69F5BC7B977B.jpeg

I wired it out again. As of today. You can really start to see the twist that was created by the work done in 2016.

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When I repot again (possibly spring of 2021), I’ll work the exposed roots to create a more radial appearance.

And I’ll continue to refine and hope for backbudding (or graft if need be).

An usual look for a JPB, but I kind of like it!

I’m always open to thoughts and critiques.

Have a great Saturday Bnutters!
 

Bonsai Nut

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Interesting progression! Nice to see you tackling advanced, difficult material. My one thought is that your design appears to be fighting the trunk of the tree instead of embracing it. You have a gradual bend in the trunk now and you are developing a branch structure that is seeking to take that strong line and balance it by going back in the opposite direction. Here is a thought - embrace the lean and push your whole design to the left. Bring your apex up from the left. You can nibble the top of the trunk and build on your twist, and I think the entire tree looks older and more beaten down.

Just a suggestion...

lean.jpg
 
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PeaceLoveBonsai

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Spring update. There was more field soil than I originally thought, so the repot was pretty extensive. I can already tell that she’s gonna pout about it. But she should be ok, small candles are emerging.

I like the banded pot, goes well with exposed roots, IMHO.

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MaciekA

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I share your excitement for this tree and I think I understand the feeling when you say "I love this tree" :)

It's a fun progression that matches some of my own where I initially (in early years) wanted to take a less interesting trunk and desperately turn it into something that it wasn't (trying to do strong bends of straight wood), and then later realized that I should just roll with what the tree gave me, trust in the process, and apply the techniques I've been taught by my teacher. This is a very inspiring thread in that regard.

Do you happen to have a 360 of this tree in its current state, by any chance? I am curious how the canopy is arranged depth-wise.

Thank you for posting!
 

PeaceLoveBonsai

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I share your excitement for this tree and I think I understand the feeling when you say "I love this tree" :)

It's a fun progression that matches some of my own where I initially (in early years) wanted to take a less interesting trunk and desperately turn it into something that it wasn't (trying to do strong bends of straight wood), and then later realized that I should just roll with what the tree gave me, trust in the process, and apply the techniques I've been taught by my teacher. This is a very inspiring thread in that regard.

Do you happen to have a 360 of this tree in its current state, by any chance? I am curious how the canopy is arranged depth-wise.

Thank you for posting!
Appreciate the kind words.

No 360, but here’s a look from the top. 0E0C42F0-56C7-444A-B277-7C974BFEC23F.jpeg
 

namnhi

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Very nice.

Minor comment. I'm not a fan of the upper exposed roots. It looked like most of the uppermost exposed roots have already died, or are no longer supporting much foliage. I would remove them.

Just my personal taste.
Am with you here. I can't find one reason, anything, to like it but I can't.
 

birchman

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Nice save with this one. There wasn't really much going on with that bare neck in 2020 so you've done the best you could with the material. I would've been tempted to whack it in a huge pot or the ground as a seeder but hey ;)
 

clem

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Am with you here. I can't find one reason, anything, to like it but I can't.
IMO, there are some reasons to enjoy (& keep) those exposed roots :
-they are nice with little curves, very decorative IMO
-they increase the tapper of the base (it seems bigger with those roots)
-they make the tree more special

So I would keep them. I would also keep the died roots (jins) to keep the decorative aspect.
 

Colorado

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The bonsai community is oddly toxic. 🤷‍♂️

Don’t let these few “bad apples” get you down!

Your tree shows the evidence of good technique on very challenging material! You’ve done great with it so far and, by the looks of it, only going to get better! :)
 
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