My problem is that I have a tendacy to change my mind, maybe its from only 7yrs experience, maybe I don't have the artistic eye you have, I'm still learning, I hope
Here is the way I see it. In life there is book learning and street learning. I work in the field of construction. My boss pays me well to do what it is I do for him.
Why?
Because he has a college degree in construction management and knows how to run a business. He is very sucessful at it. Best construction company I have ever worked for. I will retire there.
My point is we each know what we do best. I would trade 3 college boys for one guy thats been in the trade for 5 years and knows which end of the saw to put on the board. Those kind of guys are street smart not book smart.
What does this have to do with bonsai? Throw the books away. I havn't looked at a bonsai book in twenty years. I did buy Robert Steven's Mission of Transformation just so I could use it as a dart board and see if I could hit the part where it says "Edited by Will Heath", but I digress.
Bonsai is about doing bonsai. Working every stinking day. Live where its winter, then mix some soil, clean and oil the tools, clean the old condom packages out of the bottom of your bonsai bag...or is that just me?
If you think the tree is too tall, then cut it. Don't wait for some dude here that can't actually see it make some rogue recommendation. Just cut the damn thing, not now though. You probably would have read that part in the book.
After you cut it next spring, watch what it does. Take some pictures along the way. Don't post them here, no one wants to see your cut back log. Wait for a couple years untill you have grown out those new upright branches making that more spreading canopy you envision. Then you will have something to show. People will be amazed at your bravery and doing it on your own.
You ain't gonna ever know what you can do untill you just makes some cuts and start working trees. Uh ohh this one dies. well the no. one thing you learn is not to experiment on larger more expensive trees. Second, it gives you a cadaver to examine and see what the hell you did wrong.
Please don't take my message above before your reply personal, it is not meant that way. It is meant to give you a boost and do this for yourself.
Here are some tridents just sitting under a tree in the backyard in a lost corner. They probably have grown out thru the hole and are in the ground. I don't care, I just take a flat shovel and cut them free. These were cuttings two years ago. Now they are 16 inches tall about 3/4 across in the trunk and have been hedges all year to keep them compact. I have no idea what I will do with them. I am thinking about cutting off all the branches and threading five of them thru a tile. The flat is of course last years seeds, which this year should fatten up well in baskets.
I have no idea what I will do, but I sure am not going to wait for this bunch to give me suggestions or tell me what I should cut. Just work them. You want seeds I will send you some seeds. Probably too late now but keep them in the fridge and you can plant them next year. Pm me your addy and I will send you a hundred.
Good luck, now cut that thing....but wait till spring (grin)....
