Worked on three on the 5th

[Smoke]

These three junipers were dewired, pruned and re wired. I worked all day on the three grooming them and setting up to take new pictures with their haircuts.

The first is a California juniper in a three point display.

 

[Smoke]

The second is also a California juniper with some more extensive work. I removed the bottom two branches next to the trunk and finally was able to get the long sweeping branch on the right in the correct position.

As this canopy has filled out I am not happy with this pot. I will make some virtuals of the tree in some better pots later.

 

[Smoke]

The last juniper I worked on was my slant style procumbens. This tree just keeps getting better and better. The canopy shape is really coming into it's own. Constant pinching and good fertilizer have really helped to fill it out.


Sayonara, Al

 

[amkhalid]

Good work Al I agree that the canopy looks great on the last one. Very nice natural mountain feel to the whole tree, largely due to the "light yet dense" canopy.

 

[greerhw]

I'm jealous of your opportunity to collect and work with such good material, who knows if I might be able to create something of my own with your help if I lived out there. Nice trees and nice work, like I say keep it green, not only in the growing season, but all year long.

Harry

 

[Just Duane]

Awesome junis Al!

 

[waltr1]

Very nice Al. The procumbens foliage pad does look very nature, I like it.
Nice three point display and excellent photography of your trees.
Thanks for posting
walt r

 

[bonsai barry]

Some great trees and along with some thoughtful photography. The first tree is handsome but the jin on top seems a bit long. My virt shows it with a shortened apex, a slight thinning on the left side, and planted with a lean of a few degrees to the right. What do you think?

 

[treebeard55]

The second picture looks more natural to me, and better all around.

And that procumbens is indeed looking nice!

 

[DaveV]

Hi Smoke. Would you be willing to send me that picture of your procumbens by e-mail ? I would like to use it as a reference. Thanks.

Dave V.

 

[DaveV]

Smoke. Please disregard my previous request. Thanks.

Dave V.

 

[bonsai barry]

Juniper #2 has a striking trunk. At this point in its development I think the foliage is overwhelmed. I softened the line by placing foliage in front of the deadwood. I also thinned a jin on the right. And I filled out the foliage on the right side (wouldn't be much of a challenge if it were as easy in life as it is in photoshop).

Thanks for posting this fine tree.

 

[mcpesq817]

Juniper #2 has a striking trunk. At this point in its development I think the foliage is overwhelmed. I softened the line by placing foliage in front of the deadwood. I also thinned a jin on the right. And I filled out the foliage on the right side (wouldn't be much of a challenge if it were as easy in life as it is in photoshop).

Thanks for posting this fine tree.

This is one of my favorite trees I've seen posted on the boards. Thanks for sharing it Al.

 

[Smoke]

Since the juniper had been wired for the first time in 2008 and this photo taken during the spring of 2009, the juniper has been on a slow steady decline. The roots are weak and this juniper was in need of some TLC fast or it would die. Last Feb. during my repotting time, I planted the tree in pure 100% grow stones. A product like pumice except man made.

 

[Smoke]

Today I cleaned all the dead shoots and bad places that died away after last seasons repot. About mid summer the plant started to pickup speed and started growing foliage well. The last pic is before cleaning, the others are some of the dead twigs and branches I needed to remove. This is dead stuff that dies this year after the repot. I am sure that the tree would have died this summer here since it was so hot. In 90 days we only had 12 under 101 degrees. The others were mostly over 106 with one 112 in there.

 

[Smoke]

This is what it looked like all cleaned up and ready for some wire...Now I had some good upward growing shoots and could sommence with moving forward.

 

[Smoke]

This is after todays wire. I still have lots of detail wire to do, especially on the back of the tree. The apex is too pointy but I can soften that next year with another crop of foliage like it grew this year. It sure looks better than it did a year ago.

Thanks Grow Stones.
More at the Bunker

 

[Vin]

Nice save and beautiful tree! Is there a reason for selecting the grow stones over pumice?

 

[Smoke]

Nice save and beautiful tree! Is there a reason for selecting the grow stones over pumice?

Availability, price and size.

It was available and I didn't need to order it. Lava is easy to get here but pumice in any quantity must be ordered.

The price was right for the amount I got.

The size was smaller than 3/8 inch about 5/16 and the color was more tan than white pumice.

 

[Vance Wood]

Good save. What a tragedy it would have been to lose such a wonderful tree. You have done some beautiful work with it.