XXL Trident

[mcpesq817]

He should take the tree off his website so people don't know how much you paid

 

[JudyB]

Not sure why that is important. I think that the tree was worth what I paid for it. And then some.
Thanks for checking it out.

 

[Giga]

Jealous! I just got a massive jbp but this is somthing else. Kinda has a sleepy hollow feel to it!


Just looked at those prices GOOD LORD, too pricy!

 

[MACH5]

Congrats Juds! Obviously a fantastic piece of material. You have upped your game with this one!

 

[BonsaiEngineer1493]

Enjoy Judy !

 

[JudyB]

Congrats Juds! Obviously a fantastic piece of material. You have upped your game with this one!

Yeah it sure is. Has a fair number of years ahead, but it should be a lot of fun getting it there.
I hope that after the repot that I can move it around myself. At least it's a trident, and not as picky about wind and such, so I won't need to worry as much about protection.

For those of you getting all worked up about the prices, these are fair prices for the type of material. As you move along, you'll understand more about that. I save my money to do one purchase like this as opposed to many lesser purchases over the year (s). It is a strategy that has worked for me.

 

[LanceMac10]

Judy, I think you got a bargain, (though it's out of my price range!). I was expecting the cost to be quite a bit more. Mr. Blackmon is a bonsai propagator, not a nursery-man. Excellent trunk bole and sturdy, graceful root-spread are not something common from nursery stock. In five or six years this tree will be a show-stopper!! I just hope you don't carve a bunch of hollows in there, the style is being over-done, in my opinion. It would look contrived with a bunch of dead areas supporting a full, lush crown. This tree tells me he's been growin' out behind the barn for 50 or so years. He might have dropped a couple low branches from an overloaded tire-swing, not a damn hurricane, fungus or bug infestation!! Great get and update after spring-work, please. Have a great holiday season!!!

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

As you move along, you'll understand more about that. I save my money to do one purchase like this as opposed to many lesser purchases over the year (s)

Agreed 100%, regardless the budget. This belongs in the "Best Advice" thread, if it's not already there.

 

[Adair M]

I agree with Brian. Better to work with fewer trees with great potential than dozens with little potential.

 

[Giga]

Agreed 100%, regardless the budget. This belongs in the "Best Advice" thread, if it's not already there.

To what Judy original said, I think this is a natural progression of the art/lifestyle. When you first start out you kinda gaggle over everything. Then after a few years you learn to thin the heard an work on nicer older material then a truck load of "ok" stuff. Then you start get A+ material like this once your ready. It's out of my price range but some day!

I still can't help but see a few large hollows/uro's and the headless horse man standing by this tree. I wouldn't want wounds like this on a maple but it would be cool,

 

[mcpesq817]

Not sure why that is important. I think that the tree was worth what I paid for it. And then some.
Thanks for checking it out.

I'm not saying that the tree is pricey or that you didn't get a good deal. If it were me, I'd ask Don to remove the tree/price from his website to (1) avoid all the comments you will get on price (as you already are getting on this thread), and (2) more importantly, so that would-be thieves aren't tempted to track you down. Unfortunately, there have been lots of bonsai thefts over the years, and while the internet is great for sharing trees, ideas, etc., it also helps the dregs of society to pick out their victims.

 

[BonsaiEngineer1493]

We all know Judy. Regardless of what price she paid for it, she will make an incredible tree out of it, which will eventually outshine the price she paid for it. Lets please stay on topic.

 

[Concorde]

Big Trident

I'm not saying that the tree is pricey or that you didn't get a good deal. If it were me, I'd ask Don to remove the tree/price from his website to (1) avoid all the comments you will get on price (as you already are getting on this thread), and (2) more importantly, so that would-be thieves aren't tempted to track you down. Unfortunately, there have been lots of bonsai thefts over the years, and while the internet is great for sharing trees, ideas, etc., it also helps the dregs of society to pick out their victims.

Judy you made an excellent purchase from Don Blackmond. I thought about buying the trident, but I see I waited to long. I have purchased many trees from Don. You can't go wrong. Keep us updated. Art

 

[JudyB]

Yeah Art, I'm a big fan. Nothing but good things to say about the things I've gotten from Don and the whole experience.

 

[JudyB]

Did some work today- took off one of the trunks, it's about the size of a pop can!

 

[Cadillactaste]

I'm sure you will do amazingly with this tree. But, just have to ask. What was it like working on such a fantastic specimen tree? Taking off a piece of that size...I am sure you thought long and hard and did it with precision along with determination of seeing your vision come into view. Hats off to you Judy! Congrats on your tree as well.

 

[JudyB]

Darlene, it's soooo much fun. You just have to be sure you want to cut it off before you do it. I have found it easier as I get better at stuff. I have trees that I should've done more with earlier, so now I try to get it right the first time, instead of loosing all the time having to go back and start again. Once I chopped my olive down I sort of got more fearless about it.

Editing a tree to it's simplest core is one of the best things you can do for a tree. I'll take some shots and post, but here is a look at the inner tree where the truck was removed. The trunk was too close to the back trunk, and was just clogging the silhouette instead of doing something for the overall appearance. There is a twig growing off the lowest sideways trunk that I'll grow into a sub-trunk to fill the interior space. I did a lot of branch editing, and some carving, more to do...

 

[Cadillactaste]

Awesome photo angle! Thanks Judy...wracking my brain on the Olive you mention. Yes, I'm getting the chopping to achieve an overall better look.

 

[grouper52]

I notice my die grinder salivating . . . Great tree!

 

[crust]

OMG this is such a studly tree--I inadvertently tremble seeing its trunk.