Yew styling, help please.

[Maloghurst]

I’ve this yew a couple years and just not sure how to proceed. It’s got very good base flare and crispy bark. It’s not leaning on the pot edge( it appears this way) it is solid in the pot supporting itself as seen.
Slanting? Cascading? I have some ideas but I also see flaws with each path. Would love some input.

 

[0soyoung]

I suggest you put some wire on it (after the new growth is the same dark green as the older stuff --> Aug) and position the branches as best you can to:

1. make a scalene triangle
2. flatter/frame/draw-attention-to that 'base flare and crispy bark'.

To accomplish #2, the foliage canopy will need to be low because if it is high one's eye is then drawn upward, away from the tree's features.

It is a problem (aka, the joy of making bonsai).

In looking at pix of bonsai I like, I've noticed that cascades tend to take my eye down to the low handing foliage UNLESS the trunk loops upward before descending. Your trunk doesn't do this - it is relatively straight. Relatively straight trunks seem best on a slant like you have this planted.

With a slanting trunk there are two choices, IMHO:

1. 'dynamic' - the weight of the foliage is placed toward the end of the trunk so that it seems like a cycle going around a turn; this creates tension/unease in the viewer.
2. 'static' - the weight of the foliage is positioned over the base of the tree so that it seems 'balanced' like a profile of someone bowing; this creates calm/ease in the viewer.

There is actually a lot of variation in between depending on just how you fashion the scalene triangle of foliage. You just have to play with it and see what you come up with. While you are waiting for the new foliage to harden, look at all the pix of slanting trees you can find. Try to imagine how you would make your tree have a similar image later this summer.

btw I found Francois Jeker's book very helpful.

 

[just.wing.it]

Nice little yew!
Definitely some good taper.
Don't fall in love with the bark too much... It'll fall off eventually, and give you a reddish color.
I agree with Oso, gotta wire it out, and build a leaning triangle.
Keep us posted!

 

[sorce]

I'd be ok with using everything if the base sucked.....having a taperless trunk go so far...literati like...

But since the base is good...I think it will look funny with that taper-shy trunk between.

I'd think about cutting it down to your knuckle eventually.

They say these need 2-3 years to recover potting....so about 2-3 years after that....
I'd whack it for lower buds.

Even just using the first branch for the entire canopy would be better...IMO...

My question would be...
One swift lop..
Or a slow cut back?

I'd treat that first branch and buds like gold Anyway.

Nice!

Sorce

 

[Maloghurst]

I suggest you put some wire on it (after the new growth is the same dark green as the older stuff --> Aug) and position the branches as best you can to:

1. make a scalene triangle
2. flatter/frame/draw-attention-to that 'base flare and crispy bark'.

To accomplish #2, the foliage canopy will need to be low because if it is high one's eye is then drawn upward, away from the tree's features.

It is a problem (aka, the joy of making bonsai).

In looking at pix of bonsai I like, I've noticed that cascades tend to take my eye down to the low handing foliage UNLESS the trunk loops upward before descending. Your trunk doesn't do this - it is relatively straight. Relatively straight trunks seem best on a slant like you have this planted.

With a slanting trunk there are two choices, IMHO:

1. 'dynamic' - the weight of the foliage is placed toward the end of the trunk so that it seems like a cycle going around a turn; this creates tension/unease in the viewer.
2. 'static' - the weight of the foliage is positioned over the base of the tree so that it seems 'balanced' like a profile of someone bowing; this creates calm/ease in the viewer.

There is actually a lot of variation in between depending on just how you fashion the scalene triangle of foliage. You just have to play with it and see what you come up with. While you are waiting for the new foliage to harden, look at all the pix of slanting trees you can find. Try to imagine how you would make your tree have a similar image later this summer.

btw I found Francois Jeker's book very helpful.

Thanks! That all helps a lot. It’s seems that a “dynamic” design is what this tree calls for because the slant is very severe and it would not look convincing in a static form as is. Definitely not a cascading either, I agree. This helps with direction so thanks again. -mike