Preparing a black pine for exhibit
Not long before last month’s Bay Island Bonsai exhibit, Boon mentioned that there was room for more trees if I was interested. I looked around my backyard for candidates and found that one of my black pines had filled in nicely after the previous year’s decandling. I brought it to workshop to see if it had a chance.
As the needles looked good, the tree would be fine if I had time to wire it ahead of the exhibit. I hadn’t planned to show the tree for another two or three years as I’d recently removed the first branches on both sides and was mid-way through reducing the crown, but I figured it was worth a try. We repotted the tree on the spot with a Japanese pot I’d brought along just in case.
A masked Daisaku Nomoto checks the planting angle
The tree was pretty bare two years ago, and the crown too large (see “Big Cuts” for details).
January 2011
It’s filled in a bit since then, but was really rangy just a week before the show.
January 2013
Some tweezer work, wire and a small number of cuts later the tree was ready to go.
One week later
The silhouette still needs some work, but the new planting angle brings up an interesting question – which was does the tree point, and why? For some thoughts on the topic, see “Displaying a shimpaku juniper” from last year’s exhibit.
Reblogged this on mykeilangelica and commented:
I have always loved Bonsai Trees.. They are so amazing. and truly unique.
Jonas,
I hope this note finds you well.
Two things. I love receiving your e-mails and look forward to reading them over again. Thank you
You most likely don’t recall but I’ve written to you in the past regarding finding a “Teacher” I can learn and study Bonsai with in the downtown Chicago area. I Thought I would check in to see if you possibly came across any names.
Thank you Susan
Sent from my iPhone
Hi Susan – thanks for the note! I don’t have further updates about teachers – I’ll put the question to everyone else: does anyone know of good bonsai teachers in the Chicago area?
Ivan Watters is a good resource in the Chicago area. I do not have a contact for him but you can probably get contact info from the Chicago Botanical Gardens or the Midwest Bonsai Society.
To me the tree points left, and the slightly modified planting angle helps clarify that. The apex provides some interesting tension however as it is clearly pointing right. I am definitely no master though! Either way, very nice tree. It’s good to see this after the branch chop, the new branches look mighty fine. I’ll try to be less fearful of serious branch pruning!
Thanks Karl – I couldn’t have put it better myself! Next I’ll have to fix the apex.
Susan…Matt Owinga might be of help. http://kaedebonsai.com
I see it as pointing to the right. The long upward sweep of the left hand side of the foliage is what gives me that image. I see the left leaning lower trunk as the counter balance to that overall point.