I have had this trident group for a few years now trying to peice it together into something that resembles a forest. I find the grouping is fairly average but am looking to make it more dynamic.
I have looked at other groups ( better examples) and am trying to decide what needs to go and what needs to be added ofr weather it just needs spacing out to creat more sub groups in a slightly larger pot.
I would love some input and discussion to see what is possible. All comments are welcome. My skin has thickened slightly
Groups are hard to pull off squiz - it's a good effort. If it were mine I would want one more tree (a bigger trunk) to make it 15 trees and also because the two largest trees are the same size. I would also ponder whether you could have a main group and a sub group with that number of trees. Keep up the good work
Regards Tony
"The problem with quotes found on the Internet is that it's hard to be sure of their authenticity." Abraham Lincoln
I pulled out one of the failed whips at the back which has made it a group of 14. adding one makes sense. Maybe a bigger one grouped with the two largest ones and brought forward in a larger pot. The second group would be the 3 slightly smaller ones to the right pushed further right in a bigger pot. All the whips at the back look as if they are in a straight row along the back of the pot. They add depth but look unnatural at the moment in my opinion. How would you group the smaller ones at the back?
It's hard to look at a photo - you need to look overhead as well. Have you looked at bonsai4me ? Harry has a great article on groups there. I would put the bigger tree to the front of the two trees and move the right groups closest to middle tree back to the left of the right group. Then you have a main group on the left and a smaller sub group to the right. I personally have a dislike for the European trend for the trees to angle out from the centre. I understand the thinking but it has never looked right to me
Regards Tony
"The problem with quotes found on the Internet is that it's hard to be sure of their authenticity." Abraham Lincoln
My suggestion
1. Place far left tree further into group making it second from left and a little forward and close to new far left tree.
2. Place largest tree more forward in pot and second largest tree at same level but closer behind front larger tree
3. 5th tree on from right hand side, move more forward and closer toward 4th tree.
4. 6th tree from right hand side move a little more to right creating a larger space in middle.
5. Vary soil height from left hand grouping to right hand grouping.
6. Developing smaller leaves will also give proportions
7. The silhouette will need attention but that comes later.
8. Don't worry about number of trees as variation and perspective is most important.
When there is a beautiful and natural visualisation, no one really needs to count.
Just a suggestion but gives variation still with depth and create some open space on left hand side of pot and middle.
Its a great effort but to me needs more variation and commences too far back in pot.
I am learning to create landscapes and finding it exciting. Like always I feel that I am at the beginning of my journey.
Visualise this and maybe some criticism from the critics on their opinion of my suggestion.
sometimes the old addage, less is more, can be true.
Having all these trees in a small oval pot, and attempting to create a dense forest might be far to complicated.
Trident maples are vigourous enough at this time of year to withstand tip pruining, and shaping.
There are a few trains of thoughts to a forest, veiw from afar, or, veiw from close.
Either way, a forest should still portray singularity, as well as togetherness.
Therefor, a triangular shape, though domed, should still be considered, as of course, even though a group can be a of
younger trees, a forest does imply age, and younger trees towards the edge of the group, smaller, and reaching out towards the light,
and the original, older, stronger trees standing taller and strong, with a higher canopy.
A distinction between groups often helps give more balance as well as perspective.
A larger pot/or tray would also help this group.
If you may not have one, perhaps you could adapt the slab you have the pot on, with the aid of some muck and create a lower tray ?
Different layers on the planting surface, older trees higher, lesser lower also can create the illusion of age and depth of a forest.
Also, not forgeting the Trident Maple can have their leaf size reduced by defoliation tequniques, which would also help with the scale of
size and quantity to the group planting.
I have a pic that I hope might help.
Best of luck.
Regards,
Paul.
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I don't have any groups at the moment however if this was mine I would do the following.
1. Create a definite split between the left and right hand groups.
2. Move the tree on the far left closer into the group.
3. Move the middle thin tree at the back over to the right making a greater distinction between the two sub groups.
4. Turn around the tree on the far right as it initially grows away from the group and then turns back into the forest. This looks a bit strange to me
Cheers
that one on the right does look awkward doesn't it Edward. I think I might remove it/replace it as I don't think it would work either way. There is no good reason for a tree on the edge of the forest to grow that way.
Squiz, my feeling on this is that we need to distinguish between a forest and a clump. I think the former you could pull off in that pot, but to nail a forest you would need more negative space, and thus more pot space. my opinion is that the inexperienced forest designed tries to fit too much into a pot, or simply chooses too small a pot. I like what you have drawn, but I would not worry about even or odd numbers of trees. This is only important in small numbered clumps or groupings like those with 3,5, or pushing it 7. Any more and the visual importance of odd numbers decreases exponentially. Of course, something to consider is the forest that has sub-groupings, and in these maintaining the use of odd numbers may be good. 3 + 10, or 3 + 5 + 7, or 3 + 3 + 8 etc.
This is what us cool about ausbonsai. I have learnt more about clumps and forests and groups by some simple interaction then I ever would just referring to text.
Thanks for all the info. I probably have a bit to think about with regards to the set out if this forest. I am guessing its best for me to leave the rearranging until next winter now so probably bad timing as far as this discussion is concerned.
this is probably no where near the mark but I am thinking to groups like this maybe?
