twisted shimpaku junipers

[Jow]

Great video! I could watch that all day. It took me a few minutes to figure out that ‘ash’ meant deadwood and ‘water absorption’ referred to the live vein, but I have no idea what they mean by ‘reliquary’.

Google seems to be translating 'shari' into 'reliquary'

[BonsaiBobbie]

Any update on this Shibui?

[shibui]

Update on anything in particular?

One of the twisted shimpaku has been selected as part of a shohin display for the upcoming AABC National Convention in Canberra so some of you will be able to check that one out in person there.

[BonsaiBobbie]

Pics etc.

But will wait for the photos to come as won’t be able to make it there.

[shibui]

Some current photos. Not sure which of these have been shown before. Some are recently promoted to bonsai pots. I'll leave it to readers to scroll back and try to work out which are which.

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This is the tree that should be part of a Shohin display at AABC convention in Canberra this year. Recently transferred to a Japanese pot by Bigei

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[shibui]

And a few more that have not yet moved into bonsai pots. Most have achieved the desired trunk diameter so I'm now slowly reducing sacrifice branches, consolidating foliage on the desired branches and further developing shari and jins.

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Originally this pot was placed in a larger pot partly filled with gravel to stop it blowing over. Roots have escaped into the gravel and I wondered whether this sort of double pot has any merit for increasing growth rates. The extra root run, water and probably some extra nutrient seems to have increased trunk thickness more than the standard 15 cm pots.

Some more Shohin sized shimpaku in development.

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[AndreasM]

Thank you - great to see some junipers developing so well, and to see a bit of variety in styles!

[Promethius]

Thanks for sharing, Shibui. You’ve inspired me to spend some extra twisting time this weekend!

[Jared k]

Some current photos. Not sure which of these have been shown before. Some are recently promoted to bonsai pots. I'll leave it to readers to scroll back and try to work out which are which.

IMG_7582.JPG
IMG_7583.JPG
IMG_7584.JPG
This is the tree that should be part of a Shohin display at AABC convention in Canberra this year. Recently transferred to a Japanese pot by Bigei
IMG_7585.JPG
IMG_7586.JPG
IMG_7587.JPG
IMG_7588.JPG
IMG_7589.JPG
IMG_7590.JPG

Love these Neil. What have you found best to carve the Shari into the trunks. I’ve been using a scalpel but not getting them as nice as yours.

[shibui]

What have you found best to carve the Shari into the trunks. I’ve been using a scalpel but not getting them as nice as yours.

I have not found 1 tool that works well in all positions so I still use a range of tools depending on how tight the curves are and how much space there is to work. I found scalpel blades sharp but a bit too flexible.
Bonsai scissors - for relatively open areas. Open the blades and scrape/cut with one blade.
Grafting knife - sharp and sturdy blade but only useful in relatively open areas.
craft gouges - different profiles to get into tighter spaces
Dremel with a wood burr bit - can get into tight corners, use a variety of bits for wider or narrow shari. fast but prone to wander off track unless you're really careful.