AusBonsai

Hi Jared

This is a side view to show how far back.

I think from the photo that its deceiving but maybe that's a good thing????

I guess without seeing it in person, it can be hard getting a real feel for the planting.

I think having trees planted closer to the front as well as to the back add more depth. Kind of like looking through a break in the bush (or forest). Maybe add one (or a couple) of small trees on either side of the big one, towards the front?

I'm no pro at bonsai let alone group plantings. You got some nice trees there.

Are those two big roots coming out of the big tree a little too dominating?

Silly question, but is this group an even numbered tree group? Aren't groups meant to be odd numbered ... ?

Please forgive me, I don't know mud from clay about groups (or much else in Bonsai), but I have heard that it should be odd and I count 12 trees ...

Other than that, Im in awe of the fact that you can make one of these ... I can't even make a single ...

I think the qualifier for this rule is that if you have to stop and count the stems then odd or even does not matter any more. 4, 6 and maybe 8 trunks are hard to arrange successfully but it doesn't matter when you have more trunks than the eye can see in 1 go.

Hi cog

There are 13 but 1 isn't visible which is a problem. I believe the rule is that one trunk shouldn't be hidden by another.

I have put this group up here for discussion because I still haven't got it right so I am more than happy for input. Jarrad has a point I think about it all being planted too far back. I think I should address that. I also think I need more smaller trees to the left but that means squeezing them in Lenovo g the largest tree more to the centre. Not sure if this is counter productive. I think the two second biggest trees to the left need to come in slightly more to allow more room for these
smaller trees.

I think the gap is good ( certainly better than it was in my first attempt. The trees need to be shaped but I am only looking at placement at this stage.


Squizz

Perhaps bring the group on the left forward or spread the planting out more to bring the spread forward ...
I think the big trees need to remain in front as they are.


Cheers
Elmar

Hi Squizz, I am no expert on groups but I thought I would ad my .I like your positioning of all the trees. Your number one tree really stands out and my first impression is of two paths meandering around it. Like you say a little movement on your right group ( to straight ) and maybe kick those two thin ones on the extreme right out a little further and the whole group starts to balance out. I am sure you will nail it .Looks masculine ,if there is such a thing in Groups Cheers John.

Have you tried making the back the front? So it gives the feeling of walking through the forest leading to the largest tree? Right now with the large tree in the front middle you don't really notice the other trees that much. And it appears that either the trees are too closely grouped together or you need a smaller pot.

Hi Squizz. Good discussinon

to my mind the major tree is too close to the middle. It needs to be the dominant tree in One of groups only and not the entire setting.
The 2 secondary trees on the left, one is too far back and there needs to be a similar semi dominant tree in the right hand group,
The minor trees are good but there needs to be more in the front 1/2 of the pot, not puched all the way back.
The crown of the foliage needs to be consistent with the heights of each tree ( tallest over the dominant tree.) It also needs to follow a consistent outline as well.

I have done a little virt to hopefully illustrate the above points.

Ken

ps, I think I scrubbed out a minor tree to the right and behind the Major tree.

Nice virtual Ken!

Thanks for the input all.

I have reconfigured the forest with the feedback (from you guys)and my thoughts on more trees to the left. As I have found before you change 1 thing and another 4 things change. I have added more trees which I think hasn't hurt ?????

So I will post another photo and we can have more discussion. Let me know your thoughts. I think its coming together

squizz

Looking good Squizzy!

I still reckon that right side needs something in the front... And I still don't like that massive root on the big tree...

I can't wait to see it all covered in moss, and a little trail between the groups.

Cheers Jarad,

The right side has had a tree added??? Do you mean something further forward? That would make it forward of the main tree which I am not sure about.

The root will be gone when the moss is on just like those 2 ugly scars facing the front will be hidden with branching and foliage

squizz

There's definite improvement - the densities of the two groups balance very well with the trunk sizes of the main trees. What concerns me is that the smaller trees all appear to be in a line across the back, with the two main trees separated and standing out. Would it be possible to rearrange them before the growth starts so that each clump has a couple of trees squeezed closer to the main trees, and more variation in front-to-back placement? You're finding out how complicated these arrangements are, they're very tricky to get right. Sometimes it takes a few years to get trees to sit close enough to one another.

Gavin