AusBonsai

Hey this is my Juniper Formenia, pretty dam old was a stock tree. what do you think I should do with lower branche tried a few ways want to know what you think.

Hi mate,

Lovely piece of stock there.

In my opinion, the height in the leader does not work well with the overall aesthetic - looks very tall and feminine compared to the heavy and masculine deadwood. Things look too happy up the top in other words.

If this were mine, I'd bend the leader right the way down to create hanging foliage pads and jinn the very tip end of it. Further, with the lowest branch, it just needs to be pulled down and utilised to finish the bottom of the overall tree.

Note that foliage is what attracts the eye and the placement of foliage is a very useful tool to guide the eye towards a point of interest. In this case, I would say the most interesting part is the lower deadwood (looks oldest) and hence would be bringing foliage lower to have that part draw more attention.

Good luck,
Mo

Foemina junipers are one of those trees that have a very signature style. They have a very straight vertical growth habit, and are nearly always styled similarly. This is a very famous forest planting created by John Naka, which illustrates the style very well.



Your tree is not far off from that, just needs some pad development.I think the lower branches should be formed together into one pad. The top could either be grown up as a new leader, or left as a jin, but I like it as you have it.

I like the ideas so far, but with only the one bottom branch, I would lean more towards a literati style.

Lessen the weight of that dead wood and try to impart some movement and taper from further carving.

Remove that bottom branch completely (not now, let the tree regain strength Nd then cut it off)

And then bend that apex down, maybe incorporate a job into the upper part of the tree, and design it literati style.

Just my thoughts.

I myself wouldn't mind having that on my bench, interesting tree with lots of options.

that famous forest is one of my favourite picture. I have some foemenias at the moment that i will turn into that. first person that replied to my post can you show me a pic of what you mean or draw it please thanks guys for imput.

well comsidering what it was as a stock plant ill try finding a picture. I did alot of work to it. I've been doing bonsai for 2 years now. also the tree is very strong.

http://peterteabonsai.wordpress.com/page/6/
Credit to original website.

http://peterteabonsai.files.wordpress.c ... 012-32.jpg
image.

Note the taper in deadwood and the fact that the foligae pads are all being hung down from the trunk being bent down from the top.

=D.

-Mo

it looks amazing but my trunk is so straight what would I do there. can someone draw a picture for me ?

Hi daniel. A "please" might sound good on the end of that last sentence. Sorry just saying it might help.

Squizz

Squizzy give ur pencils a sharpening haha, id love to see one of your sketches on this tree - please .

Thanks in advance if you do :-)

-Mo