AusBonsai

Hi all,
25 yr old swampy cypress I have been working on. Not happy with overall design....Looking for some advice!

Looks pretty good to me. Th branches need a bit more growth but that comes with time and you can get some growth back a little closer in on the branches if you wanted. I do notice on some of the lower branches there appear to be three sub branches coming from almost the one point. That may just be the photograph angle though.

Also is that the front. Does the apex bend away from the viewer?

hi there
lack of front branches is what concerned me. the branch structures all looked very horizontal. i like to wire mine upward since they are deciduous and give them more up and down and front and back movement to create interest. good tree nonetheless.

regards

Tien

Ditto for Tiens comment. To me it looks like someone has cut the front half of the tree off. It looks 2 dimensional. If you fill in the front a bit but still leaving gaps to see the trunk line. It's going to be a great tree, really good structure to build from.

Josh.

Yep.

I looked at this thread earlier today and thought exactly the same thing.
No front branches at all is an issue.

I was told by a respected Bonsai artist once upon a time that a tree should have an embracing view with branches almost like open arms to a viewer.
I think a branch or two with this aspect will aid what is IMO a really really nice tree.

Branches are really difficult on Swampy's and can test you. I have been working with one for a long time and have stripped the branches and started again several times. If they are bugging you strip them and start again.

For me, the straight trunk is good, but the straightish branches aren't so good - you've got the wire on them, maybe get some stronger angles closer to the trunk, get them dancing.

Nice trunk, good base to work from.

Gavin

I have a recommendation that you should look from top view and adjust branches to get it balance. And take out some branches that too close to each other. This will be a potential tree. Very nice.

Hi All,
Thanks so much for the advice so far. This is one of those trees that gets under your skin and drives you insane. Seriously thinking of stripping back, keeping a few main branches and starting again.
The lack of front branches I know is an issue, hoping after some growth to be able to work some of the side branches to cover some trunk. I have made some adjustments based on all your advice. Here is the tree as of this morning. Again, thanks for the advice!

G'day,

Have a search on the forum for Grants Swampy progressions. There are several including the one he recently sold viewtopic.php?f=102&t=17398&p=177811&hi ... mp#p176589
Try to put more movement into your branches and alter the lengths of them to make it a bit more realistic. To me it's looking too much like a bonsai and not a tree.

Nice material and will be a credible tree in time I am sure.


Regards,
Steven

If you bent those lower branches down and out it could easily look like ths.

bonsaipotter wrote:If you bent those lower branches down and out it could easily look like ths.

like a swampy.jpg

I was thinking along the same lines as Potter.
The branches all need to leave the trunk at compatible angles. Lower ones pint down and the get less angle as you move up the tree, but each one must be in sympathy with the ones above and below.

The apex needs to come forward too as mentioned and the lowes branches can be brought forward as well.

Ken

Hmmm, might be changing my mind about Swampies....


Cheers
EZ
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

have you considered the first branch -one third height rule--the first two branches removed or short jinned and lower branches angled down more--and as others have said a little greenery across the front

Hi 23dimes ,
Firstly I never make comment on other peoples work but after looking at this tree a few times a picture of a new tree kept on emerging . I was thinking you could keep the bottom right and bottom left branches. Remove the branch second from bottom right , now here's the hard bit. Trunk chop or Air Layer 4 to 5 cm above removed branch. You would have to put in a grow box for a season or two, select a new leader and swing it either to left or right . As I think this would give the tree a nice flow especially in regards to the powerful movement you have in the thicker exposed roots Plus new choices for branches. I know Swampys are nearly always straight but why not a bit of movement and you would get great taper. Probably a bit radical on a twenty five year old tree. Just an idea .....Cheers John.