AusBonsai

It's just a beginning, and my first shot at a forest but I think it's an alright start. I'd prefer a round pot in future and to gradually add more trees as I come by them.

Also, looking at this photo my primary is thicker at the base but thinner at the top than my secondary which is problematic I think but ultimately fixable. Hopefully my primary survives it's butchering but there's no life yet!

Oh, and I still need to prune off some branches. Be gentle...

(sorry about the background, it's a little hard to see)

love it tee. a really great effort. the rectangle really works with the strong upright forms in my opinion. my only suggestions when you add trees the 2 primary trees need smaller companions to mimick them and give perspective. the depth is spot on. a strong composition tee.

I would remove the knob on the Alpha apex and reduce the #2 tree marginally. I like your layout quite a lot. If this is your first forest you have done very well in your placement. However, and isn't there always a 'however'. It's boring. Not seriously boring.... but look at the ground. Flat as a tack. If you raise one side by stuffing some soil to make a small hillock you alter the flat area and give it more of a dynamic look. I am not a forest person preferring individual trees and have just done my first group tho not nearly as successfully as you have. But I have made the ground slightly hilly and it gives a nice effect.

One thing that doesn't sit easily with me and it could be just me... the trees seem too far back in the pot. Not a lot, but I would like to see them moved forward a centimetre or two. You have allowed open space which is very good and can really highlight a setting but consider moving the trees slightly forward. If you make a hillock or two this might not be necessary. Consider a couple of semi-buried stones to add interest to the forest floor.

I can't see the picture in this screen but is this a group or a forest? A forest is over 12 trees, a group is less. Maybe it is 11 trees. But a forest is a lot of trees. But that is also being pedantic. However, and there's always a however, if you are doing bonsai you need to know the differences in the same way when someone says they have a maple the obvious question is 'is it a trident or a Japanese maple'.

Your pot is good but if you change I would think oval, not round.
Last, if this is your first forest I definitely would not make it your last.... I think you have done quite well.

I've just checked and counted. NINE trees is a group setting, not a forest.

I would like to see Mum and Dad as if they are not fighting, but cuddling,or at least speaking to each other. Also again we have the pot full, no space.
It is important to have space in a group planting in order to create depth. Not space between trees as such but empty space for the roos to browse,like the paddock.
Either left or right, also the line across the front needs to be scalene, not straight. Just my opinion Pup

Thanks heaps for the critical comments guys, it all helps.

Melaquin:

It interesting that you note the lack of any 'hills' on the ground as when I was done this was also the first thing that bothered me. I thought I'd created a hill for the primary and secondary to sit on but once the others were added I realised it was all the same? I need to take more time in future while planting as I tend to hurry.

I did deliberately put the trees towards the back though creating negative space in the foreground for depth. I'm not sure I agree with your criticism there but I'll definately think about it. And yes it's nine, an avoided number for some, but I plan to add more in future. As I said, it's a start. And I meant oval when I said 'round'. Sorry.

Thanks for the encouragement!

Pup:

Thanks for your comments.

So would you like to see more space in the middle of the group rather than at the front?

Oh and I missed your comments Ant, thanks for that mate.

teejay wrote:Thanks heaps for the critical comments guys, it all helps.

Melaquin:

It interesting that you note the lack of any 'hills' on the ground as when I was done this was also the first thing that bothered me. I thought I'd created a hill for the primary and secondary to sit on but once the others were added I realised it was all the same? I need to take more time in future while planting as I tend to hurry.

I did deliberately put the trees towards the back though creating negative space in the foreground for depth. I'm not sure I agree with your criticism there but I'll definately think about it. And yes it's nine, an avoided number for some, but I plan to add more in future. As I said, it's a start. And I meant oval when I said 'round'. Sorry.

Thanks for the encouragement!

Pup:

Thanks for your comments.

So would you like to see more space in the middle of the group rather than at the front?

I would like to see the trees on one side with two small groups,one higher one lower. The trees need to form a neat scalene triangle from all sides. As I have said these projects are not easy. Though with time you can change them. Remember where you have trees close together you do not need branches there, so you do not need roots on that side either. The space at the front does not do it for me, to the side is better but not straight lines. Hope this helps

At first glance I liked this very much the trees work very well together. But then the spaces and such started to bother me. I tried to work out what was going on and thought maybe a tree out to the left in the space. I then noticed that the trees on the outside border where all in line and formed a triangle and when I see that I see too lone trees in the middle at the back. I don't think the other issues can be resoved without resolving this. I can't see a simple way to solve this without a full rearange but others might?

Teejay I am not good at virtuals so here is a very rough sketch.
Remember I did say rough but you can adapt and change as you want. You Will notice that the trees appear further back in the pot, but it is not to scale. I hope this helps, Pup

I WASN'T offering "criticism". I was offering suggestions based on what I saw from the photo. It's great to get one or more opinions and ideas on a tree you have worked on and then pick and choose and sort out what YOU want to do. And I'm also aware that photos are hard on trees and something that can look great when you look at it can turn out horrid in a photo. But you wanted ideas and you got ideas and suggestions ONLY, no criticism.

I WASN'T offering "criticism". I was offering suggestions based on what I saw from the photo. It's great to get one or more opinions and ideas on a tree you have worked on and then pick and choose and sort out what YOU want to do. And I'm also aware that photos are hard on trees and something that can look great when you look at it can turn out horrid in a photo. But you wanted ideas and you got ideas and suggestions ONLY, no criticism.

I think you're picking straws MelaQuin: criticism, suggestions, ideas, whatever? I was honestly appreciative. I don't care if my things are technically "criticised", I'm a beginner and to get better my skin had better be thick. I understand that.

Thanks again.

Pup:

I now see what you mean, thanks for the sketch mate. I considered more of a separation as you've draw but ultimately chose otherwise, maybe I'll rethink this, and the space at the front.

Cheers again.

Bretts:

I hadn't even considered that mate thanks for pointing it out. There's so much to think about when compiling groups! Although the two trees in the center were purposeful, also for depth. In doing this I was influenced by a Craig Coussins book where this was suggested, maybe I messed it up??

As stated, you have defanitly not messed it up. The depth and tree relationship is excellent. It can be very easy to create equal spacing and straight lines without realising. As Pup reminds us it can be alot of fun to re-arange these settings year after year. I think this is a great start.
I am not sure how Pup is re-aranging it it looks like the main clump is now on the left when it was on the right. Maybe he is left handed.
Sorry Lee I did get that Teejay was not offended. Talking online can be tricky sometimes.

Cheers Brett, I'm already contemplating possibilities for it's re-arrangement armed with some outside perspectives. Ain't that the way, you just finish something and within the month you can't wait to get at it again.

I did notice that Pup had swapped sides, I'm a righty and I reckon that's why I preferred the primary on the right. Maybe he is a lefty?

Definately not offended MelaQuin.

teejay wrote:Cheers Brett, I'm already contemplating possibilities for it's re-arrangement armed with some outside perspectives. Ain't that the way, you just finish something and within the month you can't wait to get at it again.

I did notice that Pup had swapped sides, I'm a righty and I reckon that's why I preferred the primary on the right. Maybe he is a lefty?

Definately not offended MelaQuin.

Not a molly duker just older! I did say you can change it, bloody whingers youd think they were Poms