An open window into the comings and goings of students and their trees attending our regular weekend and midweek bonsai classes under the ever watchful eyes of John Hanby.
Classroom Corner – Roy’s new Juniper Parsonii
Roy had decided that he wanted to start a new project and finally decided on this large Juniper Parsonii. It was the last remaining tree of an immensely popular and really good batch of raw material Junipers.
We cleaned out any weak or dead foliage/branches so that with a more open tree we could discuss the styling possibilities. Decisions were made and branches were removed. Some redundant branches were also made into deadwood. This work took up most of the first day.
By the time Roy attended his next class most of the trees remaining branches had been carefully wired. It was now a case of organising these branches and giving the tree it’s first styling.
I must admit the result was more impressive and much more compact than I imagined it would be. Already the deadwood is looking very dramatic and flows with the tree’s design. Foliage clouds and spaces are well defined for a first styling.
The tree will be due for a repot next spring after which we can allow for a season of good unrestrained growth to help the tree recover and set it on it’s way to develop into a really fine bonsai.
