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 – Derek’s two Junipers…..making progress!
Derek brought these two Junipers to a recent open workshop. He had spent some time at home wiring both trees completely so that they were now ready for the next styling.
The first Juniper is actually a “tanuki” (wraparound) bonsai and is already starting to look quite convincing. The deadwood is from an old Yew tree whilst I believe the Juniper is from the Blue Carpet family.
The front was changed slightly to give a wider more imposing base and to show more movement in the line of the trunk. The height also needed to be lowered and some of the branches thinned out.
The second Juniper was a Chinensis which had been allowed to grow back strongly as it had suffered in the past. The tree had lost it’s shape and the foliage mass was now too heavy for the slim but very interesting trunk.
The movement in the trunk becomes much clearer as a tall elegant tree emerges from the dense foliage canopy. The low hanging branch is still too big and is reduced further.
A lot of work went in to wiring these trees but the reward for all that effort is clear to see. Two trees taken to the next level and now ready to start growing again but in the right direction. They are progressing well and with regular pruning this year should really develop some finer ramification.
Progressing your trees……it’s what bonsai is all about……….are you progressing yours???