my nellie
Masterpiece
Such a shame!
I had a friend who almost quite bonsai after an experience similar to yours.
The 5 to 10+ Year Progression Thread
- Thread starter grouper52
- Start date
I had a friend who almost quite bonsai after an experience similar to yours.
my nellie
Masterpiece
The flowing trunk line of this tree is really amazing!
my nellie
Masterpiece
Edit : almost quit bonsai
Gustavo Martins
Omono
Best thread on BNut IMO... Thanks guys!
Brian Van Fleet
Pretty Fly for a Bonsai Guy
This is a Corkbark JBP, ‘Hachi-Gen’, cutting-grown from Evergreen Gardenworks, started in 1999.
As received in 2008, first Bonsai pot in 2009-10, shortened in 2014 to 9”. Shots each year after to 2018:
As received in 2008, first Bonsai pot in 2009-10, shortened in 2014 to 9”. Shots each year after to 2018:
grouper52
Masterpiece
That would be a very high honour indeed! Thank you, from me - and I'm sure from all the other contributors as well - for your kind words.
What this thread has to teach - among many other more obvious things - is to start training your eye to see the potential in even the most unlikely material. The really obvious stuff is great to work with as well, of course, but it will likely cost you a pretty penny, especially if you get it from a bonsai nursery or such. I always liked to save my money for great pots and such, and I used to love to go to little non-bonsai, non-box-store, not-well-known garden nurseries looking for great material.
I'm wrapping up seven months living with my wife over here in the Philippines, for instance. She's from here, from a farming family of 12 kids originally, and she and all her relatives love growing plants in pots and in their yards, but none knew much about bonsai before they met me, and became fascinated with it. On a trip several months ago down to her home province of Bicol, a very hot area of south/central Luzon, a number of her sisters who were avid gardeners took me around the entire province for several days to help me find bonsai material in the local garden nurseries there (there ARE no bonsai nurseries, nor even any bonsai artists or hobbyists down there, that any of them had ever heard of).
So we'd all go to a nursery of garden/landscape trees along a road somewhere, and whenever we got out of the car her sisters would start immediately telling me to look at this or that well-manicured specimen prominently displayed as an eye-catcher near the entrance, and they'd get more and more upset as I'd just glance briefly at these "beauties" and then proceed apace out of sight to the old, ugly, unkempt trees that were dumped or thrown or otherwise relegated to the obscurity of what amounted to the peripheral refuse heap of discarded and worthless inventory - and only there would I, perhaps, find a treasure or two worthy to be worked into a bonsai. And I would bring those treasures up and pay a few pesos for them, and explain why those trees would make great bonsai, and why the expensive showpieces at the entrance usually wouldn't ... and I've been pleased to hear since then that her sisters are beginning to catch on now, and loving it!
grouper52
Masterpiece
Glad you like it: The main 180 degree kink to the far right was entirely imposed by me, with nary a hint of even the slightest setback for the more distal foliage. These trees from that bog are amazing in that regard!
defra
Masterpiece
Great thread thnx for sharing!
In two more years i will have a couple 5 year progressions to share
In two more years i will have a couple 5 year progressions to share
M. Frary
Bonsai Godzilla
That one still hurts Will.
For all here reading this thread,this tree ended up with me.
Jack pines are the native species where I live. The rest of Michigan used to be White pine and cedar. But where I live it's been Jack pines. I started collecting them 5 years ago now At the time there was very little information on them and no one else had one.
Except Will.
When he moved he gave this tree to me. That's right. Gave it.
I planned on showing it the next year.
But that winter the voles showed up.
As I started getting trees out for spring I saw that most had no bark. It was elms,hawthorns and maples I was digging out at first. Done. But in the back of my mind I thought they certainly dont eat pines!
I got to the pines and it was too late. I was wrong!
Stripped bare!
I'll admit it right here,right now.
I actually stopped,sat down and cried.
Like a baby.
I probably would have been alright if all of my trees got ate but this one.
I almost quit then.
But I'm still here because of Will.
He lost all of his trees too. Not from voles pr unforeseen catastrophe. He moved.
He was going to start fresh.
So could I.
I probably have a tree for this thread too.
A jack pine ar that too.
Later.
grouper52
Masterpiece
Mike, I had no idea it was voles! Not much you could have done to prevent that, I reckon!
You've carried that guilt or regret or whatever around too long, in my humble opinion, Mike. Yes, it was great tree, but I had to part with it anyway, and I never held it against you, and your friendship and your moving forward with bonsai despite that loss are more important to me than that tree -however great it was.
I've had a fantasy lately of getting an RV or something after I get back to the States, and travelling around the country for a while visiting relatives and old friends - as well as some of the folks I've met here on BNut ... and you're at the top of that category!
You've carried that guilt or regret or whatever around too long, in my humble opinion, Mike. Yes, it was great tree, but I had to part with it anyway, and I never held it against you, and your friendship and your moving forward with bonsai despite that loss are more important to me than that tree -however great it was.
I've had a fantasy lately of getting an RV or something after I get back to the States, and travelling around the country for a while visiting relatives and old friends - as well as some of the folks I've met here on BNut ... and you're at the top of that category!
M. Frary
Bonsai Godzilla
If you ever showed up here you would be seeing one happy man!Mike, I had no idea it was voles! Not much you could have done to prevent that, I reckon!
You've carried that guilt or regret or whatever around too long, in my humble opinion, Mike. Yes, it was great tree, but I had to part with it anyway, and I never held it against you, and your friendship and your moving forward with bonsai despite that loss are more important to me than that tree -however great it was.
I've had a fantasy lately of getting an RV or something after I get back to the States, and travelling around the country for a while visiting relatives and old friends - as well as some of the folks I've met here on BNut ... and you're at the top of that category!
Every time I see pictures of this tree I get all choked up. And mad.
It's a bittersweet thing that happened to me.
Here's a guy I've never met in person.
He has trees that anybody would admire.
He sends me this tree because Ive shown a great interest in Jack pines.
The rest he gives to a very trusted friend.
Its by my far the best tree I now own.
Ive been trusted with this magnificent tree.
Will has put time,labor and love into it.
It dies in my care.
So yes I still feel very guilty.
I've never had anyone put that kind of trust in me.
You come here Will.
I'll take a weeks vacation.
We'll hit the woods.
Maybe find a Squatch.
Go see Vance.
Hang out.
my nellie
Masterpiece
Mike @M. Frary , this conversation/confession you have here with Will @grouper52 is really emotional and affecting the readers...
I appreciate your sharing sincerely with us your sentiments.
You're a soft heart of gold under that white, scaring, clown face
I appreciate your sharing sincerely with us your sentiments.
You're a soft heart of gold under that white, scaring, clown face
grouper52
Masterpiece
Things right now are very fluid and uncertain once I'm back in The States, but I'm going to try to make it happen - it's been on my mind for a long, long time. It occurs to me that dead of winter there may not be a great time to hunt trees, compared to late fall or early spring, but I may be completely wrong about that, so let me know. I'd love to do it, and we will do it!
Brian Van Fleet
Pretty Fly for a Bonsai Guy
Here is a JBP I bought at Brussel’s in 2007; progression spanning 11 years to 2018. The complete training/development of this tree is the topic of the book which can be found in my sig file.
As purchased ‘07, ‘08, first pot in ‘09, ‘10, changed front, and shortened in ‘11:
‘12, repotted into a nice old pot in ‘13, ‘15, ‘16, and ‘18:
As purchased ‘07, ‘08, first pot in ‘09, ‘10, changed front, and shortened in ‘11:
‘12, repotted into a nice old pot in ‘13, ‘15, ‘16, and ‘18:
grouper52
Masterpiece
Brian! I'm replying not only because this is such a great progression - and with one of the mainstay bonsai species that I never had the skill to master well ...
- but because I didn't realise you were also a writer/photographer/publisher of a bonsai book! Kudos! And thanks for all your great editions to this thread (and this site!).On my itinerary for possibly touring the country when I return home soon is a stop in Clemson, S.C. to see my older sister - my only surviving first degree relative! Alabama, where my maternal grandparents used to live near Montgomery, may not be far out of my way since I'm likely on my tour to head south first and re-visit and re-connect with my beloved desert haunts like Taos and areas of Arizona, as well as old Buddhist connections and friends in the Dallas area further east. It would be great to stop by and meet you and see your work first hand if that would be OK with you - let me know and we can discuss it further if that's OK with you. If not, for any reason, that's OK as well, so just let me know.
Once again, I greatly admire you finesse and artistry with JBPs - the king of bonsai material! Gorgeous trees you've shown here!
I'm curious, as well, for myself and others here: in the first picture of this tree, can you point out what area - or areas, or what structure or whatever - you first saw in this tree that led you to choose it above others, and which you felt was the most promising hint of it's future beauty id developed properly. Sorry if that's in the book - just tell me to go purchase it!
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Brian Van Fleet
Pretty Fly for a Bonsai Guy
If you’re traveling through, it would be my pleasure to meet you and give you the tour. Send me a PM when you have some dates and I’ll give you my contact information to work out the details.
The book is based on the idea of old books of stills that shows the subject in motion as you flip through it. It’s this same tree, photographed in the same spot over a span 8 years, with text teaching the training technique and timing, followed by the effect of the technique several weeks and months later. It seems that the intimidation factor of jbp is a lack of understanding of the effects of bud pinching, candle-cutting, needle-pulling, etc. This takes the mystery away.
And yes, of course you (and everyone here?) should buy the book. I chose this tree because among the jbp in this group priced at $350, it had the best taper, biggest trunk, and some movement. Probably the best thing I did was change the front and make the tree 5” shorter. It was accepted into Nationals this year, but I withdrew it at the last minute because I wasn’t satisfied with how it looked.
The book is based on the idea of old books of stills that shows the subject in motion as you flip through it. It’s this same tree, photographed in the same spot over a span 8 years, with text teaching the training technique and timing, followed by the effect of the technique several weeks and months later. It seems that the intimidation factor of jbp is a lack of understanding of the effects of bud pinching, candle-cutting, needle-pulling, etc. This takes the mystery away.
And yes, of course you (and everyone here?) should buy the book. I chose this tree because among the jbp in this group priced at $350, it had the best taper, biggest trunk, and some movement. Probably the best thing I did was change the front and make the tree 5” shorter. It was accepted into Nationals this year, but I withdrew it at the last minute because I wasn’t satisfied with how it looked.
I’m in the direct path between Clemson and Birmingham so, do stop in here before you go to see BVF. Besides, I need to tell you what all BVF does wrong with his JBP before you see his!Brian! I'm replying not only because this is such a great progression - and with one of the mainstay bonsai species that I never had the skill to master well ...
On my itinerary for possibly touring the country when I return home soon is a stop in Clemson, S.C. to see my older sister - my only surviving first degree relative! Alabama, where my maternal grandparents used to live near Montgomery, may not be far out of my way since I'm likely on my tour to head south first and re-visit and re-connect with my beloved desert haunts like Taos and areas of Arizona, as well as old Buddhist connections and friends in the Dallas area further east. It would be great to stop by and meet you and see your work first hand if that would be OK with you - let me know and we can discuss it further if that's OK with you. If not, for any reason, that's OK as well, so just let me know.
Once again, I greatly admire you finesse and artistry with JBPs - the king of bonsai material! Gorgeous trees you've shown here!
I'm curious, as well, for myself and others here: in the first picture of this tree, can you point out what area - or areas, or what structure or whatever - you first saw in this tree that led you to choose it above others, and which you felt was the most promising hint of it's future beauty id developed properly. Sorry if that's in the book - just tell me to go purchase it!
Lol!!!
But you can see this tree:
Which I have spammed all over this forum! I did show it at the Nationals a couple years ago, and it is currently undergoing revouvenation!
A recent photo:
Wow!!! It is completely furry with long needles! But giving it a year off with no decandling gives it a chance to regain vigor after having been decandled 5 years in a row, and having 3/4 inch needles for 5 years. (All those 3/4 inch needles are still in there, just buried under the long ones. It’s going to be a chore finding them and pulling them in November!)
I’ll make a post of the journey of this tree.
You might enjoy this critique of this tree by Dan Robinson:I’m in the direct path between Clemson and Birmingham so, do stop in here before you go to see BVF. Besides, I need to tell you what all BVF does wrong with his JBP before you see his!
Lol!!!
But you can see this tree:
View attachment 211953
Which I have spammed all over this forum! I did show it at the Nationals a couple years ago, and it is currently undergoing revouvenation!
A recent photo:
View attachment 211955
Wow!!! It is completely furry with long needles! But giving it a year off with no decandling gives it a chance to regain vigor after having been decandled 5 years in a row, and having 3/4 inch needles for 5 years. (All those 3/4 inch needles are still in there, just buried under the long ones. It’s going to be a chore finding them and pulling them in November!)
I’ll make a post of the journey of this tree.
grouper52
Masterpiece
Great to hear Dan's voice and wisdom again - it's been seven months for me. As you can tell, he hates - I mean literally HATES - concave cutters! It's always about the deadwood for Dan!
I'd love to stop by and meet you as I pass your way! You've been quite an inspiration and force here on BNut since I joined many years ago, and I admire anyone who really understands the potential of JBLs, and how to bring it out over the years. I'll be in touch as my plans firm up in that regard ... meanwhile I have to get across a vast expanse of ocean and get my bearings in the New World again ...
