Arakawa Japanese Maple

Dan W. said:
I have to say, Bonsai Nut, I do think there is value in discussing possibilities like this for those starting from a much earlier stage of development. But in this case I think attempting to pick out little things like that and make drastic changes would only result in drastically lowering the quality of this tree for the foreseeable future. This tree is in quite a high state of development, and an excellent bonsai. I'm fairly certain that it has reached a point now where even the Japanese masters would accept a few "flaws" and admire the tree for what it offers rather than worry about what is perceived to be lacking.
I see many Kokufu trees that I think could be better (in my opinion) if they had this or that done early on, but the fact is, they have been accepted into the greatest show in the world to be admired for the work that was done. Perhaps it's exactly those "flaws" that make them unique.
Click to expand...

Dan I do think that @Bonsai Nut was joking and stirring up trouble! 😅

However, on a more serious note, I agree that we can pick up flaws in just about any tree. What is perfection really? It is elusive and much like chasing the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

And... yes, flaws are the spice of life! Perfection is overrated! 😋
 
Dan W. said:
But in this case I think attempting to pick out little things like that and make drastic changes would only result in drastically lowering the quality of this tree for the foreseeable future.
Click to expand...
I don't think they are little things. When you have a twin trunk tree, the one thing you want to avoid above all else is to have it look like a slingshot. Pointing that out, and discussing ways to address it, is not picking on the tree - it is trying to make it better. When I look at this tree, it is what I see. Letting the left side grow out a little while constraining the right side would not drastically lower the quality of the tree - it would be a path of future development.

(The cutting the tree in half was intended to be funny - it was an exercise in design more than anything else, because each side of the tree looks so nice on its own)

But it's not my tree :) It was a pleasure to see it in person and I look forward to seeing what it looks like ten years from now - it is amazing to have a progression thread that is 12 years old and still running!
 
Bonsai Nut said:
I don't think they are little things. When you have a twin trunk tree, the one thing you want to avoid above all else is to have it look like a slingshot. Pointing that out, and discussing ways to address it, is not picking on the tree - it is trying to make it better. When I look at this tree, it is what I see. Letting the left side grow out a little while constraining the right side would not drastically lower the quality of the tree - it would be a path of future development.

(The cutting the tree in half was intended to be funny - it was an exercise in design more than anything else, because each side of the tree looks so nice on its own)

But it's not my tree :) It was a pleasure to see it in person and I look forward to seeing what it looks like ten years from now - it is amazing to have a progression thread that is 12 years old and still running!
Click to expand...

Well at least we agree that we should not cut it in half... or do we? 😂

Here is what makes a slingshot for me which this tree has none:

1. Equal trunk calipers
2. Equal exit angles going right and left
3. Canopies same height and visual weight
4. Both trunks parallel to the front

With that said, yes can we always improve it? Of course! So let's see what we do in 10 more years. But at least for now I am putting down the saw right?
 
Making this into two separate, single trunk trees would take away one of the reasons this tree is so phenomenal. IMHO, single trunk trees, unless they have some unique defining feature (branch, unusual base, deadwood, ROR, exposed roots etc), can be rather boring and cookie cutter. Multiple trunks, clumps, mother-daughter, etc. trees stand out because the visual interest they convey. They are also way less common. Single trunk trees are a dime a dozen. Give me a multi-trunk tree over a single trunk any day of the week
 
misfit11 said:
Making this into two separate, single trunk trees would take away one of the reasons this tree is so phenomenal. IMHO, single trunk trees, unless they have some unique defining feature (branch, unusual base, deadwood, ROR, exposed roots etc), can be rather boring and cookie cutter. Multiple trunks, clumps, mother-daughter, etc. trees stand out because the visual interest they convey. They are also way less common. Single trunk trees are a dime a dozen. Give me a multi-trunk tree over a single trunk any day of the week
Click to expand...

LOL my biggest weakness... multi trunk trees, conifer or deciduous. Love them!!
 
This is one of my favorite trees on this site. Something about the contrast of the rough bark with the elegant branch lines is really captivating. But I do think @Bonsai Nut is on to something - the area of the tree where my eye gets stuck on is that wide angle between the two main trunks. I'd be curious to see how the tree looks rotated 5-10 degrees in either direction or with some subtle planting angle adjustments. Just to see if this amazing tree can get any more appealing. Great job, Sergio!
 
Kanorin said:
This is one of my favorite trees on this site. Something about the contrast of the rough bark with the elegant branch lines is really captivating. But I do think @Bonsai Nut is on to something - the area of the tree where my eye gets stuck on is that wide angle between the two main trunks. I'd be curious to see how the tree looks rotated 5-10 degrees in either direction or with some subtle planting angle adjustments. Just to see if this amazing tree can get any more appealing. Great job, Sergio!
Click to expand...

Thanks Mike! Absolutely, always happy to keep looking at ways to keep improving the trees.
 
MACH5 said:
Here is what makes a slingshot for me which this tree has none:

1. Equal trunk calipers
2. Equal exit angles going right and left
3. Canopies same height and visual weight
4. Both trunks parallel to the front
Click to expand...
Valuable insight and clear description for future reference. Thanks for sharing will assist many readers on this forum.
 
This tree is a great source of inspiration for me, so I’ve gone through the thread again. However, I couldn’t find a post about pinching. Do you use pinching, or do you mainly work with scissors? Since Arakawa has coarser growth than regular maples, its first push tends to produce larger internodes.
 
The conundrum is that Arakawa usually have rather weak apexes, so it's hard to pinch and keep it healthy. Sergio and I have chatted about this in the context of my Arakawa. My guess is that the internodes are good enough for a tree this size that it's not worth diminishing the health by pinching
 
Wood said:
The conundrum is that Arakawa usually have rather weak apexes, so it's hard to pinch and keep it healthy. Sergio and I have chatted about this in the context of my Arakawa. My guess is that the internodes are good enough for a tree this size that it's not worth diminishing the health by pinching
Click to expand...

Same, based on what he said in this thread.

I may pinch on lower branches to drive more energy to the apex, seems like this is considered OK (I think Bjorn also recommended this in one of his videos)

Love this tree, hope it’s at Nationals this year
 
dirk hoorelbeke said:
This tree is a great source of inspiration for me, so I’ve gone through the thread again. However, I couldn’t find a post about pinching. Do you use pinching, or do you mainly work with scissors? Since Arakawa has coarser growth than regular maples, its first push tends to produce larger internodes.
Click to expand...

Dirk, mainly work with scissors and not so much pinching. However, on very strong tips I may in fact pinch whether that's the top or bottom. But only on the most vigorous shoots. At this point the tree is fairly balanced so I do not get crazy extending shoots anywhere as much as I used to some years back.
 
Wood said:
The conundrum is that Arakawa usually have rather weak apexes, so it's hard to pinch and keep it healthy. Sergio and I have chatted about this in the context of my Arakawa. My guess is that the internodes are good enough for a tree this size that it's not worth diminishing the health by pinching
Click to expand...

Yes, but now if I do pinch it's not so much for internode length as much as to keep the tree balanced.
 
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