Atlas Cedar... with apex moving away!!!

[maroun.c]

While many seem to think a formal upright is a boring trunk shape i would love to have a perfect formal upright tree. Yet looking at this tree I feel the trunk does push a bit to the side. One option would be to shorten branches on the external side of the tank curve and lengthen the branches on the inside, this might give a more dynamic look to the tree and accentuate the little movement the trunk has. This might make a slanting wider apex look more "acceptable" and while most would have the apex move with the side of the longer branches, I've seen one tree where the apex was pushed opposite the side with long branches and that added lots if dynamics to the tree.

 

[Adair M]

I find it interesting that a good bonsai tends to look nice from many, if not all, angles. The front, though, is the view that has the most visual impact or best conveys the story/message/image. There also may be other subtleties that dictate the front, aside from ones that have already been highlighted in the discussion, such as perspective = comparatively thinner branches is back, thicker in front.
0so, it depends on the tree. But, yes, this tree does look good from most angles. Johng’s suggestion of a round pot is growing on me! Because sometimes I like the scarred trunk, sometimes I like to see it more unblemished. I think the key thing is to have heavier branches lower on the tree. Not so much front vs back. A true formal upright is straight up, no forward lean. This one is almost a FU, and some might consider it one. The trunk isn’t perfectly straight, it does have a little wiggle as it goes up, so I suppose it should be considered an informal upright. It kinda has a split personality. On one side, it looks like an FU. On the other, it’s more informal.

 

[Adair M]

While many seem to think a formal upright is a boring trunk shape i would love to have a perfect formal upright tree. Yet looking at this tree I feel the trunk does push a bit to the side. One option would be to shorten branches on the external side of the tank curve and lengthen the branches on the inside, this might give a more dynamic look to the tree and accentuate the little movement the trunk has. This might make a slanting wider apex look more "acceptable" and while most would have the apex move with the side of the longer branches, I've seen one tree where the apex was pushed opposite the side with long branches and that added lots if dynamics to the tree.

Formal Upright is a difficult style to make.

 

[misfit11]

I like the side view as the front as well, Adair. The base/nebari is just better from this view. Especially with a tree of this style, where you don't have a lot of other features to highlight (movement, deadwood, unusual branching, etc.), you can make that strong base the focus.

Jim's Atlas Cedar's are top notch, aren't they? I had him do some grafting on my leggy old Blue Atlas last winter. Unfortunately, it looks like only one of the grafts survived. His very talented apprentice, Valentine, is back again. I'm thinking about sending it back over there to have him do some work on it (styling and maybe more grafting). It's is pretty dire need of a repot (not repotted since 2012-ish). Do you have any advice here?

Thanks,
Cory

 

[discusmike]

I would love to own this cedar, I’m sure which ever direction you take with this tree will be the right one.

 

[Adair M]

I like the side view as the front as well, Adair. The base/nebari is just better from this view. Especially with a tree of this style, where you don't have a lot of other features to highlight (movement, deadwood, unusual branching, etc.), you can make that strong base the focus.

Jim's Atlas Cedar's are top notch, aren't they? I had him do some grafting on my leggy old Blue Atlas last winter. Unfortunately, it looks like only one of the grafts survived. His very talented apprentice, Valentine, is back again. I'm thinking about sending it back over there to have him do some work on it (styling and maybe more grafting). It's is pretty dire need of a repot (not repotted since 2012-ish). Do you have any advice here?

Thanks,
Cory

I’m glad he has his apprentice back!