Giga
Masterpiece
I like these alot! so did you wire them just now or back in fall? Also the only thing I would critique is they feel a little top heavy compared to the trunk.
Been Wiring Some Bunjin Pines
- Thread starter Eric Schrader
- Start date
Eric Schrader
Chumono
It's still technically and actually fall here. I have elms that are still just starting to turn color. They usually drop leaves mid-late december and then start growing again in late February.
Of course technically fall ends on December 21st at the solstice.
As to the crowns being too large - not sure I agree with you, but it basically comes down to a matter of personal preference. Some people like really sparse bunjins while others like them to look more like a skinny informal upright. The single-branch version of a bunjin seems a bit hacked to me usually. Like the person who created it was too lazy to wire more than one branch. Still, I liked Thumbless' virt so perhaps at least that one will get more sparse.
Si Nguyen
Omono
Giga
Masterpiece
This is so true, if you like more that way then keep it! Art is what every likesone for themself, very nice
tmmason10
Omono
Hey, you copied my signature! I subscribed, really like the bald cypress.
Si's virtual looks great Eric, it would be a worthy goal. I'd love to see the work you do on the other ones in development.
Giga
Masterpiece
Oh it just what I thought didn't mean to plagiarize there. Thanks for the follow I'll try and keep my blog updated a lot.
tmmason10
Omono
Completely joking with you, it's all good.
Eric Schrader
Chumono
I didn't chop down the large bunjin to just Si's drawing. I'm considering it though. In the mean time, I had another small pine that I felt would benefit from drastic reduction. I figured you'd all like to see it.
Before work, many of the branches are too long and stiff to make a good informal upright, but the trunk has good movement:
In the middle of wiring I realized that the tree would be much better immediately if it was reduced quite a bit.
After:
Before work, many of the branches are too long and stiff to make a good informal upright, but the trunk has good movement:
In the middle of wiring I realized that the tree would be much better immediately if it was reduced quite a bit.
After:
Eric Schrader
Chumono
One more done. Actually, I wired this a couple weeks ago but never got around to posting it. I had thinned the tree during summer somewhat and decandled only the top half because it was very unbalanced.
Dec 2014 before:
Dec 2014 after:
There appears to be a Birch seedling volunteering in the container which I will separate at repotting time.
Cheers,
Eric
Dec 2014 before:
Dec 2014 after:
There appears to be a Birch seedling volunteering in the container which I will separate at repotting time.
Cheers,
Eric
Great trees Eric! I'm with you on the foliage. Most of the Japanese Literati I see have much more foliage than one would expect after listening to many Americans discussing the "correct" way to do literati... lol. That said, I do really enjoy the occasional "bare-bones" literati. Just don't want them all that way. 
Keep up the great work!
Keep up the great work!
Vance Wood
Lord Mugo
I think therefore I literati. The Literati tree is defined by the art of the Literati, basically a bunch of early Chinese and Japanese Hippies that drew tree pictures. There are a number of peramaters that loosely define Literati but the tree really is ruleless for the most part except for the relation of the trunk to the sparseness of the top ----which can be challenged. If the tree works and every body thinks its a Literati then it's a Literati. Usually a Literati has a thin and twisted trunk, but I have found artistically in my eye that it is possible to violate one of the two basic principals and still have a Literati feel to the tree.;
Last edited:
nip
Yamadori
Excellent job Eric, refreshing to see some unconventional pines. How do you keep the wind from blowing over your bunjins?
Eric Schrader
Chumono
Keep the foliage thinned and where that is not enough either use a growing container that is over-sized or heavy. The typical ceramics thing is that a thinner wall is better - but in the case of a bunjin pot, more weight is better.
If a tree is in a show pot and tippy and I get a wind storm I will either position them in advance so they can't fall over (like against something on the ground) or I will strap them to the bench with rope. My friend straps each bunjin to a cement paver using twine and when he moves them around they just move as a unit, either to work on or reposition for sun etc.
Leo in N E Illinois
The Professor
- Messages
- 11,543
- Reaction score
- 24,049
- USDA Zone
- 5b
Photos in most Japanese bonsai nurseries show every tree tied or strapped to the bench. Wind, earthquake, tornado, typhoon, squirrels, cats, dogs, raccoons and clumsy oafs with the watering hose, all can knock trees in nice pots off the bench. Never depend on a heavy pot to keep a tree in place. Remember the great Taoist saying; ''Stuff Happens''.
Eric Group
Masterpiece
All your trees look great Eric, but this might honestly be my favorite transformation!I didn't chop down the large bunjin to just Si's drawing. I'm considering it though. In the mean time, I had another small pine that I felt would benefit from drastic reduction. I figured you'd all like to see it.
Before work, many of the branches are too long and stiff to make a good informal upright, but the trunk has good movement:
In the middle of wiring I realized that the tree would be much better immediately if it was reduced quite a bit.
After:
Eric Schrader
Chumono
Thanks! I actually have to write that now instead of hitting a button. I could "like" your post, but that seems kinda redundant. I sold a couple of these trees at the BIB auction and the Mammoth sale earlier in January and today. But, I still have the little one and the last one that I posted, which is my favorite of the taller ones.
Similar threads
