Twisted Itoigawa

[Skinnygoomba]

Nice work! It's coming along very nicely.

 

[Nybonsai12]

Really nice BVF. When you and some of the more experienced folks at BNUT post trees i'm always impressed at how well organized the branches appear, and how the shape of the tree is so apparent when you are done styling. i want to be able to do that. You folks set the bar damn high.

How long will you leave the wire on?

 

[Vin]

Really nice BVF. When you and some of the more experienced folks at BNUT post trees i'm always impressed at how well organized the branches appear, and how the shape of the tree is so apparent when you are done styling. i want to be able to do that. You folks set the bar damn high.

How long will you leave the wire on?

True that..

 

[Giga]

that would go nicely on my bench-mind if I try it out?

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

?..at how well organized the branches appear, and how the shape of the tree is so apparent when you are done styling. i want to be able to do that. You folks set the bar damn high.

How long will you leave the wire on?

I'm still not satisfied with the organization of the branches...so I guess I keep pushing the bar higher for myself. That wire will probably stay on for a year. We'll see how fast it grows since I plan to ride pretty hard on it over the growing season.

that would go nicely on my bench-mind if I try it out?

Not at all....make me an offer ;-)
Or...this one was listed on FB auctions at $1350, and I suspect they came from the same batch. I like mine better, but I think I got first pick!

 

[Nybonsai12]

over the year will you let it bite in a bit before removal? or once it looks like the wire is moving in on the branch remove it?

In comparison with other varieites of junis, would you say shimpaku is a more vigorous grower? any growth traits specific to itoigawa?

I have a few i picked up just last year so not much time with them yet. I have two from brent to grow out that I repotted last year, one into the ground one into a colander to see differences in growth rates. I'm hoping they both take off this year though.

 

[James H]

Brian,
That tree is awesome. When you start trees to get the curves like that is it better to start curving them when they are very young or can you wait for them to get some size to them first. I really want to learn how to do this with my trees.

 

[KennedyMarx]

James, you get a juniper whip about as thick as a pencil, wrap the wire around it, then twist and contort it into shape. Smoke started a thread about it in the junipers forum. If you seqrch for images of shohin shimpakus by Jim Gremel you'll see how they turn out.

 

[Vin]

You can't get bends like that when the trunk or branches get big and thick. Well, most people can't anyway. There are techniques that allow for some pretty sharp bends with larger branches but training it from a seedling creates the most natural look.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Wire the trunks early; when they're the size of bamboo skewers to pencils. A positive is that shimpakus root so easily from cuttings. I struck around 15 from this pruning/styling session alone. This foliage is quite good, so after a year in the cutting flat, they'll be wired for some trunk movement and go in the ground for a few years.

Here's the link to Al's thread: http://bonsainut.com/forums/showthread.php?4789-ONE-MORE-TIME!-Yamadori-Style-Junipers

 

[M. Frary]

I'm seeing more and more of these corkscrew junipers. They are starting to be almost as common as S trunk elms. Why do they cost so much?
Also from what I'm seeing is that everyone wants one.Why? Is is because they are yamadoriesque? I'm probably going to get hammered for bringing this up but they kind of seem like expensive mallsai.
They remind me of a pigs tail.
Let fly!

 

[Eric Group]

I'm seeing more and more of these corkscrew junipers. They are starting to be almost as common as S trunk elms. Why do they cost so much?
Also from what I'm seeing is that everyone wants one.Why? Is is because they are yamadoriesque? I'm probably going to get hammered for bringing this up but they kind of seem like expensive mallsai.
They remind me of a pigs tail.
Let fly!

I am not going to trash you for saying that because I see where you are coming from... But I strongly disagree with you!

First, it takes years of planning and work to get a tree to look like that! It is a specific style and can be spectacular when done well! Those Malsai Elms you mention are just not the same kind of project... They never make good looking trees in my eyes.

Second- where are you seeing so many of these? I sure don't! I see pics online of people who imported some nice ones from Japan, or ones like this one BVF has that he bought from a guy here in America... But a I have been to a couple nurseries and Bonsai functions over the past few years and seen a grand total of ONE tree that was even mildly similar to this twisted trunk style! I am working on developing a few of my own but they are cuttings of small branches only recently wired for the first time and it will be a decade or more before they ever look close to this!

Again, not slamming you for saying that, but I sure would like to know where trees of this quality are so common!

 

[Smoke]

I have a recent blog post about a guy here in the central valley that has hundreds available. No shipping but in you live in Cali. they are around for sure.

 

[M. Frary]

I read Smokes blog but also read an article somewhere recently where there was a picture of them lined up like soldiers ready to invade from Japan. It even referenced these as a cookie cutter style bonsai. Showed them being made.
If you have only seen 2 you might want to look around for more. Just Google corkscrew juniper bonsai. You'll see a couple more. Plus pictures of the Sierra junipers they are copies of.
Granted they will probably not be as common as S trunk mallsai. $1350.00 is a little steep for average income people. But that price will come down as more show up. Like you said Eric. You have some cooking out back too.
Sorry if you think I made this up. I posted an honest opinion and observation.

 

[thumblessprimate1]

I like this juniper. I wouldn't describe these twisted juniper types as cookie cutter. Produced in numbers, these types of bonsai stock are going to have similarities. And being relatively young, they're not going to be full of character. It's up to the artist to bring out the character and uniqueness.

I think Brian can do that for this juniper as he develops it, ages it, and gives more and more definition to the deadwood. He's done that with his other bonsai, and I think he'll do the same to this one.

 

[pbethune]

The movement is truly second to none! Awesome work too.

 

[Nybonsai12]

Burn it, it's the Camry of bonsai.

 

[milehigh_7]

Take a stab at it Mike

Just for fun. Why don't you take a stab at one Mike. Let's see how it progresses. Shouldn't be much of a challenge. Cookie cutter after all. ;-)

 

[Dav4]

Burn it, it's the Camry of bonsai.

I happen to like Camrys alot...great mid level sedans. This one's going to be a good one, Brian...another one of your trees I'd like to have in my backyard.

 

[Nybonsai12]

I happen to like Camrys alot...great mid level sedans. This one's going to be a good one, Brian...another one of your trees I'd like to have in my backyard.

Haha. I hope my sarcasm is detected by all.

There is nothing cookie cutter about this or any other tree from BVF. I will say that The corkscrew feature on part of a shimpaku may be common feature of the species. I don't think they are so common though.