Twisted Shimpaku

[Shibui]

Did some early Summer maintenance on some shimpaku today.

An attempt at Shohin sized literati style

I feel it is still a bit too dense for good literati but it is still growing out of the juvenile foliage after a hard chop last year so I don't want to remove too much yet.
Plans to remove the lowest part of the drop branch and some of the middle rear branch at some stage. Apex also needs tidying up but there's still quite a lot of juvenile there.

Semi-cascade, also shohin size.

The main trunk curls in a complete circle before heading up to the apex.

The next tree is one of the earlier attempts at twisted trunk style juniper.
Trunk shari looks OK but I feel it's a bit too tall at around 40cm.

Any thoughts from the forum on possible restyle options?

I know how difficult it is to design from 2D photos so maybe these shots from other directions might help with ideas.

 

[ponderingsage]

I love the semi cascade!

No real styling advice except just visually, the foliage seems heavy based on the size of trunks. Except for that first one that’s a little more sparse.

 

[Ruddigger]

Nice literati-esque trunk. Just tighten up the foliage to a narrower silhouette.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

1. Air Layer top off
2. Bend blue branch up as new leader.
3. Rewire foliage down, out, and up.
4. Give me the top air layer as a thank you.

Youre welcome! LOL.

 

[leatherback]

2. Bend blue branch up as new leader.

this is what I was thinking too. Use just the lowest branch. And maybe not airlayer the top, but make it a ten jin.

 

[Shibui]

I've also looked at the lowest branch option but had not considered wiring it up. Here's my rough virt


Second branch also flows quite nicely with the trunk

The 3 jins appear to be a bit much though. Maybe need to remove the lower, existing jin?

Also looked at layering the top off but I suspect it looks better than it really is. Might be able to keep enough trunk for ten-jin and still get a small tree off?

4. Give me the top air layer as a thank you.

Send mailing address but I don't think your quarantine department will be really pleased with either of us so maybe not.

 

[Shibui]

Nice literati-esque trunk. Just tighten up the foliage to a narrower silhouette.

I think I'd also need to remove some branches. Seems to be way too much going on to be a convincing literati with all the existing branches but definitely worth looking at possibilities.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

from your virt, swing the right branch down to the front and redesign apex.

 

[Shibui]

from your virt, swing the right branch down to the front and redesign apex.

There's dead wood in the trunk that would make bending it very difficult. I'll need to check whether that branch would move that far without breaking or whether a change of front would facilitate that new design.