Juniperus procumbens styling session
Here is a short photo essay of a styling session in the Midwest with a client tree:
We talked of putting a soda can beside this to get some idea of scale, but as you can see we forgot about it. The pot was about a 30 gallon pot, however, and the two of us lifted it together for safety when moving it.
Looking up inside the tree before work began. It took an hour to clean out all the dead branches and foliage. From the outside you won't see any of this, it all looks all healthy and green.
And afterwards.
A couple areas outlined in red where the tree needs to grow to balance the design. The tip of the lowest left branch has been left to grow and strengthen the area; soon it will be cut back a bit, and then the redirected sap flow will fill out the branch with foliage.
Michael Hagedorn 
11 Comments
Very impressive, Michael. I imagine this was a full days work considering the size.
Im no Hagedorn, but seems to me the tree could lose that bottom pad. Will you explain a bit of why you decided to leave it?
Thank you
Chris,
Actually I’m with you on that one. I think that is another way this tree could go. I left the lower pad simply because I wanted to see how it developed, and to think about it some more. Also, it will allow that lower trunk some time to strengthen.
The time was about 6 1/2 hours, so yes, most of a day.
Wonderful! Sure would be nice to see a few pics of the parts between before and after.
– bob
Bob–
Sorry I don’t have much in between; work was a bit fast paced for too much photography… and I don’t like to limit work time with clients. But yes, I agree, it would be nice to have some more photos.
Well, with or without that lower pad its an amazing tree and quite a transformation. Great work!
Quite impressive indeed!!!!
Firstly — Congratulations, what a fabulous site and what creatively styled trees. Secondly — I would be most grateful if you would let me post your Juniperus procumbens on the newly created site for trees from humble beginnings from around the world. Check out the site: http://www.ourbonsai.wordpress.com
Cheers, Dan Barton
Hello Dan,
Absolutely, and thanks for asking. Good luck with your new website! I will take a look.
That’s fantastic Mike….. much appreciated and if you have any more bonsai of specimen standard that have been created from humble beginnings we’d welcome them on the site. Also, if any of your compatriots or friends have suitable trees — let’s be having them. I would like this to be a truly International site.
Reblogged this on Bonsai Eejit.
[…] By Michael Hagedorn, Crataegus Bonsai. Michael says the container is approx 30 gallons. This should give you some idea of the scale […]