Picture Gallery Update 3/10/97
Herr Family
Hello All,
I just uploaded the newest Picture Gallery update, so please check out the
new pictures and let the rest of us know what you think. I'd like to thank
H. C. Pierce and Luis Fontanills as the latest victims :) . Hope to read
everyone's thoughts on the trees and please keep the pictures coming.
Bill H.
her...@nbn.net Gallery-
http://users.nbn.net/~herrfam/IBC.htm
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Reiner Goebel
Herr Family wrote:
> I just uploaded the newest Picture Gallery update, so please check out the
> new pictures and let the rest of us know what you think.
Thanks, Bill. Here goes:
Pomegranate
Chuck has already done the right thing stylistically and removed the
long shoot. I would also consider wiring some of the branches into a
more horizontal position while they are still young and pliable.
I like the choice of colour for the pot. It contrast well with both
foliage and flowers. Eventually, a shallower, oval pot would be in
order.
The photograph does not show enough detail to be able to comment on
roots, taper or branch placement.
Bougainvillea
For my taste, the tree is too wide for its height. That should be easy
to remedy by cutting the two lower branches by about 1/2 to 2/3,
depending on where there is a branchlet to cut to.
The two lower branches also appear to be bar branches. That means one of
them should be removed. :-( It would be nice if the first left branch
came off the trunk about half-way between the two right branches, but
that, of course, is wishfull thinking, but if there is live matter
behind the jin (rather than just to the side of it), AND a bud develops
in that area, I would encourage it all I can to fill the void. And then
take off the first branch on the left. (I am not sure if the foliage
mass on the left comes off one branch or two. Obviously, I have assumed
one.)
Judging from the size of the flowers, the tree is not large enough.
However, that would only be a problem while the tree is in flower.
Personally and generally, I don't like deadwood on non-coniferous
plants. (One exception I can think of are buttonwoods.) I think deadwood
is even more out of place on a tree like a bougainvillea, which to me
represents the lusciousness of tropical or semi-tropical growth, not
usually synonymous with a life-long struggle against the elements.
I have made some changes to the design which can be viewed at
http://users.nbn.net/~herrfam/IBC.htm . In both cases, it would be some
time before new crowns could be grown.
Reiner Goebel
Toronto, Canada
Http://www.hookup.net/~rgoebel/
Luis Fontanills
Reiner in a message dated 97-03-12 20:05:17 EST, you write:
<< The two lower branches also appear to be bar branches. That means one of
them should be removed. :-( It would be nice if the first left branch
came off the trunk about half-way between the two right branches, but
that, of course, is wishfull thinking, but if there is live matter
behind the jin (rather than just to the side of it), AND a bud develops
in that area, I would encourage it all I can to fill the void. And then
take off the first branch on the left. (I am not sure if the foliage
mass on the left comes off one branch or two. Obviously, I have assumed
one.) >>
Many thanks to all who have provided comments to date. I will withold my
summation until a future date in the hopes of not deterring or influencing
any forthcoming postings. I respond now only to clarify questions raised in
Reiner's above posting. I agree that the photo is vague about certain
structural elements of this tree.
The Jin/Shari on the upper left of the trunk involves 3/4 of the trunk. The
only living tissue is on the right, where the uppermost right branch is.
There are 2 branches on the left. The lowest is about 1/3 of the way up the
trunk, and the next one up is about 1/2 inch higher than the first right
hand branch. This upper left branch has deadwood immediately above and below
it.
Sincerely,
Luis Fontanills
Miami, Florida
Greg Moore
Re: Luis's bougainvillea
I'd like to see this tree tilted 15 or 20 degrees to the left. The lower
(left) branch could then be drstically reduced and the upper branch
trained into a new trunk and apex. I'd loose the jin at its' point of
connection with the current 'bar' branches and hollow/blacken the wound
site. It would look marvelous ;-)
Cheers, Greg
Jim Lewis
>
> Re: Luis's bougainvillea
>
> I'd like to see this tree tilted 15 or 20 degrees to the left. The lower
> (left) branch could then be drstically reduced and the upper branch
> trained into a new trunk and apex. I'd loose the jin at its' point of
> connection with the current 'bar' branches and hollow/blacken the wound
> site. It would look marvelous ;-)
Kind of a nice idea . . . maybe Reiner with his paints could take a stab at
this one???
---
Jim Lewis - jkl...@ix.netcom.com (Tallahassee, FL)
"When on tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it
attached to the rest of the world." John Muir
Reiner Goebel
Jim Lewis wrote in response to Greg Moore's suggestion:
>
> >
> > Re: Luis's bougainvillea
> >
> > I'd like to see this tree tilted 15 or 20 degrees to the left. The lower
> > (left) branch could then be drstically reduced and the upper branch
> > trained into a new trunk and apex. I'd loose the jin at its' point of
> > connection with the current 'bar' branches and hollow/blacken the wound
> > site. It would look marvelous ;-)
>
> Kind of a nice idea . . . maybe Reiner with his paints could take a stab at
> this one???
Hm, like I don't have enough work already! ;-)
I have tried to render what Greg had in mind, and Bill has put it up at
the IBC Gallery at http://users.nbn.net/~herrfam/IBC.htm. Of course,
this would not be the 'final' version of the tree - it would still need
more branches in the upper reaches to complete the silhouette.
Reiner Goebel
Toronto, Canada
Http://www.hookup.net/~rgoebel/
***************
RickB...@aol.com
Chuck's Pomegranate:
Assuming the trunk is the thickness you want, I would just work toward a more
compact crown through judicious pruning. Once this is accomplished,
reduction of the rootball to fit in a more shallow pot would make the trunk
appear heavier.
Luis' Bougainvillea:
I feel the left side of the tree is overpowering while in bloom (this could
be a photographic perception, however). I would remove one of the left
branches, probably the higher of the two. This would also eliminate the
"bar-branch" appearance.
I see a number of other possibilities for this tree. The suggestion to
remove the upper jin and wire the highest branch into a new apex is ok but I
don't think it would look quite right for this tree. I might even consider
removing that highest branch entirely.
I do think significantly thinning the upper jin would help in making the base
of the tree look broader. Another design that might make the base appear
larger would be to eliminate the highest branch and then 'break off' the
upper jin, about where that branch attaches to the trunk, leaving a blunt
top. Of course, this would have to be followed up with more carving.
BTW, although I do understand tropical trees can suffer significant natural
trauma, I do tend to agree with Reiner that MOST tropicals look best without
deadwood features. However, as with many aspects of the art, there are
always exceptions and I have seen several excellent bougainvillea bonsai with
deadwood.
Rick Choate <RickB...@AOL.COM>
S-most, Tx
Greg Moore
Reiner Goebel wrote:
> I have tried to render what Greg had in mind, and Bill has put it up at
> the IBC Gallery at http://users.nbn.net/~herrfam/IBC.htm.
A picture is worth a thousand words Reiner :-) Thanks.
Cheers, Greg
Jim Lewis
> Jim Lewis wrote in response to Greg Moore's suggestion:
> >
> > >
> > > Re: Luis's bougainvillea
> > >
> > > I'd like to see this tree tilted 15 or 20 degrees to the left. The
lower
> > > (left) branch could then be drstically reduced and the upper branch
> > > trained into a new trunk and apex. I'd loose the jin at its' point of
> > > connection with the current 'bar' branches and hollow/blacken the
wound
> > > site. It would look marvelous ;-)
>
> >
> > Kind of a nice idea . . . maybe Reiner with his paints could take a
stab at
> > this one???
>
>
> Hm, like I don't have enough work already! ;-)
>
> this would not be the 'final' version of the tree - it would still need
> more branches in the upper reaches to complete the silhouette.
>
>
Hmmm. I think the idea still has merit, but there are too many flowers so
It's hard to see what the tree looks like . . . not to give you any more
work, Reiner, but . . . .?
The top 2 of the other remakes also are worthwhile restylings.
---
Jim Lewis - jkl...@ix.netcom.com (Tallahassee, FL)
"When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it
attached to the rest of the world." John Muir
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