Shohin Work Session February 18, 2018

Brenda's Japanese Boxwood July 2017 (left) successfully grown out from a heavy cut back.  This is what was shown at the 2018 Shohin Seminar.  Very healthy but, the critique was that there is no ramification or refinement.  Compliments on the proportion, basic structure and the moss.  Photo 2 is the result of the next logical step, wiring, cutting back small branches and some small branch removal.  You can see the branches wired over to harden in a lateral position to support secondary and tertiary refinement.  By the end of this year the tree will make significant strides toward its final silhouette and establishment of the main branches.

Youpon Holly before and after.  Huh?  In the first photo the top half of the tree is being held in place.  It was cut about halfway down the trunk...the white line on the trunk.  So the funny people sat the cut off top down on the tree to show the new tree when the top is re-grown.  Pretty nice in the very short term.  The tree will be re-potted lower in the pot to hide the big roots.

This Juniper, after initial styling, looked a bit like a pinwheel with over-sized jin.  Lots of potential choices.  The jins were reduced by 1/2.  Branch removal was done based on the cloth hiding the existing branches.  Now movement has been established.  The jins and branches  are more in proportion; very important in bonsai and critical in shohin.

The chopstick shows where the "head" comes off.  This is needed to reduce the tree so when the apex is grown out the tree will within the shohin height requirement.  Nerifolia's back bud nicely so with Eric's expertise with them, a new apex is not too far in the future.

Peter helping Ken with some refinements for his beautiful Elm.

Peter and Cristina in deep conversation about her Japanese Black Pine.  This is a sweet little tree.  Can't wait to see it in a bonsai pot soon.