ponderosa pine bonsai

[Coach]

Here's a tree that was growing in the mountains 3 years ago and was dug and allowed to adjust to it's new life in the smog and clutter of the valley. It was trained this year after two years of stabilizing after being moved. I'll be working more on creating it's top with more buds and branching. It's considered a semi-cascade. I really like the way it brings the mountain down to my level, so i can go out to the pond and feed the koi and look up at the pine. Any other bonsai nuts here?

[koikeepr]

it's HUGE! Gosh, it must be worth a fortune if ever sold.

[Kntry]

Dick, was it that large when you found it? What make them stay that "small" in nature? How old do you think it is? How are you going to "shape" the top? I can't wait to see what you do with it.

Just another hobby I'd love to get into but there just aren't enough hours in the day.

[Meganne]

you know I am a student! that Pine of yours is fantastic! how is the other coming? this one is from the trip in which you found 2, right? the other you trained into life and death silouets?sp?
I am only in kindergarden, and I have been tending to one my cousin purchased and left with me to keep alive! eeeck!
I think I would like to remove the smaller branch to the right and work with the remaining side but as of yet she won't let me even talk about it.
http://i813.photobucket.com/albums/zz59/Meganne_photos/lily%20pond/IMG_6497.jpg

[koikeepr]

stunning. I love that root bundle...it looks so ancient.

[Coach]

I'm sorry I can't get your picture to enlarge so i can't see to comment. So much of my training is to think twice about removal. Oft times i will reduce back down to the last bud or wire it into a different direction. once they're gone you may or may not be able to replace them.

In the background of the ponderosa pine is a lierati styled ( somethimes called bunjin) Aka matsue. ( Japanese red pine) The needles are much too long and healthy now but it was something I had to do
before i repotted this spring and began working to bring the needles back into scale. This is a very difficult look to achieve. one of rugged survival. But this tree in 3 years will be a very good representation.
It will be potted in a round pot a third the size of what it is in now

[Kntry]

Dick, is this a young tree and that's why it's still small or did something dwarf it in nature? Why would you reduce the size of the pot by 1/3?

[Coach]

The Aka matsue is about 12 years old. This particular style is one that portrays
a survival in difficult terrain. hence the long thin shape. When you have young trees, it is best to keep the limbs short and the pot small as these then suggest that the trunk is thicker then it really is and gives it a little more "age appeal".

[addy1]

Beautiful you two! Your trees look great. Meganne, love how it looks next to your pond, and nice looking pond also.

[Meganne]

thank you Addy.
my pond is as far away as a pond can get in design from yours! and yours is amazingly beautiful to me.
they are both good examples of formal and a natural looks, and bonsia can work well and add intrest to both styles.
when designing the only limit is your imagination.... (ok, and your pocket book!) :giggle:

[Coach]

this is a mugho pine that I've had around for some 20 plus years. Tuff one to design as branching is way too low but needles are really small and nice. Thought you might enjoy seeing it and some shari I'm working on in the trunk to look like a natural disaster with the loss of a limb. I'm carving on it but it's slow work!

[Coach]

for those of you scratching your heads saying to yourself, i thought this guy was someone who liked koi,
hang in there. I'll be slowing down the inside pond the end of this month and making a transfer of the outsiders in. I'll take some good photos then that I'll share. Kinda anxious to see if i got any growth out of anything. Want to see how the Aka mae Kigoi did as I can see it's more than doubled in length and depth. The japanese breeder is known for his good sized koi (marusei) Next year gotta find me another asagi. A friend gave me one from Toshio sakai that had magoi bloodline in it and in 4 years it outgrew my pond. I felt guilty for it, gave it back to the gifter and now it's in 40,000 instead of 4,000 gallons.That's the good thing about bonsai. If it outgrows it's plcae you just replant it in a bigger pot. If only Koi could be so easy :)

[addy1]

thank you Addy.
my pond is as far away as a pond can get in design from yours! and yours is amazingly beautiful to me.
they are both good examples of formal and a natural looks, and bonsia can work well and add intrest to both styles.
when designing the only limit is your imagination.... (ok, and your pocket book!) :giggle:

yours is beautiful

(ok, and your pocket book!).................the reason all the work is being done in house, sure could not afford to have this done by anybody, just the rocks, liner and etc stuff, pushed our budget........

[addy1]

That is one gorgeous tree you have there coach, koi and bonsai go together. A 20 year old tree, that is a commitment, just like your koi.

[Meganne]

Addy the Pine is my cousin's...it just lives here! lol. I am charged with keeping it alive! eeek! I am an extream bonsia novice.
the pond is ALL diy....my pocket books are shallow!

[addy1]

Addy the Pine is my cousin's...it just lives here! lol. I am charged with keeping it alive! eeek! I am an extream bonsia novice.
the pond is ALL diy....my pocket books are shallow!

Well you seem to be doing a good job keeping it alive! I like diy ponds, makes you feel good when you look at it and say I did that!

[Appliance Guy]

Here's a tree that was growing in the mountains 3 years ago and was dug and allowed to adjust to it's new life in the smog and clutter of the valley. It was trained this year after two years of stabilizing after being moved. I'll be working more on creating it's top with more buds and branching. It's considered a semi-cascade. I really like the way it brings the mountain down to my level, so i can go out to the pond and feed the koi and look up at the pine. Any other bonsai nuts here?

This was featured in Coach's recent article in KoiUSA. It's progressing nicely!

[Coach]

I have throughly enjoyed learning new hobbies from japan. It gives me a better understanding of the culture, and helps me with understanding koi, bonsai, mums, suiseki. I did appreciate getting asked by the editor of Koi USA to do that bonsai article.
I told larry I'd be happy to do one on suiseki or how a tokonoma is used to make display within the home. Still waiting to hear
if he'd want something along that style.
I just got back from helping a friend prepare bonsai to be displayed in a tokonoma for an upcoming book. very enjoyable
The photographs came out really nice. happy to see others appreciate what a bonsai alongside a koi pond can do for a better look.

[Coach]

Picture is of a suiseki, the appreciation of rocks. this one looks like a mountain. The wooden stand that secures it is called a daiza
and legs on it are positioned according to strict rules according to the lines and flow of the stone. occassionally in display you might find a rock and bonsai together but they tend to be featured by themselves then mixed.