Orlando Bonsai » initial styling

So many options

Paul Pikel — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 22:08:36 +0000

Guy Guidry made a stop in Orlando last week for a workshop, and I couldn’t think of a better tree for him to help me with than my new bald cypress. I’ve always seen it as a weeping style, but he made a few other options.

Guy Guidry sketches

Everything from flat top to an extended twin trunk style. However with a bit of pushing from Mike Rogers we went for the traditional Japanese Formal Upright (shown in the center drawing)

Guy Guidry & Mike Rogers

In oder to make this style, the main trunk needed to be shortened and smoothed. Guy couldn’t wait to get the power tools going. Here is a great shot of him working with Mike Rogers in the background.

Paul Pikel wiring

After removing about 4 inches from the top I started the wiring, and I have to admit I have been looking forward to doing this for months now.

Wired bald cypress

Here is the tree with all its branches wired. I knew that not all the branches would remain but I wanted to get this done prior to styling the tree.

Initial styling

The tree looks great after its initial styling. I have a rather big scar to heal over this year and to develop a top. However this tree should be looking very good by next Winter

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It’s about time

Paul Pikel — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 16:50:51 +0000

I have had this tree for about 3 or 4 years now, and I had never styled it. I’ve just been letting it grow out so that I had some branches to work with. Well today I decided to take a look at it and get some branch structure devloped.

Neea Buxifolia pre bonsai

This is more than a bush than a tree when I first took a look at it. It does have a nice trunk, good movement and nice nebari.

Neea Buxifolia Bonsai initial styling

As I started removing branches I found a lot of them were not useable, and much of the foliage had blocked new branches from growing on the upper trunk. However I was able to define the trunk line, and open the tree up. The first few branches are now defined so it is a matter of developing th etop of the tree. Speaking about the top of the tree, it is a bit long. As new branches start I can see what other options I have for creating a new top.

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Say hello to my little friend

Paul Pikel — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 20:27:20 +0000

Well for a person that doesn’t do small trees, I sure have been doing a lot of small trees lately. However I couldn’t pass this one up. Great price and absolutely perfect. I’m not sure how I actual got it out without a struggle. So many people we looking at this tree and once it was styled there were jaws dropping left and right.

Inital styling

Examining the roots

These roots were in perfect condition and loaded with mychorrhizae. It is just the most healthy tree I think I have ever worked with.

mychorrhizae

As I slowly raked the roots I noticed even more mychorrhizae. The roots had great drainage and were very condensed, feeder roots. I just can’t get over how amazing these roots were.

Repotted

Well here it is in its bonsai pot, all 5 inches of it! Amazing how much power a little tree like this can project. I’ll keep you posted as its begins to fill in.

Orlando Bonsai » initial styling

So many options

It’s about time

Say hello to my little friend

The initial styling