In spite of nasty November wind and rain, (18) Members turned out, listened, watched, and learned!
Here are some of the photos, showing the work progression, and the final result.
The tree was raffled off and the lucky winner was John Grisafi!
Jim then provided critical styling commentary on Members' trees...see photos.
Jim discussed some basics before beginning styling on this nice Larch. This tree is from Randy Knight's nursery, out in Oregon. It has been field-grown, and was brought into Natures Way Nursery in Spring of 2014...
The Larch is very healthy, so a lot can be done in this initial styling...
...finding a good 'front"...
"What if we take off this branch, which really does nothing for the style, and use the branches closer in?"
Jim puts a cover over the branch so all can visualize the tree with the branch removed...
...Yup...it came off! Another needs to come off as well, but can be used as a nice jin...
....doing some refinement on the remaining jin...
The foliage was trimmed up, and the whole tree wired. Jim then positioned branches in a way that shows off what the tree has to offer...
..this branch was positioned and held in place with a small guy wire. This will take a few years to take a set...
...sketching idea for the future of the tree, as it grows into it's new style...
...comparing the first styling to future development so everyone can visualize the tree's future look...
The Larch was then raffled off...and we have a winner!
John Grisafi is all smiles!
Jim then began critique of members' trees.
Tom DeSimone brought an Azalea root over rock. Jim suggested some minor changes with the branching, and opened the possibility of another "front"...
Jay Burton has a nice tropical with good movement.
Some judicious carving can improve this tree nicely!
Flex brought an Amur Maple with nice Nebari, and powerful trunk.
Jim suggested that the top half be removed, and new apex branching be developed at the cut.
This can happen any time the saw is sharp!
Doc Stone brought a nice Chinese Elm with beginnings of wonderful trunk features. This tree is beginning to bark up with a more mature Chinese Elm look.
Jim suggested improving the holes already started in the trunk, and making a number of new ones.
These holes should go deep into the trunk, creating shadow and mystery!
As can be seen, one can still find great buys in nurseries.
Mike Dewoski brought this Boxwood from a nursery on the Black Horse Pike in south Jersey.
This tree has what looks like a nice twist to the trunk, and many developed branches. It should be thinned out, and some of the internal multi-branch "whorls" can then be addressed. The bark can be cleaned with a mild brass wire brush.
Andrew DuBrul brought this Pine. It has a nice base, lots of jin possibilities, but foliage which is far out on branches, away from the trunk.
Jim suggested several ways to mount it, including a cascade style, which can make good use of foliage way out at the end of branches...
...and here is the cascade....
Karen Smith brought a Trident Maple with nice nebari...
This Mugo pine from Joe Giangrasso seems to be a good starter tree to practice on, but has been in the nursery pot too long. The roots have started circling the inside of the pot, so will have to be removed in the Spring to preserve the tree's health.
This one can provide lots of technique practice!
Tom DeSimone brought this Pine. Jim suggested that it can benefit from removal of the lower left branch, and jinning it.
Additional deeper carving is needed on the shari running up the right side of the trunk, and the foliage pads can be compacted into nice pads....
Ton Kruegl brought an older semi-tropical...
Some of the foliage can be chased back to compact the tree more, but the basic style is set and needs little change!
Karen Smith brought this little Hinoki can benefit from a few more years' growth, to thicken up the trunk.
The straight left trunk can then be killed off, and jinned, while the right trunk, which has more movement, is then styled nicely..
Tom DeSomone had a Spruce, which can benefit from judicious wiring, to create more movement in the pads.
When next repotted, the mounting angle could be changed more to the left to improve the look of the tree.
John Grisafi had a Willow-Leaf Ficus, with a dead section at the trunk base, and very straight trunk...
Jim suggested splitting the trunk so it could be bent. Here the splitting has begun...
...and a "spirit" in the tree which had not previously been noticed....
Jim added some thin slices of cork to keep the trunk split.
The trunk was then bent, and a heavy guy wire was used to hold the new bend in the trunk.
This placed the branches in a nice way, so they can now be wired to create a nice small tree...
Most of the work falls to the tree, to grow out and fill on branches!
