Sometimes I work on nursery trees, sometimes I work on client’s trees……and sometimes if I’ve been a really good boy I get to work on my own trees. Hopefully these regular visits will give you an insight into what goes on behind closed doors……….
Studio Stories – Yamadorii Juniper from Japan (Part Three)
The earlier posts on this tree were posted on the 23rd January and the 9th February 2014.
After it’s brief appearance on the show bench at Newstead 4 in September 2010 the tree was again allowed to grow and recover.
Our pictorial story resumes in August 2012 with the three pictures above. You can clearly see how vigorous and strong the tree is. Branches to the lower right hand side have been removed to create more space and highlight the deadwood but the foliage is again beginning to take over.
April 2013 and the tree is on it’s way to my garden for the summer. The growth extensions from the previous season have been cut back. The second picture is July and despite a slow start to the season all my trees are now growing well. September, and after another good year this tree is now so strong it is time to really get to grips with it.
The tree was ready for another styling session. I started by thinning out the foliage, removing inner weaker shoots. The live veins were refined and lime sulphur was applied to the deadwood.
The remaining branches would then require wiring. There were two substantial branches to the rear of the tree which had now extended too far and needed to be removed. The stubs were turned into jins.
The branches were positioned as they were wired. Despite all the thinning out the finished image still has a certain density to it but there is ample room for light and air to flourish. Compared with earlier stylings the foliage is now becoming much more compact and so are the resulting foliage clouds.
The tree is now ready for the season ahead but this time we already have the health, the vigour, the lush colour and strength. This time the growth must be contained to increase density to promote better ramification and greater refinement. The wild Juniper foliage is always more difficult to work with than say Chinensis or Ittogawa but this tree is improving all the time………let’s see what happens in 2014…….Part Four perhaps……….