I’ve had this red pine a while now and first worked on it back in 2016. In the 9 years I’ve been growing it it’s been through a few phases and has been displayed, grown out, brough back in, maintained and generally been in and out of the workshop a few times each of the years I’ve owned it.

It’s even had a couple of post about it POST 1, POST 2

More recently it has really outgrown its previous style.

It’s pretty clear from the above image that the foliage has well out grown the trunk size. It feels heavy and makes the trunk seem thin and essentially out of scale.

I’d been thinking a lot about this tree, staring at it each day i was watering, pondering options and playing out scenarios in my head.

I’d always wanted a decent bunjin tree and this tree always seemed half way there, so after much thinking and with a whole lot of needle plucking on the horizon i decided to make the jump. With branch cutters in hand, i began to cut.

I took off the first, second, third, fourth and a bunch more branches as i worked my way up from bottom to top.

After more cutting and some wire i got the tree into its new shape.

I’m pretty happy with the new style. Looking back to the original styling in 2016, i think that this revision fits the tree even more than that first styling. Back in 2016 i didn’t have the growth i would have needed to make the above image so I don’t think it was something i had even considered back then. It really was a case of having to go on a bit of a journey to end up at this style. It highlights how Bonsai change over time and evolve and you have to be open to that to maintain, reshape and move bonsai through time.

Before
After

It’s really worth actively reassessing your trees and always looking for new ideas and solutions. It can be really rewarding and provide some refreshing change, and in the case of this tree i think that approach has resulted in a better tree!

Of course, now the hunt for an appropriate pot begins………..