Page 52 - BSAM 2015 Q1

Top to bottom; In this sequence, the bent branch
is secured by guy wires that are also tightened to bring the bent branch closer to the trunk; the assistants finish wiring all branches and sub- branches; David sets the wired branches in layers to create fullness and depth.
The Actual Bending
David was now ready to perform the bend. Using his hands, he secured a firm grip on the branch. All the assistants firmly held the wooden box, the tree itself, and the base. Since the tree was a California Juniper, excessive movement in the roots could damage the tree. Ensuring that the tree was secure would prevent the roots from loosening. He mentioned that his body position was very important when making the bend. A good stance would allow him to control the branch as well as feel the tension in the branch while bending.
As the branch was bent, the wire was applied to the branch. Applying the wire to the branch in its bent position would help hold the branch securely. If the wire was applied prior to bending the branch, the wire would loosen as it was bent. Only by applying the wire once the branch was bent could the wire hold it in position. David mentioned this was one of the key techniques in applying wire properly.
Adjustments and Securing the Bend
During the heavy bend, David noticed that one of the points on the branch was experiencing too much stress and distancing itself too far from the trunk. With 2.5 mm wire, the branch was secured to the trunk at the point where David did not want the bend to occur. When pressure was put on the branch again, the bend started at the section following the secured wire. Doing so created a gradual but pronounced bend along the branch.
Once the branch had reached close to its ideal lo- cation, David attached guy wire to the middle of the branch. Finding an anchor point for the wire along the trunk, David bent the tree further downwards while an apprentice secured the wire. Slowly the branch was bent further as the guy wire was tightened.
Another guy wire was attached to another section along the branch of tree. This wire served to bring the branch down at a different angle closer and towards the base of the tree. When everything was complete, the branch had come down by two feet. It also swung around the main trunk of the tree towards the front.
Wiring and Branch Arrangement
David instructed all the apprentices to finish wiring the remaining secondary branches while he continued to shape the jins on the remaining parts of tree. After all the branches were wired, David set the branches to
bring the branches in towards the trunk of the tree. He layered the foliage for devel- opment of the pads to create fullness and depth.
50 | BCI | April/May/June 2015