Page 36 - BSAM 2016 Q2

trunks using wire or nylon tread. Once we are done, the tree is allowed to rest. During the rest period, the tree will naturally try to heal itself, creating wound calluses and new wood. A year later or sometimes longer, depending on the physical health of the tree, the wounds will be ready to be worked on again and the process is repeated. is gradual development of trunk lines, as well a jin and shari development, repli- cates the rugged and gradual weathering that occurs in nature. As the wood will have natural contours rep- resenting each stage of bark elimination, the resulting dead wood portions mimic the high mountain quality of natural junipers.
Contrast with Carving Wood (Mu Diaoke)
Wood carving consists of creating dead wood features by means of carving along the wood grain. Although it o ers immediate results and is a valid method of creation, the resulting wood is o en so er. Furthermore, the average bonsai enthusiast may not have the necessary technical skills to perform this process, thus resulting in the loss of the material. As the journey in bonsai creation is always the road to success, gradual development of deadwood features not only o ers a safer approach to jin, shari and stock development, but also results in durable and natural looking elements. A combination of both methods is also possible.
Top right; Cutting-grown Taiwan Juniper bonsai
Top left; Marking the tree trunk with colored chalk for bark removal
and line creation.
Middle left; After removing bark.
Bottom left; Another juniper undergoing the bark removal process.
34 | BCI | April/May/June 2016