This bunjin pine won the Ben Oki award years ago, and then showed up on the cover of Bonsai Clubs International in 1992. The two and a half decades since, under the stewardship of several owners, have proven that Ponderosa does eventually ramify.
In the last few years, however, the lower branch has weakened—made worse by an outbreak of needle cast—and so when the pine came into the yard a year ago we faced a choice.
A bonsai with some legacy attached can slow down your decision-making to a crawl. But bonsai change, and we are given the opportunity to change our ideas when they do. Here are a few photos of operation day-
Ponderosa Pine shortly after winning the Ben Oki award, on the cover of BCI in 1992
The pine in 2018
A thought for a new inclination
Another thought: Remove the weak low branch
Removal
This is…
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