Here is a collected Lodgepole Pine from Mammoth Lakes, CA, September 2010, hosted by Scott Chadd of Lotus Bonsai Nursery. Measures 31 ins tall with 3 in trunk. I wired it a year ago. It was repotted January 2021.
She looks really healthy! If she were mine, I would start by:
-Removing bar branches, setting up the ol left , right, back, left right pattern. I personally enjoy a more natural looking tree so I woulndt keep to hard to that pattern. I need some of my trunk covered with foliage here and there. I like the foliage on the front of the trunk mid way, but the top seems a bit crowded.
-As for overall tree movement, the trunk and apex average over the center of the nebari. I think now is a good time to decide if you want to keep it that way to to move the apex to the left or right of the base for more movement feel
-Traditionally a tree like this would be better in a square or oval pot, but the round aint so bad to my eye.
Looks like a lovely tree, have fun!
-Wire secondary branches horizontally if you can
Great tree!
You might consider if the upper half of the tree is adding to the quality or degrading the quality. I tend to think it’s the latter.
Best,
Ryan
Have you considered bending the trunk or perhaps a wedge cut to get some movement into the upper trunk?
