Hi Rafi, I actually posted the original question regarding Tanuki. I respected Bjorn’s opinion but it very much put me off creating a tanuki composition. The reason I asked the question in the first place was due to my lack of money to purchase really good material and the fact that here is not really a possibility of collecting strong yamadori. I wanted to use the cheat/ shortcut of Tanuki to shorten the timescale to create something larger with a stronger aesthetic presence in my own garden. I like to think I am a gentleman and I would definitely not pass off any tanuki I created as a collected tree to sell it. Your strong stand on this and your argument against other accepted practices has inspired me to just create what I like to look at, but I will definately respect others opinions and perhaps approach this from an artistic view rather that “Bonsai”. Thankyou.
Hey @Dave_Shire, thank you for the message. I really do think we cheat, if that is what some want to call it, in every possible way in bonsai, grafting, using rocks, using pots. Frankly, one could even argue that using an old gnarly awesome yamadori tree and then going on to win compliments on the beauty of the tree is also a form of cheating as Nature did 95% of the job for you. Anyway, as I mentioned above, I don’t see phoenix grafts as cheating. The objective is to create a living piece of art with woody plants that pleases you, that you’ll be proud of showing in your garden. Rocks, grafting, deadwood, whatever works towards that result. I am happy you did it.
I agree Rafi. We touched on this subject before and I think we both agreed that the “cheat” only occurs if you try to pawn the composition off as yamadori for a profit.
I recently entered my graft in a local show and it was recieved very well ( no priz
es but spectator response was fantastic).
I think you should do what you want when it comes to Bonsai if it looks good it is good to me. Bonsai is also about personal expression. I saw a tree planted in a roller skate the other day somewhere. Not for me. But somebody liked it. It’s important to remember that we are all entitled to our view. I’m not looking for anyone to tell me my trees are good or bad. I have been doing Bonsai for 30yrs. It never ceases to amaze me that so many people are looking for a pat on the back and elitism. Just enjoy.
Ryan viewed this presentation and thought well of the composition ( he especially liked my jeeta ( base of worm wood and epoxy slab).
Hi Leonard just wondering if you ever considered turning a portion of the living vein at the apex into interesting deadwood that could counter the tanuki deadwood at the bottom left. Then you might have a more compact apex at the second branch down from the top. It might create more interest as well as increase the appearance of a more powerful tree with some added interest at the top. Just a thought I wanted to put out but great work either way.
Ricky
Had plans similar to be carried out in spring of 22. I want to redirect the apex down and to the right and take a smaller branch from the left to point up to become the new apex. There is just enough gap in the center of the upper deadwood to pass a branch through. I hope to turn that to a new deadwood branch ( and blend old with new to become a deadwood feature on the left). With the new foliage redirection it should hide the new work until it naturally ages and blends new with old wood. Sorry about the rough drawing but you get the idea ( I hope 
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