I already posted a photo of my Juniper (Juniperus Squamata Meyeri), here are some better pictures.
I do not like posting photos of my trees much - I'm just as critical about my own trees as of those of others (probably even more critical).

While this tree is starting to look nice in reality, it has flaws - and photos somehow always seem to make these flaws very visible. Still, seeing where it comes from, I think it will become a beautiful tree in the future. Last year I thinned out a lot of the foliage. I have wired a part of it - mostly the lower branches and the thin branches in the top. I 've never fully wired it - trying not to stress the tree to much, but also simply because it is a lot of work

The trunk and branches are done, the tree is now in the stage where the foliage pads need to be developed and refined. I think that's visible, and that you can see where I've started, where they are forming - but mostly where more work is required.

Attached the tree after I pruned it for the first time some 12 years ago - quite shocking when I see what I did to the poor thing - but it worked out and proofs this tree tolerates quite a lot, even from a beginner. The other two photos were made today.

Nice example of modest beginnings with nice results in the end.
I think it looks decent.

I realize you may have had to work hard to grow it but.. Have you considered shortening the lowest branch, removing the lowest level completely? I think you could get a more balanced image..? Probably the lowest branch on the left would then need a bit of horizontal growing, and bottom-trimming, when I look at the rough virt with the branch removedf..

Naturally, the whole canopy could be wired fully and laid out afresh to get a more styled appearance. But than it would loose it's rough natural look.

Very nice tree Auk, cool to see the difference 12 years make to growth!
It's a shame photos appear so small on when you open them on here, is there any way to enlarge them? On my iphone you need a magnifying glass to see much detail as you can't even enlarge them once opened with your fingers. If you know what I mean

Very Nice.
Progressions like this teaches you a lot.

Looking good, means there's a chance of my skinny Junipers turning decent over the next 12 years then!

Dave

cool jin! cool work! cool styles! your coolness is overwhelming!

leatherback wrote:

I realize you may have had to work hard to grow it but.. Have you considered shortening the lowest branch

Many times. That branch actually was even much longer, I already shortened it once.
Every time I considered shortening it further however, I rejected the idea.
The branch is nice and tapered, thick at the base, reducing in girth towards the end - as we like it. The secondary branches too are thicker at the base then at the end of the branch - just the way it should be. I do not really see a secondary branch that can take over the tip of the main branch without reducing this effect and leaving a big wound (there now is only one small hardly visible wound where I shortened the branch last time).

Another reason not do do this is that I can do it only once, there is no way back. If I leave it there though, I can always decide later to do it. The length of the branch does not bother me much, and at this moment, as the tree was potted for the first time 2 years ago, and thinned out last year, my main concern is to keep it healthy. I'm not doing much about it this year, just a little wiring. While the tree is healthy, now that it is potted its growth has slowed down, so I do not want to take any extra risks.

My plan is what you wrote - work out the foliage pads. Originally there were three - quite dense - layers of foliate. I'm now splitting them up in separate pads. This requires wiring and growth - and time. I do want it more styled, with clouds of foliage, without loosing too much of the natural look you mentioned.

Indeed. Sometimes you have to skip the 'ideal profile' for using this one great branch. Guilty of that with my big juniper (Although a club member suggested I would remove the branch completely; I refused, knowing full well the trunk line is partially hidden. But the branch has such great shape & taper ).

Auk wrote:

My plan is - work out the foliage pads. Originally there were three - quite dense - layers of foliate. I'm now splitting them up in separate pads. This requires wiring and growth - and time. I do want it more styled, with clouds of foliage, without loosing too much of the natural look you mentioned.

Sounds like you have still a similar project on your hands as the communis I am working on (www.bonsaiempire.nl/forum/vormingen/6286-juniperus-communis). Lot of thinning, wiring, growing out, thinning etc.

How bad are the needles on this one? (My tree leaves me red, scratchy and Itchy)..

Auk wrote:

Attached the tree after I pruned it for the first time some 12 years ago

Amazing indeed the progression this tree has endured after 12 years of continued growth and care. This gives me a lot of hope with my acers and olive tree. Great Juniper. Today I might decide to go and pick up another tree... After seeing this, I just can´t help wanting more trees with the permanent hope of having some day one that might be just similar to this one.

Alain

leatherback wrote:

How bad are the needles on this one? (My tree leaves me red, scratchy and Itchy)..

Not too bad really, not like a communis. Needles are softer (except the old ones that dry out, they are harder).
Some itchy scraches on my hand after working on it for a long time, but mild, not too annoying.