I was going to wait and do this in the finished container to give it a bit more context, but decided to do it now because I'm bored waiting for things to dry/sprout/etc.
The theme I've settled on is that this is going to be a deathly hot Carolina Reaper growing over a skull in a forest. Thing is, is that skull just sitting on the surface, is it half buried, is it looking up towards the sky like the guy died on his back, or is it sitting upright like it was laid there, or some combination of the above? Getting just the right position for the skull now is important, because it will determine how much of it is above the soil line and at what angle the pepper will need to be grown at.
So, without further ado, here are the 5 positions I'm considering, as laid out in my currently vacant raised bed.
1) Sitting On Top
Pros: Gives maximum exposure to the skull, and maximum shapes and contours for the roots to flow over. Also gives maximum height to the display aspects of the bonchi.
Cons: Little bit boring. Theme is that this skull has been out there in the woods long enough for this plant to grow over it, and this looks like someone just sat it down yesterday.
2) Partially Buried
Pros: Gives a greater indication of age, because it looks like the skull has been sitting there long enough for dirt to start building up over it.
Cons: To keep the lower teeth showing, it requires the skull to be tilted back more. I was leaning towards the plant coming out of one eye socket, but that style would look better if the face was more upright.
3) Half Buried - Upright
Pros: Gives the skull a more raw element, as it appears that the lower jaw is missing completely, which gives the impression that something has happened and the discarded skull is not anywhere near the rest of it's body.
Cons: Again, looks like its the top half of a skull just sitting on the surface.
4) Half Buried - Slanted
Pros: Combination of the look that it is a discarded upper skull, combined with the appearance that its been there for quite some time and the soil is building up around it.
Cons: Again, sloped face means having to move the plant higher up the forehead to give more room for the roots to show.
5) Mostly Buried
Pros: Greatest sense of age, as it appears the skull has not only been buried over time (or perhaps intentionally buried), but that the soil has washed away revealing it. Also the best explanation as to why the plant is growing over it, the implication being that when the plant started it was in normal soil and only grew down as the skull below it slowly washed out of the ground.
Cons: This is the flattest of the designs, and will show the least amount of the root over rock style.
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The verdict? I don't know yet. Aesthetically as far as the skull itself is considered, I like #2 and #5 the best. I like the look of the lower jaw being partially buried but not completely missing. Aesthetically as far as showing off the bonsai style of root over rock and making the plant more impressive? Its #1 all the way I think. Its the tallest, which means it has the most surface at the most interesting angles for the roots to cover.
I'll have to do this again once the container is finished and see if the container itself poses any limitations in what can be done, or if a synergy pops out that I'm currently overlooking. Its going to be hard to find the perfect balance of theme/showmanship with the setup, and practical display of bonsai ability with this one.
Please feel free to leave your opinion on which you like most in the comments, and why.
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