It wasn't labelled but I have a feeling it is the 'nana' dwarf variety of Agonis Flexuosa. But still not 100% on that.
I spent the first year giving it a repot into a nicer fresh mix, and then cutting back and growing several times to encourage backbudding and pull the growth back in nice and bushy.
By the time it was getting bushy with a lot of branches to start working with I was still unsure of where I wanted to head with it. The Perth national convention was around the corner so I decided to take it as one of my trees for a masterclass workshop with visiting Japanese artist Masayuki Fujikawa, a former apprentice of Masahiko Kimura. That was a great experience and I very much enjoyed his perspective and thought process.
He talked about giving the branch design a gentle flowing habit up and down as it stretched out like water. I then could see it as a peppermint on the bank of a river reaching over the water in a very relaxing environment. I am excited to keep developing this project
Now that it is pushing a lot of new growth months later, I have repotted into a shallower terracotta pot and covered the root base a lot higher to try and encourage new roots to grow and fill in the big open gap you will see pictured. I also gave a partial defoliation of the big leaves to let more light in.
April 2022 from the nursery
April 2022 first cutback
Repotted
The rootbase with large opening
Before work at workshop May 2023
End of workshop May 2023
Repotted July 2023 before partial defoliation
After partial defoliation July 2023
