I found this peppermint at a local nursery tucked away pretty neglected and sad looking. I was drawn to it due to it having some age evident in the bark, and also what I thought was character and quirkiness in the multiple slender trunks, and interesting root base.
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
Agonis Flexuosa - WA Peppermint - Multi Trunk
-
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 323
- Joined: March 31st, 2019, 8:21 am
- Favorite Species: WA natives
- Bonsai Age: 5
- Bonsai Club: Albany Bonsai Collective, Bonsai Society of Western Australia
- Location: Albany, Western Australia
- Has thanked: 377 times
- Been thanked: 524 times
- Contact:
Agonis Flexuosa - WA Peppermint - Multi Trunk
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
-
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 1105
- Joined: November 11th, 2009, 9:03 pm
- Favorite Species: Almond
- Bonsai Age: 2
- Location: South Coast NSW
- Has thanked: 274 times
- Been thanked: 395 times
Re: Agonis Flexuosa - WA Peppermint - Multi Trunk
Hi Patmet ,always interesting to see your new adventures. This looks like another good one. The long weeping branch got me in , very cool. Cheers John.
-
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 2219
- Joined: April 26th, 2010, 11:47 pm
- Favorite Species: Maple
- Bonsai Age: 0
- Bonsai Club: CBS
- Location: Canberra
- Has thanked: 468 times
- Been thanked: 228 times
Re: Agonis Flexuosa - WA Peppermint - Multi Trunk
Very graceful, and not done to a formula - this will look well as it matures.
Gavin
Gavin
-
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 323
- Joined: March 31st, 2019, 8:21 am
- Favorite Species: WA natives
- Bonsai Age: 5
- Bonsai Club: Albany Bonsai Collective, Bonsai Society of Western Australia
- Location: Albany, Western Australia
- Has thanked: 377 times
- Been thanked: 524 times
- Contact:
Re: Agonis Flexuosa - WA Peppermint - Multi Trunk
A thin out of the growth post prune and repot in July. This will let more light and air in to the interior.
Before
After
Before
After
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
-
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 2219
- Joined: April 26th, 2010, 11:47 pm
- Favorite Species: Maple
- Bonsai Age: 0
- Bonsai Club: CBS
- Location: Canberra
- Has thanked: 468 times
- Been thanked: 228 times
Re: Agonis Flexuosa - WA Peppermint - Multi Trunk
Nice curl-around at the left edge. It will be good to see it develop over the years.
Gavin
Gavin