Total re-do..large Honeysuckle, Lonicera Fragrantissima

[bodhidharma]

I turn my bonsai every so often to change the sun aspect and give a more even growth and this gives a chance to view and find potentially better fronts-sometimes it ends in total remodelling

This tree is on a turntable so i can do exactly that.

If you o get energetic post a few pick of the wild ones

I will do Alpine. I might do a A.B advertise and people can dig em for a hundred bucks. It would be interesting to see.

[Steven]

An excellent progression Bodhidharma

Can I ask why you have done 2 different types of graft? Thread and approach.

Regards,
Steven

[bodhidharma]

Can I ask why you have done 2 different types of graft? Thread and approach.

I have tried a thread graft on this before and failed so i want to try again. The approach graft is where the trunk is 12" wide and do not think the thread graft would penetrate that far without buckling. It looks like they have both failed again which is frustrating Grafting is certainly not my greatest forte but hey, Alpine is coming for a visit soon

[bodhidharma]

The tree has put on enormous growth so today was partial defoliate and re-wire time. The tree is a bugger to work with and if it was not for the Nebari would have been firewood a long time ago. The shoots extend as water shoots and are very fragile, as are all the branches. They stay brittle for a very long time (years) so you have to wire the water shoots very delicately. I have tried to wire them once they are more solid but nearly always snap. The secondary and tertiarys will all be done by clip and grow. As you can see by the four sided shots the Nebari is remarkable but it also highlights the negative spaces in the trees canopy. It is not giving me any more branches and refuses to accept grafting of any kind so i have decided to fill in the spaces by growing very long branches and secondary's. I will also treat the back branch like another lower apex or back trunk and try and fill in the gaps that way. Problem solving This tree is giving me more experience than i expected. If any out there have ideas to help this trees progress dont hold back.

[Craig]

It's looking real nice Bohidarma,the back view looks ok aswell or is the photo deceiving

[bodhidharma]

It's looking real nice Bohidharma,the back view looks ok as well or is the photo deceiving

Thanks Craig, the photo is a little deceiving but as you know photos do not give our trees any credit. The trunk is something like 400mm across and is powerful in the flesh. Bridging the gap of photoghraphy skills so the tree actually looks like it does is a skill all its own.

[bodhidharma]

I had to move this bloke today as its stand was starting to topple so it made for a good photo opportunity The tree is doing well and is starting to take shape after its design change.

[bodhidharma]

I have stripped this guy today and was pleasantly surprised with the new branching it has given me I am going to wire the tree out and keep you in suspense a little as it will take a while to rewire and style. here it is in all its glory before the work and i will see if i can bring order to the chaos. The lower grafted branch has worked a treat and i will do another one down low on the other side next Spring.

[MoGanic]

That is hands down my favorite tree ever...

[Andrew F]

This tree is unreal mate. Look forward to it with all the new growth wired.

[bodhidharma]

That is hands down my favorite tree ever...

Look forward to it with all the new growth wired.

Thanks guys, its wiring and styling will take me a couple of days. I need to really pull the branching down and hope nothing SNAPS.

[MoGanic]

Wrapping dead branches with wet cloth makes them more pliable, would the same apply to brittle living branches?

[Gerard]

I think you should reduce the foliage mass. A smaller head will emphasize that very powerful trunk.

[squizzy]

What a great tree bhodi. It is certainly several levels better than anything I own but I guess that's what you get with experience. For what it's worth I like the sound of what Gerard suggests and maybe off set the crown even more to the right but that opinion is not to undermine the current design which is equally as great.
Thanks for sharing. As always it's inspiring.

Squizz

[anttal63]

Great piece Bodhi !!! I love the back view too !!!