I collected this Olive on one of my first digs about 20 years ago at Brownhill Creek in the Adelaide foothills. Unfortunately I can't find any old photos but it started life as a clump with 3 trunks until about 10 years ago I decided that the main trunk needed to be a tree in it's own right without the distraction of the fairly uninspiring secondary trunks. There were still a number of changes with the arrangement of the branches and the direction as a whole but now it's settling into an image I'm happy with. The next step will be to refine the deadwood at the base and the shari in the middle of the trunk.
To be honest I stuffed around a lot in the early days changing my mind and not having a clear plan, so it shouldn't have taken as long as it did to get to this stage. I now spend more time planning in the early stages so this tree has taught me a few good lessons.
Matt.
My First Olive
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KIRKY
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Re: My First Olive
Doesn't matter how you got there Matt, We all stuff around in the beginning, some of us are still stuffing around 
Its a very nice tree well done 
Cheers
Kirky
Its a very nice tree well done Cheers
Kirky
Great oaks from little acorns grow.
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Black Knight
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Re: My First Olive
Hi Matt S,
Looking good & a little bit of work on the deadwood & the shari treated, will show it of a treat.
Regards
Black Knight
Looking good & a little bit of work on the deadwood & the shari treated, will show it of a treat.
Regards
Black Knight
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Boics
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Re: My First Olive
Fantastic tree and great image.
If I were to be super critical I would like to see a little more gentle taper..
It looks like it get's thin pretty quickly.
Don't get me wrong though this is better than any of my tree's!
Just trying to be constructive.
If I were to be super critical I would like to see a little more gentle taper..
It looks like it get's thin pretty quickly.
Don't get me wrong though this is better than any of my tree's!
Just trying to be constructive.
One of the fabulous things about growing bonsai is as you get old and decrepit your trees get old and beautiful
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melbrackstone
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Re: My First Olive
20 years, read it and weep newbies! Well done Matt!
Love the fact you've gotten down to the right level to photograph it, think that's very important!
Sort of agree with Boics though, can you hide that thinner trunk a bit more? Maybe bulk up that pad in the front? It's all part of the illusion, I've been told.
Love the fact you've gotten down to the right level to photograph it, think that's very important!
Sort of agree with Boics though, can you hide that thinner trunk a bit more? Maybe bulk up that pad in the front? It's all part of the illusion, I've been told.
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Sammy D
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Re: My First Olive
Very nice matt. Well done. 
A stick in a pot is better than no stick at all. Remember even the best bonsai started as a stick.
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Matt S
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Re: My First Olive
Thanks for the kind words everyone. Feedback and constructive criticism are always welcome.
I agree about the thinness of the trunk above the chop but for some reason the photo seems to make it worse and the branches cover the wrong bits, I think it's something to do with the slight fish-eye distortion of the old iPhone I'm using to take the photo (notice the difference in the length of the bricks behind). I really must invest in a decent camera. Anyway you'll have to trust me when I say it's not so bad in the flesh!
Matt.
I agree about the thinness of the trunk above the chop but for some reason the photo seems to make it worse and the branches cover the wrong bits, I think it's something to do with the slight fish-eye distortion of the old iPhone I'm using to take the photo (notice the difference in the length of the bricks behind). I really must invest in a decent camera. Anyway you'll have to trust me when I say it's not so bad in the flesh!
Matt.
