My Greatest challenge ever

[alpineart]

Hi Mo' mate it has worked out a treat to say the least . The smaller trunk looks much larger than the main trunk and in itself is very impressive . Now I can downsize the monster into a more manageable container . I had downsized with a large amount of dead stock , pines and deciduous for reasons beyond my understanding .

Just arrived home with another batch of new stock to plat with , topped up the losses of late with something different .

Cheers . Alpine

[alpineart]

Well this was supposed to go to the club last night for a bit of bending and shaping , due to mechanical issues I couldn't make it

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. Phase 2 compress , compact and contort ,

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this is coming along nicely , will update when I get the time to wire the growth and trim , possible at the Albury Show this weekend . Better take the car in to the mechanic or I'll be missing the weekend for sure .

Cheers . Alpineart

[Boics]

Looking forward to seeing this continue to take shape.
Love what you have done with the compaction - will be awesome to see the finer wiring come together not to mention shari and jins.
Keep up the good work.

[Pearcy001]

I too am keen for the fine wiring update Alpine. Keep us posted.

Cheers,
Pearcy.

Sent from my SM-G920I using Tapatalk

[alpineart]

I finally managed some spare time , a weekend out with the Albury Wodonga Bonsai Society displaying and showing our works off at the Albury Show . This has been basically wired , pre styled and set for the rest of the season , it took around 8-10 hours during the course of the 2 day show and I'm more than happy with the resulting progress .

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Quite a lot more compression and contortion has taken place and a couple of "Oh shari" moments did happen but only to the possible future jin's .

Cheers . Alpineart

[boom64]

Hi Alpine ,now that's what I call Movement....Keep up the good work. John.

[alpineart]

Hi Boom64 , certainly not straight and boring like the rest of the layers I have here . Still in 2 minds as to the final position of the base but time will tell as the foliage re-grows . This was done in poor lighting conditions and with many interruptions but both the styling and talking to the public were worth the effort .

Cheers . Alpine

[Raymond]

. I'd love to know how you get such dramatic bends without killing the it. the couple ive tried with raffia and support wires juts didnt make it . OUTSTANDING Alpine!

[alpineart]

Hi Raymond , they live or die slowly but it ain't dead yet . I have killed a few with this sort of manipulation and not because I wanted too . The needle juniper I hacked the other week has died , lack of after care , most likely water as I was in Melbourne and a few tree parted gracefully , its hard to get good help watering tree's here ..

Cheers . Alpine

[Raymond]

The last one i tried wasnt as dramatic as yours, but the branch died off quite quickly. Not sure what i did wrong but i'll keep trying...

[alpineart]

This is one of the largest ground layered branches that was collected , it's been folded back onto itself reducing the length from over 3 meters to around 1,8 meters after re-potting it from a plastic crate to this 600mm bowl about 2 years ago

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. While sorting out the neglected material I decided to join an old stump to the live branch , not a true phoenix graft more of a wrap and strap configuration . The trunk was hit with a 2100 psi heavy duty dirt blaster ,

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makes short work of the old bark

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. To my surprise all the old dead trunks are riddled with borer tunnels , maybe I didn't kill them after all ??? .

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I screwed the live trunk to the dead stump with 60mm stainless steel screws , that should hold it firm

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. I then wrapped the 35mm branch to be bent in raffia , then grafting tape and 8mm ally wire

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. With the use of 2 ratchet straps I compressed and bent the trunk into position then wired it off

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. With the sun fading behind the hills I have compressed and bent the last 2 branches with simple curves by gentle persuasion and force then wired into a temporary position ,

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For now this will do until I get another morning or arvo off then I will set up for some movement and compression on the rest of the tree.

Cheers Alpineart .

[Raymond]

I've said it before, and I will say it again, . Inspirational Alpine. I'll be looking at some big yamodori when the weather cools down over here...

[bodhidharma]

Looks like you have been having some fun Alp's

[alpineart]

Hi Raymond , I need motivating and inspiring to get things done around here from time to time , been rather slack over the last 12 months .

Hi Bodhi' , mate there is so much material here , some that has never been worked so it time to get into it . Been given some wonderful opportunities lately from individuals and groups regarding Bonsai with displays , sales , workshops and demo's all on the agenda in and around N.E Vic and S.E NSW . Time to tidy up some material for these purposes and the yard at the same time .

Cheers guys . Alpine

[Matthew]

Hi Raymond , I need motivating and inspiring to get things done around here from time to time , been rather slack over the last 12 months .

Hi Bodhi' , mate there is so much material here , some that has never been worked so it time to get into it . Been given some wonderful opportunities lately from individuals and groups regarding Bonsai with displays , sales , workshops and demo's all on the agenda in and around N.E Vic and S.E NSW . Time to tidy up some material for these purposes and the yard at the same time .

Cheers guys . Alpine

Alpine

Great stuff ill have to come out and see you when autumn hits and the cooler weather comes in . maybe before easter if you are around then . cheers