Holy Spruce! My $2 raffle win

[Bek]

Bought my $2 raffle ticket last night on the way in to the SA Bonsai Society meeting, not really even bothering to look at the prizes (I NEVER win), and wouldn't you know it, my number was called! Check out this dude.

In the nick of time too because I'm attending a Grant Bowie workshop this weekend and was starting to worry about which 'trunk in a pot' I was going to bring along

[Bek]

[Bek]

Here's a close up of the nebari/trunk area.

[Bush bunny]

Whoa, well done, buy a lottery ticket quick. What type of spruce? Looks like a Norwegian, not that I am an expert, but have had lots of Christmas trees in the past. No maybe not? Anyone know. Be interested in seeing the results?

[Bek]

Sorry forgot to mention that! It's a Picea Albertina Spruce, approximately 15 years old according to the little information card I've got.

[bouquet]

Congrats Bek that was an awesome win

I was there last night, bought my share of tickets and thats the tree I would have choosen.

Can't wait to see what you to do it after the workshop.

[Bek]

That's good to hear Bouquet because there was a bit of reverse psychology going on with the man who came second. He was looking a the yew (the other prize) and saying "oh the yew is much rarer, a great find", and I was standing there thinking "is he just saying that because he wants the spruce?!". Haha glad I went with my heart though. The yew was nice, but as a beginner, the spruce had an 'easier' shape to work with. On the down side though, I couldn't concentrate through the whole second half of Grant's talk, because I was too busy daydreaming about my new tree, haha!!! :lol:

[Jason]

Not bad for $2 Bek!! Bloody great win congrats!!

[Bush bunny]

DSC02166.JPG Smaller Spruce.JPG

I've got a Picea Albertinia Conica, and it isn't shaped like that, unless they have trimmed and shaped it.

[Laurie J]

Congratulations Bek! Very jealous! I put in $10 this time Looking forward to seeing what you can do with it at the workshop on Sunday!

[Bek]

So this is what I just read when I Googled them:

"Spruce have a poor reputation as bonsai. Difficult to style, difficult to encourage the branches to set into new positions through wiring and difficult to create good ramification with little if any prospect of backbudding."



Someone please give me a good story about them!!!

[bouquet]

Someone please give me a good story about them!!!

Here is a good story, You Won it and I'm sure with the experience from members of the Bonsai Society you will have a beautiful tree in the years to come.

On another not, you could always give Bonsai Mujo a call and see what adice he can offer. I'm sure I have seen Spruce at his nursery.

[Bek]

Good point, it was practically free after all!

[bodhidharma]

viewtopic.php?f=131&t=17892&hilit=picea#p180426

Here you go Bek, there might be hope yet.

[bouquet]

http://guide.makebonsai.com/bonsai_spec ... _Albertina

http://www.bonsai-bci.com/files/Spruce.pdf ‎

Here are a couple links. I'm guessing you have already seen these but although they say the spruce can be a difficult bonsai subject, it enjoys popularity because it makes a stately bonsai when properly styled, and material is readily available.

So sit back, look at your tree and admire it ha ha and see if you can see where you want to take it (man I need to listine to my own advice sometimes)

Heaps of pictures on Google when you type "Picea Albertina Spruce bonsai" and look at images