Aussie Native Bonsai pic's for the AusBonsai header

[aaron_tas]

bugger, i don't smoke.

if it's becoming the standard measure, i should go get one

[Bretts]

Ok time is running out. It has been a fun chalenge to get these natives as spruced as possible to enter the photo contest.
First up is a Lilly Pilly that I got from a workshop auction last year. I bought it because I thought it was a bargain and I did not have any liily pilly's. I enjoyed restyling by lowering the tree and arranging/removing branches. Since then I have been working on increasing the vigour and girth of the lower branches. It has been growing vigourosly with weekly full strenght feeds in full sun. I have timed it pretty good with this one with a great flush of leaves from the last clipping.
Oh and it is about 300x300mm not including pot

entry lilly pilly.JPG

[Bretts]

Next is a Queensland Umbrella tree. This came from my mother in law's garden about 3 years ago. It had been left in it's nurserypot and roots had escaped into the ground. I removed at soil level. I had to work the root ball over the next two years to get enough fine feeder roots to remove the large roots. I have also spent the last two years reducing the leaves and working on branch ramification. I thought I would have got further this year. It is also fed weekly on full strength liqiud feed and is in full sun.
It is 300mm high x 400mm widen not including pot

entry queensland umbrella tree.JPG

[Bretts]

Last up is a Queensland Bottle tree. I was given this by a friend about a year and a half ago. I have been experimenting to see what happens when I cut it back. After an experimental chop I went lower again. I have since then continued to keep reducing the leader. I have been lopping the top off about every one to two months. I have also been pruning the other branches at the same time. The top of the tree has grown about 180 mm since the last top chop at the begining of this month even though I tipped the new growth 2 weeks ago to try and stop it. I have wired for the pic but I will soon chop the leader again. I have been happy with ramification in a short time as I have heard some are having issues with this in this species.
My bonsai friend that gave it to me loves these bulbous and twisted roots so my aim is to blend this as much as possible with a traditional style.
Full sun and weekly full strenght feeds
600mm high x 500 wide with out pot.
Pot by Lynette

entry queensland Bottle tree.JPG

[Jon Chown]

Nice try Brett, but first you gotta iron the sheet then pull it taught so that the background is flat and neutral. I really like the bottle tree, it's coming along fine.

Jon

[PeterH]

Hi,

Just thought I'd put forward a group I started about this time last year.

It was the subject of a thread on BT and an article in the aus native study group newsletter.It
also was in last years native show at the national botanic gardens.

All are Eucalyptus nicholii in a granite rock formation. The setting is 76cm W and 80cm High.
All trees are nursury stock and the main tree was ground grown for two years. It has changed
since the original concept and for a young setting has a long way to go.

Hope you like it

Peter

[Pup]

As I said of you original post I liked it I still do. I have a soft spot for E, nicholii. Very nice Peter

[anttal63]

that setting just gets better and better peter.

[Steven]

Okay folks, only 1 day left.
If anyone has been waiting till the last minute to get that extra bit of growth on your tree's, nows the time to take your pictures and post them.

Steven

[Bretts]

Sorry Jon I ran out of time to re-do the pics. But I think I have finally worked out a plan to have a decent back drop.
Good luck everybody

[Steven]

Thank you to all who submitted entries in AusBonsai's first Aussie Native bonsai competition.

The Moderators have voted and the winners are as follows...

5th place: PeterH - Eucalyptus nicholii – 3 tree setting
Peter will receive a Bottle of Tri-Flow lubricant

5th Place PeterH - Eucalyptus nicholii.jpg

4th place: Pup – Melaleuca parviflora
Pup will be sent a packet of Kyoto moss spores

4th place Pup – Melaleuca parviflora.JPG

3rd Place: Si Van Nguyen – Lilly Pilly
We will be shipping Si a 60ml bottle of SuperThrive

3rd place Si Van Nguyen – Lilly Pilly.jpg

2nd place: Dave54 – Banksia Serrata
Dave will be receiving a stainless steel bonsai root rake with spatula

2nd place Dave54 – Banksia Serrata.JPG

1st place: Pup - Babingtonia virgata
Pup will be the proud owner of a new pair of Masters Grade, stainless steel Ashinaga Hasami pruning shears

1st place Pup - Babingtonia virgata.JPG

Congratulations to you all!!! Please PM me with your postal address and I will get your prizes into the post ASAP.

As this was our first competition, we are treating it as a learning exercise and you can be assured that the next one will be bigger and BETTER!!! If you have any suggestions or recommendations, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Yours in bonsai,
Steven

[Bretts]

Congatulations guys some excellent trees there.
So tell me was it my background?

[PeterW]

Congrats to all! Nice work.
Regards
Peter

[anttal63]

congrats and well done to all. SI i thank you for giving it a crack

soltan you should have won that. next time you need to use the aussie flag as a background.

[aaron_tas]

they are some awesome prizes, not surprised you took it out though pup, well done