AusBonsai

Recently we were asked to help with the development of a needle juniper. There were plenty of help and thoughts, with all except one member enjoying themselves.

Lisa expressed a lack of angles as the front had been decided by the owner. Which she pointed out limited the choices. We also had some very good virtual.

So I thought I might put this Casuarina up for some ideas, I do have some of my own, but I am always open to suggestions on my tree's and my designs.

So here is the said piece for you to work with it has 4 sides and 3 of the roots, one side of the roots are not able to be photographed at the moment as I cant get the camera there as it is too close to the side,but it dose have flare like the other 3 sides. The height of the tree is 50cm the trunk at the base is 10cm.

Thank you in anticipation Pup

Jeez Pup, there aint much to work with!

you could make whtever you like from this as you will have to grow whatever you want to do anyway.

Be interesting to see what people come up with, but I would like to see a mass of growth to pick from first
Ken

As soon as I looked at it my first thought was cascade

I would actually not touch it for a year. I would leave both major shoots at the top, one will be jin, the other a branch sweeping down. Trim and maybe carve a little to emphasise these.
I might think about cutting away bark to make a deadwood vein down to root level, make that straight trunk more interesting. The only other real possibilities to make the trunk interesting are to try a major woodworker's bend (good luck, beyond my confidence level) or to cut it down real low, which really wastes a goodly amount of oldish wood.
Im thinking of the cas I posted on 'inspiration from nature' here, quite a straight trunk but still a fascinating tree. As I remember, I never got a photo of the lovely spiral of deadwood heading down to the base, but that could work with this one.

I am not much of an artist and a good friend of mine who is says most artist cant draw any way. So that makes me feel better with this effort. I have always had the ability to see what I want to do with my stock and future development of my trees.
But this time I thought I might have a go at drawing what I had in mind, a few years down the track if I last that long. Then again I might put it up for the club Auction at the end of the month.

that looks like a nice plan pup

I will see what i can come up with, i reckon i will be busy tonight!


cheers

Just starting to have a stab at a virt, here's an overlay. Could be helpful to work with.

Shocking rendition, please don't let my horrible virt turn you off the idea.

Mitchell wrote:Shocking rendition, please don't let my horrible virt turn you off the idea.

Mitchell its a lot better than I could do was trying to do it. Then decided to try a drawing, but you have captured the essence, of what I see about 10 years down the track. So I will then be 82 and probably forgotten what I was doing with it

Cheers Pup

Ps still want yours Jamie.

gday pup

as per request here you are

now dont spin out thinking it is an impossible virt what i have done and can see for this tree is a few things, one the tree is just about dead straight, but the good thing is it is thick. carving to incur movement and seperation is quite possible i beleive, bringing in the small second trunk will work via the carving, all the carving is set to be an illusion of movement in an otherwise straight forward and to be honest a little boring, the carving will definately give that edge
cheers mate

Jamie

Thanks for the virtual Jamie, but I will not be going that way Mitchell's while he admit is not the best it has more of what I see just needs foliage.

I think yours would need more that 10 years. While I hope that I make it that far, I still prefer what I have in mind.
Cheers Pup

hi pup,

I was thinking that it may be a long term plan. I can do something more along the lines that you have shown.

be back with them soon.

Jamie

+Hi Pup
Casuarina not being a hard wood would take a lot of looking after if a large area was carved.
First I would reduce the height and V-cut to make a tapered trunk.
While the join was healing you would grow your new branches example below could be achieved in 4years.
Barry

I still think mine would only take 3-4 years, and no risk of serious damage to the tree. I'm very cautious, I know, this is mostly due to lack of money for replacements. I have 40 cas seedlings now, more seedpods collected and currently sitting on the heater to dry and open. Just planted one in the paddock yesterday, down the hill from the one pictured, but that has taken 2-3 years from tubestock to big-enough-to-plant.

heres take 2 pup

more what you were thinking. I havent angled the branches as severe as your virt
if that aint what your after i will do another

Jamie