2015 Native Symposium Photos

[Gerard]

23. Leptospermum laevigatum
Coastal tea tree

native symposium 2015 23 leptospermum laevigatum (coastal tea tree) - Copy - Copy.jpg

History: This tree was nursery stock in a 250mm pot in the late 1980s. It was styled as a formal upright tree in a demonstration at that time. It was restyled about 15 years ago which resulted in a tree which only used the first two branches of the original styling. A further re-styling two years ago used only the original first branch to produce the tree you see today. The focus since this last styling has been to increase the foliage pads and ramification. This tree is the logo tree for the VNBC and is used on advertising material for this Exhibition.
Horticulture: The tree is grown in full sun and whilst not really thirsty it does not like to get dry. Training now consists of pinching and trimming to maintain the current silhouette. The tree is tolerant of heavy root pruning

[Gerard]

24. Melaleuca stypheloides
Prickly paperbark

native symposium 2015 24 melaleuca stypheloides (prickly paperbark) - Copy.jpg

History: This tree was obtained as pencil thick nursery stock in 1974.
It was first styled and planted in a bonsai pot in 1975. About eight years ago a substantial restyling consisting of heavy wiring and multiple branch removal resulted in the current shape. Training since then by trimming and pinching has increased the ramification and improved the foliage pads outline.
Horticulture: The tree is grown in full sun and is very thirsty. It is watered every day, sometimes up to three times a day in very hot windy weather. It is tolerant of heavy root pruning which is usually done in late spring or early summer. It takes wiring well but is not wired below the horizontal.

[Elmar]

Great effort Gerard!
Should make this the 'Template' for all trees posted - very informative!


Cheers
Elmar

[Gerard]

Great effort Gerard!
Should make this the 'Template' for all trees posted - very informative!


Cheers
Elmar

Thanks Elmar, this takes some time but I think people do not mind being drip fed.

[Jarad]

Thanks Elmar, this takes some time but I think people do not mind being drip fed.

I don't mind being drip fed at all! I get excited every time I see a new post in here.

Keep up the good work!

[Gerard]

(Thanks Marlene for the photo)
20. Callistemon viminalis ‘Captain Cook’
Bottlebrush ‘Captain Cook’

native symposium 2015 20 callistemon viminalis (bottlebrush).jpg

History: This bonsai was dug from a garden approximately 25 years ago. During the last 10 years it has been restyled with an emphasis on branching and ramification.
Horticulture: It is a fast growing tree that responds well to hard pruning after flowering. Flower buds seem to be susceptible to insect attack.

[Webos]

Any photos or reviews of the symposium? I've seen plenty of the display, but none of the actual event.

Adam

[Gerard]

Hopefully some symposium pics will be added later Adam.
25. Eucalyptus nichollii

native symposium 2015 25 eucalyptus nichollii (willow peppermint) - Copy.jpg

Willow peppermint
History: This tree was obtained as raw nursery stock in a 250mm pot 23 years ago. The original shape of the tree has been superseded many times over the years because I find it difficult to maintain a shape for more than about three or four years. This means the main branches are cut back to stumps about every four years. The secondary and tertiary branches then need to be regrown. However growth is rapid so the new shape quickly evolves.
Horticulture: Full sun and plenty of water are required. Constant and pinching maintains the silhouette until restyling is required. It is tolerant of root pruning usually in late spring.
The current pot is probably a bit too small. It will be potted into a custom made pot next spring.

[Gerard]

26. Leucopogon parviflorus
Coast beard heath

native symposium 2015 26 leucopogan parviflorus (coastal bearded heath) - Copy.jpg

History: This tree was collected from the wild about 20 years ago when it was a much smaller plant. Large plants are difficult to dig and keep alive. It has been grown as a bonsai since collection but underwent a major restyling about five years ago to produce the current shape.
Horticulture: Once in pots, quite aggressive root pruning is possible. The growth habit is to produce many upright shoots. Selecting and wiring some of these has produced the current shape. Constant pinching is used to maintain the shape. Small white heath-like flowers are produced profusely in spring followed by white edible berries. It needs to be kept moist.

[Gerard]

27. Melaleuca bracteata ‘Golden Gem’
Golden Gem

native symposium 2015 27 melaleuca bracteata 'Golden Gem' - Copy.jpg

History: The group was put together in the mid 1970’s. It was re-styled into its current windswept in 2007. This required slow bending and twisting of trunks and major branches. The freeform pot by a local potter suits the design.
Horticulture The group is tolerant of heavy root pruning. Wiring and bending of large branches is possible if done over several days and weeks. Pinching and trimming maintains the shape. It will bud back on bare wood if heavy pruning is necessary. This variety and perhaps the species in general are somewhat sensitive to Melbourne’s cold winters. The gold foliage goes a bronzy colour and some loss of ramification occurs.
Because of its size, I have difficulty finding a suitable warm spot in the garden in which to overwinter it. Like most Melaleucas it likes to be kept moist.

[Gerard]

28. Leptospermum laevigatum
Coastal tea tree
History: This tree was dug form the wild in 2011. Collecting Coastal tea tree is quite difficult and many do not survive. Once the health of the tree was assured it was style into its current form. This required some significant bending of the trunks. Over a period of days, the bends were put in place. To enable the tree to be planted at the correct angle a freeform pot was selected.

native symposium 2015 28 leptospermum laevigatum (coastal tea tree) (2).jpg

Horticulture: The tree copes with wiring below the horizontal and over time significant bends can be achieved. Occasional attacks by caterpillars are the only pests. Whilst still only a young bonsai it has great character which is owed to its many years of growing in the wild.

[Gerard]

29. Kunzea ambigua
Tick bush

native symposium 2015 29 kunzea ambigua (tick bush).jpg

History: This tree was dug from the wild at least 20 years ago and was grown in a bonsai pot for a long time. About eight years ago it was
decided to give the tree a fresh look. During a demonstration a number of branches were removed, the planting angle was changed to give direction and flow to the tree. The tree was then planted on a piece of mulga wood to simulate a tree growing on a rocky outcrop.
Horticulture: Because of limited soil in which the roots are growing, the tree requires lots of water. The restricted root run is starting to affect the vigour of the tree. It will soon need to be removed from the mulga wood which will be difficult, or the base of the mulga could be placed in potting mix so that roots can extend into fresh soil. This task will be assessed next spring.

[Gerard]

30. Melaleuca raphiophylla
Swamp paperbark

native symposium 2015 30 melaleuca raphiophylla (swamp paperbark).jpg

History: This tree was collected from boggy ground that was due to be developed. Because of the boggy conditions, the root system was reasonably compact which enable it to be potted into a pot very early in its life as a bonsai. Over that last couple of years the refinement of the tree has improved and, whilst still more needs to be done, it now presents as a very nice bonsai.
Horticulture: Because of its origins, the tree is kept moist. It is quite flexible and tolerates wiring well although the really thin branches can be brittle. The blackened portion where a secondary trunk was removed now simulates fire damage.
Lumps due to gall wasps are occasionally seen on the branches. Root pruning is easy and carried out in late spring.

[Gerard]

31. Banksia marginata ‘Mini Marge’
Mini Marge

native symposium 2015 31 banksia marginata 'Mini-Marg' (silver banksia).jpg

History: Acquired from a deceased estate two years ago, this tree has undergone extensive restyling. A number of large branches were removed and the tree was fully wired. More is yet to be done in developing the foliage pads and setting the large branches in position.
Horticulture: The removal of the large branches was problematic because the wounds are very slow to heal over. Branches over 1cm thick are quite brittle so great care must be taken. On the plus side, Banksias bud prolifically so ramification can be built up quickly. Root pruning has not presented any problems. When feeding the plant only low phosphorous fertilisers are used.

[Gerard]

32. Leptospermum laevigatum
Coastal tea tree

native symposium 2015 32 leptospermum laevigatum (coastal tea tree).jpg

History: These trees have existed as a group planting for over 40 years. When I acquired the group three years ago, I was unhappy with the arrangement so I set about pulling the group apart. This resulted in virtually bare rooting each tree. Only one small tree died and has since been replaced.
The arrangement you see today bears no resemblance to the one put together 40 years ago. A number of large branches were removed and the height of the second largest tree was reduced by a third. I think the freeform pot suits the planting.
Horticulture: Clearly it has tolerated severe root pruning and now grows quite strongly. It grows in full sun and is trimmed as required to maintain the silhouette. Wiring has been used to gently shift the branches around and the tree has suffered no ill effects.