An Olive ... I Picked

Forum for discussion of Evergreen bonsai – Buxus, Cotoneaster, Olive etc.
anthonyW
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 889
Joined: May 19th, 2011, 1:35 pm
Favorite Species: Figs,Pines.
Bonsai Age: 0
Location: Illawarra NSW
Has thanked: 257 times
Been thanked: 117 times

Re: An Olive ... I Picked

Post by anthonyW »

Old mate blowing some magic dust on it..can all do with some of that :cool:
User avatar
MJL
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 2840
Joined: October 26th, 2014, 8:47 pm
Favorite Species: Maples, Elms, Cedars and Pines
Bonsai Age: 7
Bonsai Club: Waverley Bonsai Group & Yarra Valley Bonsai Society
Location: Melbourne
Has thanked: 424 times
Been thanked: 643 times

Re: An Olive ... I Picked

Post by MJL »

This post is for John (Boom64) in relation to a question he raised off his thread "Finally some flowers" here:viewtopic.php?f=6&t=27641

John, the Olive still represents a challenge. Below are photos from today. These photos show why I have kept the straight bit - on that older extending piece, I get olives (see the little fruits appearing - very cool, I reckon.) I believe it is not easy to get olives on a Bonsai (I may be wrong.) Anyway, why cut off the hand that feeds you ... so to speak.

As this thread showed perviously - I tried bending it, until it broke a little but when I removed the clamp, it basically straightened back up. I may have removed the clamp too early. At last there's now a little bend for my efforts. :)

Regardless, my current thoughts are to disguise the straight bit with the vigorous new growth. It's already starting to happen.

Also, that invasive little weed in the pot - I have been told to remove it. I have been told to keep it because it's not damaging the tree and it provides an interesting ground cover. In truth, I know not what to do but I tried to rid myself of it, and it came charging back!! So it wins, now I keep it. Indeed, I reckon this weed climbing up the straight trunk and hanging/draping down... may look fantastic! Am I breaking every rule here? :tounge: Who knows. ;)

This is one of my favourite trees which I purchased from a Vietnamese bonsai show. I love that it is 'different'; I really enjoy the design challenge (and that it grows olives :shifty: )
IMG_6947.jpg
IMG_6949.jpg
IMG_6950.jpg
IMG_6951.jpg
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Tending bonsai teaches me patience.
boom64
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 1105
Joined: November 11th, 2009, 9:03 pm
Favorite Species: Almond
Bonsai Age: 2
Location: South Coast NSW
Has thanked: 274 times
Been thanked: 394 times

Re: An Olive ... I Picked

Post by boom64 »

Hi Mark ,
Thanks for the update. Funny how you see hundreds of Trees online and only a few make a permanent impression .This was one of them. The straightness I think is a real asset. Yes ,I know I would have tried to put some movement originally but maybe that would have been a mistake. The contrast with the zig zag of the smaller branches and the apex give it a certain uniqueness. Strength comes to mind. Great tree in my opinion and can only get better .Enjoy the Olives. Hope I have not waffled on to much. I will post up the tree with dead straight sections I have .
Cheers John.
User avatar
MJL
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 2840
Joined: October 26th, 2014, 8:47 pm
Favorite Species: Maples, Elms, Cedars and Pines
Bonsai Age: 7
Bonsai Club: Waverley Bonsai Group & Yarra Valley Bonsai Society
Location: Melbourne
Has thanked: 424 times
Been thanked: 643 times

Re: An Olive ... I Picked

Post by MJL »

Cheers John. No need to apologise for waffle. Firstly, you didn’t waffle and secondly - I am possibly this forum’s biggest waffler!! :lol:

Glad you like the tree. It’s a real divider - I have had two experienced members at our club debate the tree. One says poo-tickets, start again (or words to that effect) another says “this tree is what Bonsai is all about”. And there lies the subjective nature of our hobby. Have a good day.
Tending bonsai teaches me patience.
User avatar
MJL
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 2840
Joined: October 26th, 2014, 8:47 pm
Favorite Species: Maples, Elms, Cedars and Pines
Bonsai Age: 7
Bonsai Club: Waverley Bonsai Group & Yarra Valley Bonsai Society
Location: Melbourne
Has thanked: 424 times
Been thanked: 643 times

An Olive ... I Picked

Post by MJL »

Repotted this today ... smaller but deeper oval pot ... a little bit of the Mediterranean in the colour too. This tree brings me joy ... it’s not a classic design - indeed, I am not sure it is a ‘design’ but I think it is improving - getting more interesting, complex and perhaps somehow more cohesive? Even with the straight bit ...
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Tending bonsai teaches me patience.
User avatar
Raging Bull
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 835
Joined: January 3rd, 2017, 9:29 am
Favorite Species: Pines
Bonsai Age: 5
Bonsai Club: Gold Coast-Tweed
Location: Gold Coast Qld
Has thanked: 81 times
Been thanked: 197 times

Re: An Olive ... I Picked

Post by Raging Bull »

That's a beautiful new pot for your olive, I'm jealous. The pot really suits that tree, much better than the dinner plate you had it on before ;) . I also like that tree because it "different". :yes:
User avatar
MJL
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 2840
Joined: October 26th, 2014, 8:47 pm
Favorite Species: Maples, Elms, Cedars and Pines
Bonsai Age: 7
Bonsai Club: Waverley Bonsai Group & Yarra Valley Bonsai Society
Location: Melbourne
Has thanked: 424 times
Been thanked: 643 times

Re: An Olive ... I Picked

Post by MJL »

Raging Bull wrote:That's a beautiful new pot for your olive, I'm jealous. The pot really suits that tree, much better than the dinner plate you had it on before ;) . I also like that tree because it "different". :yes:
C’mon Frank - it is an olive .... food and plates go together... no? Image. As usual - cheers for the feedback. Hope you’re enjoying the surf too!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Tending bonsai teaches me patience.
boom64
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 1105
Joined: November 11th, 2009, 9:03 pm
Favorite Species: Almond
Bonsai Age: 2
Location: South Coast NSW
Has thanked: 274 times
Been thanked: 394 times

Re: An Olive ... I Picked

Post by boom64 »

Good to see again Mark. Improving every update , pot is a cool choice. Great asset the straight bit....Cheers John.
User avatar
MJL
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 2840
Joined: October 26th, 2014, 8:47 pm
Favorite Species: Maples, Elms, Cedars and Pines
Bonsai Age: 7
Bonsai Club: Waverley Bonsai Group & Yarra Valley Bonsai Society
Location: Melbourne
Has thanked: 424 times
Been thanked: 643 times

Re: An Olive ... I Picked

Post by MJL »

And now for something completely different …. I can always return it to the lovey blue pot but ….
a mate made me a bonsai pot from a wine barrel ….so… Image

Image
Image
Image
Image
… could be lockdown 6 madness .. or not.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Tending bonsai teaches me patience.
greg27
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 821
Joined: August 28th, 2019, 7:52 am
Favorite Species: Olive & Eucalypts
Bonsai Age: 2
Bonsai Club: SA Bonsai Society; VNBC
Location: Adelaide
Has thanked: 608 times
Been thanked: 452 times
Contact:

Re: An Olive ... I Picked

Post by greg27 »

Perfection I reckon.
PWC
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 306
Joined: December 10th, 2018, 1:18 pm
Favorite Species: crepe myrtle/juniper
Bonsai Age: 2
Location: Gympie
Has thanked: 109 times
Been thanked: 51 times

Re: An Olive ... I Picked

Post by PWC »

Interesting combination I think it works .
Peter.
User avatar
Matt S
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 755
Joined: February 21st, 2015, 8:57 am
Favorite Species: Olive
Bonsai Age: 30
Bonsai Club: S.A. Bonsai Society, Victorian Native Bonsai Club
Location: Adelaide
Has thanked: 538 times
Been thanked: 435 times

Re: An Olive ... I Picked

Post by Matt S »

That's an nice combination, the rocks especially work well. I think I still prefer the blue pot but it's good to try new things out and see how they look, especially with such an interesting tree.

Matt.
User avatar
MJL
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 2840
Joined: October 26th, 2014, 8:47 pm
Favorite Species: Maples, Elms, Cedars and Pines
Bonsai Age: 7
Bonsai Club: Waverley Bonsai Group & Yarra Valley Bonsai Society
Location: Melbourne
Has thanked: 424 times
Been thanked: 643 times

Re: An Olive ... I Picked

Post by MJL »

My thinking is that the platter is like a display only pot. In truth, I don’t think I can keep it on the platter and keep it healthy over a long period but I’ll enjoy it for few weeks … and return it to the blue pot in which which it will grow freely.

So… good experiment I’ll keep it as a ‘show’ pot.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Tending bonsai teaches me patience.
User avatar
Raging Bull
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 835
Joined: January 3rd, 2017, 9:29 am
Favorite Species: Pines
Bonsai Age: 5
Bonsai Club: Gold Coast-Tweed
Location: Gold Coast Qld
Has thanked: 81 times
Been thanked: 197 times

Re: An Olive ... I Picked

Post by Raging Bull »

You'll be the only one on this forum who can boast that his tree was aged in oak :cool:
ps I still prefer the blue pot too.
shibui
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 7653
Joined: August 22nd, 2009, 8:41 pm
Favorite Species: trident maple
Bonsai Age: 41
Bonsai Club: Albury/Wodonga; BSV; Canberra; VNBC
Location: Yackandandah
Has thanked: 65 times
Been thanked: 1399 times
Contact:

Re: An Olive ... I Picked

Post by shibui »

Agree that the wood pot is going to cause problems long term. Rock planters are bad enough at wicking moisture away from the roots but an open timber container like this would be a nightmare to keep up with the watering, even for an olive.
http://shibuibonsai.com.au/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Post Reply

Return to “Evergreen”