Suggestions on my sandstone?

[tom k]

I found this in a pile of stones bulldozed from road near the coast at la Perouse, Sydney. It's got a lovely flat base and some of the holes are quite deep. Width is about 50cm.
Do people think I should grow some trees in the larger holes, some moss, or leave it alone and put it in a tray of gravel? If I do put a tree or trees should I drill holes through to the back for drainage or is that unlikely to be a problem for such a small volume? The back is much plainer, doesn't have the swiss-cheese appearance. What are the chances of cracking if I do drill it? I'd be devastated if I broke it.
Any other suggestions or advice? I'm new to suiseki etc.
Thanks!

[cre8ivbonsai]

Hey Tom, that looks pretty cool, I've had no experience with sandstone personally, but if you search through some of the older posts in topics below I know this topic has been discussed before, good luck and be sure to post photo if you get it potted up with something

[Mitchell]

I would never drill a piece of sandstone, that I'd be devastated over it cracking. It can be done easily, but it does have a tendency to crack sometimes.

Lovely piece by the way, would look great with trees in it, it would also look good as a viewing/landscape stone.

Wish I had one like it.

[MattA]

I love the stone and think its best as it stands now...sitting in the garden, find a spot where you can admire it & let nature take its own course. It would also make a nice viewing stone but is a bit on the big side for my own tastes.

Drilling sandstone is fairly easy, the best way to avoid cracking is to take it slowly with plenty of water flow. DO NOT use impact or hammer setting on the drill as this is a sure way of breaking the stone Put a couple pieces of masking tape on the back to help prevent too much flaking around the exit point. If you take it slow & easy sandstone is beautiful to work with, you can get amazing detail & crisp sharp lines easily.

Matt

[alpineart]

Hi tom k , i would make a very nice Ishitsuki or vertical landscape rock . Sandstone is like most conglomerated rock and has a tendancy to split when drilled .It is usually due to to much pressure applied to the bit ,a rotory hammer being used , or a build up of dust inside the hole creating sideways pressure .To alleviate this the rock can be turned upside down and drilled from underneath Use a masonary drill bit in a normal drill starting with a smaller bit and working your way up in size . Drilling from underneath allows the dust to fall out of the hole so you don"t get a pressure build up .Use an old ice-cream container or similar , drill through the bottom and insert the drill , this works as a dust cover for the drill . Good luck. Cheers Alpineart

[bodhidharma]

I have seen them displayed on polished wood cut to the shape of the rock. They look very good when displayed with a Bonsai. Could be a bit large this one though

[Bougy Fan]

I would leave it as a landscape/ display rock. If you plant trees in it the roots may end up cracking the rock my


Tony

[kcpoole]

maybe plant something like a coastal banksia or 2 on it. make it look like a rock outcrop on a coastal headland

looks like an old weathered rock from the sydney coastline

Ken

[tom k]

Thanks for all the suggestions & advice.
The area I found it has really high winds and lots of amazing trees and shrubs dwarfed and sculpted by windshear, including coast banksias and monotocas, and it does have the look of coastal cliffs, so the idea of one of those species in a windswept style is tempting. Think I'm a bit too scared of breaking it though, particularly after tony's warning of cracking from root expansion.
Any ideas for a convincing landscape arrangement with a coast theme with any trees included being next to rather than in the rock?
Maybe just sitting in a "sea" of moss or sand?
Will probably just do as Matt says and leave it in the garden at least for now.
I'd recommend anyone that hasn't been to Botany Bay National Park check it out. The onshore wind is so strong that there's a patch of Casuarina glauca (usually the tallest, straightest of the she-oaks) that have a fused canopy at waist height so dense you can walk across it. Also several windswept monotocas that have inspired me to create a bonsai version. Anyone have experience with this species (M. elliptica)?

[tom k]

Recently saw a bonsai where a fig was grown behind a large stone, with the branches brought round at various points to create little clouds at the edges. Viewed from the front it looked as if it was small trees growing from the sides of the stone. Might give that a go...

[lostgalaxy]

Maybe put a superman beside and name the work Bulletproof?

Great finding.