NATURAL Bonsai Progression Competition
-
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 8
- Joined: March 3rd, 2018, 8:54 pm
- Favorite Species: Eucalyptus
- Bonsai Age: 1
- Location: Adelaide
- Been thanked: 1 time
Re: NATURAL Bonsai Progression Competition
Thanks for that Kevin, I think I have slotted it in the right place now, thanks again.
Dave
Dave
- melbrackstone
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 3461
- Joined: December 15th, 2015, 8:05 pm
- Favorite Species: the ones that live
- Bonsai Age: 28
- Bonsai Club: Redlands, BIMER, VNBC
- Location: Brisbane
- Has thanked: 1210 times
- Been thanked: 738 times
- Contact:
Re: NATURAL Bonsai Progression Competition
https://www.facebook.com/robertbonsai/m ... 544&type=3
Robert Steven has shared a set of photos with info about how he's restyled a Pemphis tropical tree that had originally been set up to look more like a conifer. The foliage was too dense, which was causing die-back and the crown structure was shaped like a fishbone. He really gave it a good working over, and now feels confident that the tree will survive, and grow strongly. PS, I don't know what a Pemphis looks like, but Robert's words are "Make your bonsai to look like tree and not make your tree to look like bonsai with the wrong mindset ! Never use the "rules" as check-list"
My point in sharing this here? I'm keen to get feedback from senior bonsai people who may have some influence on encouraging growers to style their trees to make the most of their attributes, keep them healthy, and hopefully have their own identity, rather than be forced to fit into the JBP shapes... Rory has done a good service to us all by starting this comp, hopefully at the end we'll see some exciting trees that don't look like Japanese bonsai!
If we can spread the word, it might just stick?
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
-
- 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: NATURAL Bonsai Progression Competition
Health is no 1, no one has the right to tell you how to style your tree, and I will leave it at that, with all respect...cheers Anthony
- Starfox
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 349
- Joined: November 4th, 2015, 3:59 am
- Favorite Species: Eucalyptus
- Bonsai Age: 3
- Location: Costa Blanca, Spain, Zone4 Aust, 10bUSDA
- Has thanked: 95 times
- Been thanked: 53 times
Re: NATURAL Bonsai Progression Competition
Robert Steven does the same thing with Casuarinas too. It's definitely the predominant style you see in Asia.
Amazing trees but nothing I recognise as a Cas.
https://www.facebook.com/pg/blackscisso ... __tn__=H-R
https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q= ... 0casuarina
Amazing trees but nothing I recognise as a Cas.
https://www.facebook.com/pg/blackscisso ... __tn__=H-R
https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q= ... 0casuarina
Last edited by Starfox on January 27th, 2019, 9:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- dansai
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 1260
- Joined: May 17th, 2010, 5:33 pm
- Favorite Species: Aussie Natives
- Bonsai Age: 5
- Bonsai Club: Coffs Harbour
- Location: Mid North Coast, NSW, Australia
- Has thanked: 4 times
- Been thanked: 128 times
Re: NATURAL Bonsai Progression Competition
I did a little research on Pemphis at it appears that it is found mainly as a shrub along beaches and rocky coast lines. Most images were of either shrubs, flowers or Bonsai. Look at this link for an article discussing its use as Bonsai along with a few shrubs. The article also mentions it grows in the north east of Australia.
I also found the below picture which is a tree growing on the beach in far north Queensland.
So, why have I posted this? Natural styling has been hotly debated on this forum before, along with Australian Style, and always brings up many ideas on what exactly it is. Using Roberts tree you would say from the picture of the shrub that his tree does not look "natural" because it does not look like a shrub. The trunk would have been collected and maybe grown by someone else into the tree in Roberts first photo. Robert has made the trunk much more prominent with his restyle and created a small dramatic foliage area to balance it. Would a Pemphis look like that in the wild? Probably not. Yet it was in the wild the trunk was created.
With the tree on the beach we cannot see the trunk of the tree, and if we could, it would be much thinner what the one on Roberts tree appears to be. However, I feel Robert has captured the flow of the foliage very similarly to how it appears in the tree on the beach. So Robert has used a trunk that has been created by nature, and tried to create a dramatic image to represent the harshness of life on coastal cliffs and beaches. It is definitely styled, and more naturally than the original tree. Is it Natural? I'm sure there are a few different ideas out there.
What I'll be looking for in the trees in this competition is to see inspiration come from nature. It could be a wild looking tree that appears natural or something more stylised that evokes a scene of the bush, the coast, a river.
I also found the below picture which is a tree growing on the beach in far north Queensland.
So, why have I posted this? Natural styling has been hotly debated on this forum before, along with Australian Style, and always brings up many ideas on what exactly it is. Using Roberts tree you would say from the picture of the shrub that his tree does not look "natural" because it does not look like a shrub. The trunk would have been collected and maybe grown by someone else into the tree in Roberts first photo. Robert has made the trunk much more prominent with his restyle and created a small dramatic foliage area to balance it. Would a Pemphis look like that in the wild? Probably not. Yet it was in the wild the trunk was created.
With the tree on the beach we cannot see the trunk of the tree, and if we could, it would be much thinner what the one on Roberts tree appears to be. However, I feel Robert has captured the flow of the foliage very similarly to how it appears in the tree on the beach. So Robert has used a trunk that has been created by nature, and tried to create a dramatic image to represent the harshness of life on coastal cliffs and beaches. It is definitely styled, and more naturally than the original tree. Is it Natural? I'm sure there are a few different ideas out there.
What I'll be looking for in the trees in this competition is to see inspiration come from nature. It could be a wild looking tree that appears natural or something more stylised that evokes a scene of the bush, the coast, a river.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Travelling the Mid North Coast of NSW and beyond to attend Markets and other events
www.bonsaibus.com.au - www.facebook.com/TheBonsaiBus - www.instagram.com/thebonsaibus
www.bonsaibus.com.au - www.facebook.com/TheBonsaiBus - www.instagram.com/thebonsaibus
- melbrackstone
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 3461
- Joined: December 15th, 2015, 8:05 pm
- Favorite Species: the ones that live
- Bonsai Age: 28
- Bonsai Club: Redlands, BIMER, VNBC
- Location: Brisbane
- Has thanked: 1210 times
- Been thanked: 738 times
- Contact:
Re: NATURAL Bonsai Progression Competition
Excellent point, Anthony, and one I'll keep in mind when trying to encourage a different styling to trees than we're all used to seeing. Living in the sub tropics, as I do, I don't see trees with snow load weighing down their branches, so I'm hoping to be able to emulate, to a point, the local trees as much as possible.Health is no 1, no one has the right to tell you how to style your tree, and I will leave it at that, with all respect...cheers Anthony
Another good point, Starfox. I suspect that Robert is also evolving with his view on how to style trees to suit the climate. I've seen many many Casuarina trees styled like black pines, and I am sure that the people who did them, did that because they only had Japanese styles to go on. I'm hoping that as bonsai thinking evolves further, we can all look more closely at our own trees for ideas, rather than just keeping on with Japanese styling. (Which evolved because of the way their trees grow!) Many many Asian countries are adding their own touches to differentiate their trees, hopefully we can do the same.Amazing trees but nothing I recognise as a Cas.
I agree completely, dansai, that we will all be looking at these trees with a view to evoking a feel of Australia, one way or another.What I'll be looking for in the trees in this competition is to see inspiration come from nature. It could be a wild looking tree that appears natural or something more stylised that evokes a scene of the bush, the coast, a river.
Thanks for your input!
-
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 1373
- Joined: January 22nd, 2012, 12:31 pm
- Bonsai Age: 3
- Location: Adelaide
- Has thanked: 10 times
- Been thanked: 114 times
Re: NATURAL Bonsai Progression Competition
I can’t decide what my last entry should be. Port Jackson pine Callitris rhomboidea with new growth occurring but an owner with no knowledge of pines and not sure I like their natural shape in nature as a bonsai, or my unknown tree that might be a leptospermum with possibly the start of some buds but not sure and also with an owner who knows nothing about leptos.
If it is a lepto, I think I’d find it more interesting as a bonsai. But it’s been slow to respond to my harsh root prune...
If it is a lepto, I think I’d find it more interesting as a bonsai. But it’s been slow to respond to my harsh root prune...
- MJL
- 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
NATURAL Bonsai Progression Competition
An update on these .... only one of the Hakea survived, five of the six Blackwood are thriving, three of the Acacia survived ... but I’ve decided that I won’t enter any of these. Loving the fact that I now have a heap of different natives to keep tending though.MJL wrote:More options that may not survive until 31 Jan ...
Hakea, Blackwood and acacia.
The Hakea Ulicina 3 - with rugged rock submerged- root over rock attempt.
The Blackwood Group .... nothing but homage to my guitar! Blackwood back and sides....
The Acacia Mearnsii - more group wedged in rock crevices - whatever that might be called. [WINKING FACE]
So what does that leave for the competition .... time to poo or get off the potty .... as the saying goes.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Last edited by MJL on January 28th, 2019, 11:52 am, edited 1 time in total.
Tending bonsai teaches me patience.
- Rory
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 2812
- Joined: January 23rd, 2013, 11:19 pm
- Favorite Species: Baeckea Phebalium Casuarina & Banksia
- Bonsai Age: 24
- Location: Central Coast, NSW
- Has thanked: 22 times
- Been thanked: 460 times
Re: NATURAL Bonsai Progression Competition
Reminder to submit your entries guys.
January 31st is fast approaching.
January 31st is fast approaching.
Rory
I style Bonsai naturally, just as they would appear in the wild.
Central Coast, NSW
Bonsai: Casuarina Leptospermum Banksia Phebalium Baeckea Melalueca Ficus
Growing Australian natives as Bonsai: viewtopic.php?p=289480#p289480
Buying and repotting Native nursery material: viewtopic.php?f=78&t=30724
Growing tips for Casuarina as Bonsai: viewtopic.php?p=244995#p244995
How to reduce moss from the trunk without damaging the bark: viewtopic.php?p=295227#p295227
I style Bonsai naturally, just as they would appear in the wild.
Central Coast, NSW
Bonsai: Casuarina Leptospermum Banksia Phebalium Baeckea Melalueca Ficus
Growing Australian natives as Bonsai: viewtopic.php?p=289480#p289480
Buying and repotting Native nursery material: viewtopic.php?f=78&t=30724
Growing tips for Casuarina as Bonsai: viewtopic.php?p=244995#p244995
How to reduce moss from the trunk without damaging the bark: viewtopic.php?p=295227#p295227
- MJL
- 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: NATURAL Bonsai Progression Competition
Rory’s reminder to so much simpler than ‘poo or get off the potty’ ...but they mean something similar - for all those folk still waiting ... go on ... submit a tree - a lot to learn and nothin’ to lose.Rory wrote:Reminder to submit your entries guys.
January 31st is fast approaching.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Tending bonsai teaches me patience.
- MJL
- 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: NATURAL Bonsai Progression Competition
Rory’s reminder to so much simpler than ‘poo or get off the potty’ ...but they mean something similar - for all those folk still waiting ... go on ... submit a tree - a lot to learn and nothin’ to lose.Rory wrote:Reminder to submit your entries guys.
January 31st is fast approaching.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Tending bonsai teaches me patience.
- MJL
- 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: NATURAL Bonsai Progression Competition
Rory’s reminder to so much simpler than ‘poo or get off the potty’ ...but they mean something similar! For all those folk still waiting ... go on ... submit a tree - a lot to learn and nothin’ to lose.Rory wrote:Reminder to submit your entries guys.
January 31st is fast approaching.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Tending bonsai teaches me patience.
-
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 1373
- Joined: January 22nd, 2012, 12:31 pm
- Bonsai Age: 3
- Location: Adelaide
- Has thanked: 10 times
- Been thanked: 114 times
Re: NATURAL Bonsai Progression Competition
Submit by 31st, I’m assuming I have all day and night tomorrow to submit my last entry? I can’t decide which one to enter!
- Rory
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 2812
- Joined: January 23rd, 2013, 11:19 pm
- Favorite Species: Baeckea Phebalium Casuarina & Banksia
- Bonsai Age: 24
- Location: Central Coast, NSW
- Has thanked: 22 times
- Been thanked: 460 times
Re: NATURAL Bonsai Progression Competition
That’s right.Beano wrote:Submit by 31st, I’m assuming I have all day and night tomorrow to submit my last entry? I can’t decide which one to enter!
Rory
I style Bonsai naturally, just as they would appear in the wild.
Central Coast, NSW
Bonsai: Casuarina Leptospermum Banksia Phebalium Baeckea Melalueca Ficus
Growing Australian natives as Bonsai: viewtopic.php?p=289480#p289480
Buying and repotting Native nursery material: viewtopic.php?f=78&t=30724
Growing tips for Casuarina as Bonsai: viewtopic.php?p=244995#p244995
How to reduce moss from the trunk without damaging the bark: viewtopic.php?p=295227#p295227
I style Bonsai naturally, just as they would appear in the wild.
Central Coast, NSW
Bonsai: Casuarina Leptospermum Banksia Phebalium Baeckea Melalueca Ficus
Growing Australian natives as Bonsai: viewtopic.php?p=289480#p289480
Buying and repotting Native nursery material: viewtopic.php?f=78&t=30724
Growing tips for Casuarina as Bonsai: viewtopic.php?p=244995#p244995
How to reduce moss from the trunk without damaging the bark: viewtopic.php?p=295227#p295227
-
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 618
- Joined: January 11th, 2016, 6:56 am
- Bonsai Age: 30
- Location: Sydney
- Has thanked: 234 times
- Been thanked: 22 times
Re: NATURAL Bonsai Progression Competition
Hello Rory,
So many dead entries already and we haven't even passed the starting line yet.
How are you keeping up with all the administrative tasks?
You'll either need a magic wand or a very helpful Moderator (or two).
Good luck,
Kevin
So many dead entries already and we haven't even passed the starting line yet.
How are you keeping up with all the administrative tasks?
You'll either need a magic wand or a very helpful Moderator (or two).
Good luck,
Kevin