Carving of Banksia Integrifolia

[Grant Bowie]

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[Grant Bowie]

Today I expanded the carved area at the front to show more carving. I will then allow it to settle and naturalise for about 6 months, then check progress of live vein forming and create another one or two. Time alone will show how it will go.

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The core wood looks interesting and you can see the light line where the live edge will roll over. I will allow to start to roll over then add more carving as needed, gouge out and stain black with Lime sulphur and black Indian ink.

[Rory]

wow, you go hard don't you Grant.

Just curious.... have you had new shoots spring from the older bark on that trunk and down lower? I don't get any on my older integrifolias unless I perform a severe trunk chop. But curious what carving resulted in.

[Lisan]

Wow! - I remember seeing that tree at a show and wondering then about the carving, the roll, and how much rolling, and what thickness of it was desirable... things like that. Now I wonder if carving so low won't cause a risk of root rot, and if there is a risk of the trunk breaking, with so much heart wood gone.
And I am not sure if, when the whole hollow has turned black, the tree won't have lost too much of its initial attractiveness. Still, I guess it's the kind of bonsai work that has to be visualised as living five years hence. You have a lot of courage!

Lisa

[Grant Bowie]

Rory, It had pooped a bud on the rolled over portion down low but I accidentally knocked it off. But I’m pretty sure it will redbud. I had planned to use the bud for a further refinement, but I’m not worried either way.
Re going hard, I have found that B integrifolia is just so tough, so yes i go hard or go?stay home in this case.

[Rory]

Rory, It had pooped a bud on the rolled over portion down low but I accidentally knocked it off. But I’m pretty sure it will redbud. I had planned to use the bud for a further refinement, but I’m not worried either way. .

So Grant…. Do you get buds appearing on older material down low regardless?
In other words, without carving or a trunk chop, over time does your experience with integrifolia show buds appearing say in the lower
0-10 cm of the base of the trunk? Mine never do on material that is older than 10 years. And I’m just curious if this is an age problem or something I could trial doing differently to promote growth down low. I have the same issues with marginata and ericifolia.

[Grant Bowie]

This particular B integ throws buds all the time at the base, but then none fro ther first 100mm to 150mm. Buds low on trunk without major prune or cut down.

Grant

[Grant Bowie]

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On the lower pic you can see the new bud emerging near the cut edge

[Phil Rabl]

In January 2023, I severely cut back/broke the forked trunks of a B. integrigolia that I acquired in 2005. It would be 20 years old. In June 2023, I noticed two buds shooting on the edge of one of the cuts/breaks. Not sure how this experience aligns with Grant and Rory's experience with budding on them (see above posts) but I was surprised to see the buds emerge in June in Ballarat. The growing season didn't stop this year. Until this week, maybe. We had a minus 3 frost two days ago, the first decent frost I have experienced in my 2 years in Ballarat, and some of the big new tender leaves look like they may be suffering.

I was never particularly happy with the style of the tree, and it was very unhealthy due mainly (I think) to a major infestation of that black spot scale they are susceptible to. The growth since January has amazed me. Mind you, I did transfer it to a large plastic pot in January, so that is part of the reason for the growth.

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January 2023

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June 2023

I will have to get on with working out its new design now.

[Stevie_B]

Hey Grant,
This looks amazing. Can I ask what tools you have used to do this work? My Dremel would not be up for something like this.