AusBonsai

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. 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.

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.

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

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.

Grant Bowie wrote: ↑June 3rd, 2023, 7:43 pm 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.

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

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

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.
January 2023
June 2023

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

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.