Melaleuca linariifolia 'Claret Tops' Honey Myrtle

Incana, Lanceolata, Linariifolia, Rhaphiophylla, Styphelioides etc
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DavidWilloughby
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Melaleuca linariifolia 'Claret Tops' Honey Myrtle

Post by DavidWilloughby »

Hi all,

I have been fortunate in being given the opportunity to give this amazing bit of raw material it's first styling. Yes, you did read that right, 'Raw Material'. It came into my possession yesterday.

It has been in it's pot for a while and been allowed to grow strong and vigorous. This was its original front, when i first saw it.
Claret Top 7 Jan 2017 A.jpg
*original front
Claret Tops 7 Jan 2017 B.jpg
*proposed front in time
Claret Tops 8 Jan 2017 A.jpg
*after some surface moss applied, i have started wiring. Just after a good water, sitting on the bench.

I will post progressive photos throughout. This is a little bit bigger to the norm for me hehe

Any thoughts and ideas are most welcomed.

Cheers

Willow
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Last edited by DavidWilloughby on January 8th, 2017, 8:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Melaleuca linariifolia 'Claret Tops' Honey Myrtle

Post by iliya »

Great tree mate, can't wait to see what you come up with!!
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Re: Melaleuca linariifolia 'Claret Tops' Honey Myrtle

Post by kcpoole »

Nice stock, Where did you get it from?

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Re: Melaleuca linariifolia 'Claret Tops' Honey Myrtle

Post by boom64 »

Great stock ......Looking forward to seeing you perform some magic on this one. Have fun. Cheers John.
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Re: Melaleuca linariifolia 'Claret Tops' Honey Myrtle

Post by moumou »

David, amazing material and opportunity, I was sorely tempted, we can't wait to see where you take it.

Ken, the 'serial pest' is getting out of bonsai and I for one am not surprised.
Last edited by moumou on January 9th, 2017, 7:11 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Melaleuca linariifolia 'Claret Tops' Honey Myrtle

Post by DavidWilloughby »

Hi all,

Thank you guys for your kind words, I just hope to do this material justice.

After a decent day's work on this, the lower portion has been wired up and it is starting to take on some shape and direction.

This is how it sits now
Claret Tops 10 jan 2017 A.jpg
*after being watered

I have started to wire part of the upper portion of the tree and over the next couple days hope to get this done.

Any thoughts, idea's, comments are most welcomed and encouraged.

Cheers

Willow
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Re: Melaleuca linariifolia 'Claret Tops' Honey Myrtle

Post by GavinG »

Some closer photos of that stump would be nice...

My feeling for the design is that the right branch really stretches out a long way - maybe the branches and trunklets above might also need to lean out to the right? Might not be possible with the age of the beast, but lovely material to work on.

Was it originally a garden dig?

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Re: Melaleuca linariifolia 'Claret Tops' Honey Myrtle

Post by Boics »

GavinG wrote:Some closer photos of that stump would be nice...

My feeling for the design is that the right branch really stretches out a long way - maybe the branches and trunklets above might also need to lean out to the right? Might not be possible with the age of the beast, but lovely material to work on.

Was it originally a garden dig?

Gavin
I too wonder about that rh branch.
Makes me wonder if a wider tree of approx half the height is the way forward?

Great tree to work on Dave.
I'm sure you'll do a great job.
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Re: Melaleuca linariifolia 'Claret Tops' Honey Myrtle

Post by Boics »

Dble post
Last edited by Boics on January 11th, 2017, 10:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Melaleuca linariifolia 'Claret Tops' Honey Myrtle

Post by tgward »

very nice--this is the stuff pleasant dreams are made of----looks like the gums that lean out over the Murray----------any plans for those over the top roots?
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Re: Melaleuca linariifolia 'Claret Tops' Honey Myrtle

Post by Boics »

This is some sort of idea of the "lower" tree I had in mind.
Once again I'm sure you'll do great things with this awesome stock Dave!
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Re: Melaleuca linariifolia 'Claret Tops' Honey Myrtle

Post by DavidWilloughby »

Hi all,

Thank you Gavin, Boics and tgward for your replies.

Gavin, I will endeavour to get some close up photos of the trunk for you from different angles. I need a larger photo area now hahaha shohin and chuhin are far easier to take images of

Boics, thank you so much for that virt. I really like that and that is something that could be considered down the track.

tgward, when I first saw it I had that initial reaction too but since then I feel that it is something unique to this bit of material so at this stage it will stay.

After a couple of days, here is where it sits now.
Claret Tops 12 Jan 2017.jpg
80cm tall 100cm wide

Very happy how it sits, a few tweaks here and there once it has recovered I feel will have it looking good.

Any thoughts, comments and ideas are most welcomed.

Cheers

Willow
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Re: Melaleuca linariifolia 'Claret Tops' Honey Myrtle

Post by Pup »

Looking good nice and natural.

Not keen on that root system though needs taming.
Last edited by Pup on January 12th, 2017, 7:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Melaleuca linariifolia 'Claret Tops' Honey Myrtle

Post by toshtony »

Very nice tree. I also have a couple of trees with that type of root system which made me get it in the 1st place liked the look, but now it seems that having that type of root system is no good or not bonsai is that the case must it be a nice even circular nebari?
Pup wrote:Looking good nice and natural.

Not keen on that root system though needs taming.
Hey pup just out of curiosity how would you tame those roots :lost:

Thanks
Tony
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Re: Melaleuca linariifolia 'Claret Tops' Honey Myrtle

Post by Rory »

That is a really nice piece of material David. Looks great what you are doing so far, I agree with Pup in that it looks nice and natural.

I am in two minds on the roots. To me they resemble roots of a tree that is occasionally swamped by water, and the growth of the tree could indicate a tree leaning out over the bank to access more sunlight, so I don't particularly see it as such a bad thing.
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