AusBonsai

I have had this Water Gum since 2004. Because of its lack of taper and poor roots,it has been difficult to do anything with. It needed some support around the lower part of the trunk. In the past I have tried to use a rock to support it which was not successful. I was thinking of building a look- a- like rock. Then I thought I'd try sticking a lot of rocks together.
This is the result of a few hours work. It has made it look better but there is something that is still not right.

Regards,

Peter

Nice improvement and nice colour in the rocks

good solution to a difficult issue as the other option would be to airlayer and lost the movement and shari in the lower trunk section.

Ken

That's a very good solution for the base, it all sits very well now. "Something still not right" might be the three low left branches balancing the one on the right - maybe the middle one can go? Hard to tell from photos of course.

Something that draws my eye is the relatively straight trunk after the shari. The first part of the trunk is complicated, the next bit is straight. Would you consider bringing some foliage over the trunk at this level just to break it up a bit?

I personally would think of leaning it over further to the right, so the straight bit is a bit more dynamic, but I'm no good at standing-up-straight trees anyway, it's probably just me.

Thanks for posting,

Gavin

Really nice solution peter. I really like that tree. It also really evokes the feeling of the red country for me. However, I dont know where water gum are found naturally. Anyway... I just like it.

if you wanted to change it because you're not satisfied, I would shorten the left hand branches and lengthen the one's on the right (as you look at the picture).

but I like it as is too.

thanks for posting.

cheers,
Ces.

Thanks for the feed back.

Gavin,

The straight bit is a problem and yes some foliage masking will help.

Ces,

I will be making those adjustments to the left and right side over time.


Rocks are iron stone collected out near West Wyalong.

Regards,

Peter

My 2c.

I think the style is a bit too triangular.
I believe that natives may look better with a more bulbous look.
While a fantastic tree I think it is merely the style that is not a convincing representation of the species.

I certainly wouldn't lose the Shari and interest in the lower section.

Thanks for paying yet another fantastic tree of yours.

GavinG wrote:That's a very good solution for the base, it all sits very well now. "Something still not right" might be the three low left branches balancing the one on the right - maybe the middle one can go? Hard to tell from photos of course. Something that draws my eye is the relatively straight trunk after the shari. The first part of the trunk is complicated, the next bit is straight. Would you consider bringing some foliage over the trunk at this level just to break it up a bit? I personally would think of leaning it over further to the right, so the straight bit is a bit more dynamic, but I'm no good at standing-up-straight trees anyway, it's probably just me.

The straight part of the trunk catches my eye, too - it is a bit "out of character" after the lower section movement and detail - I would suggest possibly continuing the dead wood up the trunk for 1/2 to 3/4 of the straight section to visually break up the trunk line there, with a bit of movement in the live bark/ dead wood intersection lines to give the illusion of more movement to that area of the trunk.

I also agree that I would be inclined to remove or reposition the second branch up on the left side to reduce the bar branch appearance and open the tree up to give a more rugged gum tree look.

I love the contrast between the white bark and red stone - a very central Australian waterhole look. The pot is just ideal to my eye and the white bark / silver wood in the lower trunk are a real prize.

A beaut little gum, how tall is it?

Jan.

Beautiful tree Peter.

I think the shari could come up a bit too to make the straight section more in keeping.

Boics wrote:I believe that natives may look better with a more bulbous look.

Although I agree with Boics in regards to natives in general, Water Gums tend to grow near water ways and have multiple trunks from close to the base. You definitely wouldn't find them near rocks of the sort you have placed with it. Your tree is far removed from that with a more classical style. However I still think it works and is a great Bonsai.

Funny how we tend to say our natives should have a more natural look and yet the more classic bonsai subjects and the styles we adhere to with them are mostly vastly different to how they grow naturally.

Cheers Dan

i have a water gum i love them as bonsai and mine sits in water all year round they love it the bark is flaking off now and an awsome pink undernaeth so purserver and give it moe water.

you should take a look at water gums growing they love to live near water we have some growing in the main street where i live and they look great the fpowers are little yellow things but omg they smell awsome .