All right, you gum tree growers....

[GavinG]

Here's a local gum (no idea of the species) about to be bulldozed for new housing. More massive and impressive in the bark.

P1050546.jpg

What interested me was the fine open texture (would melaleuca express this better in bonsai?) and the whole side of dropping branches. The contrast of the white branches with the foliage is also very strong. I think that sometimes our trees are too simple and schematic.

P1050547.jpg

And also the contribution of our local (BS) artists.

Enjoy.

Gavin

[PaulC]

Thanks for the pics Gavin, a lovely strong lonesome tree.


And yet another housing estate about to be opened where they remove all the trees, and then name the streets after them.


Paul C.

[Greth]

Not everyone is removing trees, we have 85 acres and encouraging and planting new trees. 4 neighbours also have serious revegetation happening. My interest in bonsai is helping with tree propagation skills, as well as removing the weed olives!!!

[GavinG]

All those olive trees... Just sitting there, askin' for it...

I wonder if I can bonsai chickweed?

Gavin

[Roger]

I'm glad you've spotted the 'dropping' branches. For a long time I've looked at a range of our woodland eucs and weeping/drooping/pendant/dropping branches are not that uncommon. Getting them into a bonsai would be fantastic. Finding the individual plant that will naturally do this would be amazing, as just wiring or weighting a branch down on one that isn't doing it naturally is as good as strangling it - the branch dies.

Need someone with space to collect seed from such trees, plant out many of them and then select the ones that show the best 'drooping' branch form - voila! Then bonsai with gusto or delicacy...

[Greth]

Theres a beauty in the paddock across the road, yep I have permission to collect, and dont know if theres any branches within reach, will investigate.