Collected Olive

[Cindy]

This is the first time I've collected an olive (and the last by myself). I wasn't prepared for how large a job it was going to be, nor did I have the appropriate tools for the job just - a very old spade and a bush saw I broke the handle off the spade so went and purchased a heavy hoe which was just what I needed. Anyway this certainly fill in time over the weekend.

Compressed Collected Olive 29 July 2012 008.jpg

Compressed Collected Olive 29 July 2012 009.jpg

Compressed Collected Olive 29 July 2012 025.jpg

Compressed Collected Olive 29 July 2012 032.jpg

Compressed Collected Olive 29 July 2012 033.jpg

Compressed Collected Olive 29 July 2012 034.jpg

It is now soaking in a Seasol bath for 48+hrs then I'll plant it into a very large plastic container.

I welcome any comments, as I'm a total neebie to this collection capper

Cindy

[Andrew Legg]

Uhm, is it just me or are those images tiny? It's a bit difficult to see what's going on, although, that said, it looks jolly promising!

Welcome to the deranged olive diggers club!

[shibui]

I broke the handle off the spade

Hi Cindy, first rule of digging - Use the correct tool for the job. Spades are for digging. Use a crowbar for levering.

Your tree looks quite promising. Nothing to show scale so can't tell how big it is or guess what size the cuts are.

I found that olives that were transplanted last winter did not recover very well. Some did not sprout until autumn. The ones we collected in November shot out quickly. A few that came from SA in July a couple of years ago were fine though so I hope yours comes on quickly.

[Dario]

Nice olive Cindy!
I killed my spade last week too
Left the crowbar at home because I was only hunting a small ash growing on a concrete slab. The roots were in 5cm of leaf litter and soil so I figured it would take me 5 mins max to collect...boy was I wrong! The bloody base of the tree (12cm diameter) had fused to the concrete! All I had was the spade to lever it off the concrete and it is now dead
Oh well, I know what to expect when I go back for the big trunk this weekend.
I have now learnt that it is far better to be over prepared than under prepared when it comes to tools and collecting.
Happy hunting/collecting in the future And best of luck with the olive.
Cheers, Dario.

[Olivecrazy]

Nice olive you have there its my size to tools to have for these beast are crowbar ,chainsaw ,spade an a beer once its potted up . They can be quiet tough all depends on location an there can be a lot more below ground level that you cant see but in saying that they make great bonsai

[Cindy]

Hi Andrew & Shibui,
The current size of the base is 47 x 34cm with a height of 50cmat the top of the main trunk. I've attached 2 photos that havve not been compressed and they might provide a better perspective of size- the rubber boot is size 38.

Collected Olive 1 Aug 2012 001.jpg

Collected Olive 1 Aug 2012 002.jpg

I'll keep my fingers crossed that it will bud back in spring. I do know that the earthworms that are in the small amount mud still on the base are enjoying the Seasol bath & the few leaves that are left are looking healthy again.

Hi Dario,
Goodluck with the big trunk next weekend. What about a jackhammer for the concrete as you said "far better to be over prepared than under prepared "

Hi Olivecrazy,

I'll have my Guinness stew & have a bootle of red ready for after potting up!
What medium have you found best to plant them in initially? I was considering a 50:50 pine bark to diatomite or should it just be a good potting mix?

Thanks for the advice
Cindy.

[MelaQuin]

I'd like just the main trunk. That has movement and character and from the photo [and photos always distort] the smaller trunk looks too straight and out of character. But considering how olives grow you have definitely put the collecting effort into something worthwhile.

[Andrew Legg]

Hey Cindy - nice tree! Is the middle trunk alive or just dead-wood? I agree somewhat with MelaQuin in that the real character is in the main trunk, but having said that, I also think there are just too many carbon copy bonsai's made to look just like that one on Page 17 of the styles section of that book - you know the one . . . Keep the other trunks for as long as possible and hopefully you can make it into something unique. That said, they are very straight, so perhaps they can be shortened or something.

Cheers, and good find!

[Dario]

Hi Dario,
What about a jackhammer for the concrete as you said "far better to be over prepared than under prepared "
Cindy.

I wish
I really like this olive. It is jumping the gun re styling advice and I am don't think you asked for any, but my is to keep everything and see where it all pops first.
Down the track I would shorten the centre trunk and maybe use the front of it as a carved deadwood feature with growth coming from the back, and use it as a side branch on the main trunk?
I would absolutely keep the smaller trunk in the design (although shorten it in the future), because for my money the base would be too big and out of proportion to the main trunk (even for a sumo).
I am sure that you have your own vision for what you wish to create and I wish you all the best with this ripper olive
Cheers, Dario.

[bodhidharma]

I'd like just the main trunk. That has movement and character and from the photo [and photos always distort] the smaller trunk looks too straight and out of character. But considering how olives grow you have definitely put the collecting effort into something worthwhile.

I would have to agree here. Dont discard the little trunk though, just cut it out and grow it on, Welcome to the world of collecting.

[Chris]

WoooHooooooooooooooo Olives Olives