Creating a Melaleuca linariifolia (Claret Tops) Bonsai

Ray M · Post by **Ray M** » June 8th, 2013, 12:01 pm

Hi all,
I have decided to do some work on this Melaleuca linariifolia (Claret Tops) and thought I would share progression photos as it develops.

HISTORY: This is the one of the other trees I mentioned in viewtopic.php?f=87&t=15604 I have spent the last couple of years bringing this tree to good health. I have been feeding and foliage feeding during this period and the tree responded very well.

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Any comments are very welcome.

Regards Ray

Jasonb · Post by **Jasonb** » June 8th, 2013, 12:35 pm

That doesn't count ray, it was already half way there :p lol. It's a beautiful tree mate, loving it so far. Looking forward to seeing it progress further.

Jasonb

Ray M · Post by **Ray M** » June 8th, 2013, 1:13 pm

Hi Jasonb,
Thanks mate. Looking forward to see what will be the best shape for this one. I was pleasantly surprised at the movement in the branches.

Regards Ray

Steve B · Post by **Steve B** » June 8th, 2013, 3:01 pm

That's a cracking Mel there Ray! Almost too many options, could be a lot of hours involved staring at this one!

Are you fancying the open canopy "natural style" or denser foliage pads?

My first instinct (allowing for 2D photo filter) would be to shrink it down to half it's diameter by bringing the foliage back in along the branches. Keep as many of the branches as you can for their movement and end them in tight, horizontal foliage pads with plenty of negative space between them - almost like some of the acacia trees you see in African savannah shots. Reckon you could get something quite special reasonably quickly without doing major branch work and regrowth. Although best be warned - I'm going through a phase of trying to torture my Mels into "un-natural" styles. Working on the assumption that once I can do un-natural credibly I might get better at natural.....

Jason · Post by **Jason** » June 10th, 2013, 12:48 pm

I'd kill to get my hands on matieral like this! Beautiful tree Ray, defintaely look forward to seeing where you take it

Ray M · Post by **Ray M** » June 10th, 2013, 1:35 pm

Hi Steve B,
Thanks for your email.

could be a lot of hours involved staring at this one!

I think there are lots of possibilities with this one, so, your right mate I will do a lot of looking before diving in and removing something I would regret later.

Hi Jason,

I'd kill to get my hands on matieral like this! Beautiful tree Ray, defintaely look forward to seeing where you take it

I must say I was a very happy boy when I cleaned out this one and saw the possibilities. As I mentioned to Steve, I will do some serious looking before making any mistakes. The good thing is I have the weather on my side at this time of year. As it warms up I will be more active in doing more work to the tree.

Regards Ray

Jason · Post by **Jason** » June 10th, 2013, 2:26 pm

Ray M wrote:.

Hi Jason,

I must say I was a very happy boy when I cleaned out this one and saw the possibilities. As I mentioned to Steve, I will do some serious looking before making any mistakes. The good thing is I have the weather on my side at this time of year. As it warms up I will be more active in doing more work to the tree.

Regards Ray

You could almost split it down the middle and still have two great potential bonsai's!! Love it

Ray M · Post by **Ray M** » November 2nd, 2013, 5:39 pm

Hi everyone,
I have done some more work on this tree. It would be good to get some comments about what you think concerning the way it is going.

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Regards Ray

Elysius · Post by **Elysius** » November 2nd, 2013, 6:50 pm

This is absolutely amazing source material. There is so much to work with here. I think it's going really well. The only thing that I've noticed out of is maybe improving the movement slightly on the right hand side. There is a small gap/break in foliage in the first picture, half way in between right the canopy. A possible solution may be to shape the branches so their foliage aligns with the others. The two lowest branches on the right hand side (first picture) could be pushed upwards to compact the foliage.

That's my opinion at least, it'll create amazing symmetry.

Guy · Post by **Guy** » November 3rd, 2013, 7:34 am

japanese and european styles are exotic and beautiful but when you see this aus native style ,it feels like "home"

Boics · Post by **Boics** » November 3rd, 2013, 6:08 pm

Ok, I'm going to be controversial.
I looked at this tree this morning and thought.
There are too many branches and trunks on this tree.
It's a bit too busy and would benefit from a bit of a reduction.

Having said this I was at my mums farm today and spied a mature tree which was very reminiscent of this specimen.

So my conclusion is. ...
I think as a bonsai it may benefit from a reduction.
but.... it is still very representative of a real and natural mel. Lin.

Ray M · Post by **Ray M** » November 3rd, 2013, 9:40 pm

Boics wrote:Ok, I'm going to be controversial.
I looked at this tree this morning and thought.
There are too many branches and trunks on this tree.
It's a bit too busy and would benefit from a bit of a reduction.

Having said this I was at my mums farm today and spied a mature tree which was very reminiscent of this specimen.

So my conclusion is. ...
I think as a bonsai it may benefit from a reduction.
but.... it is still very representative of a real and natural mel. Lin.

Hi Boics,
If you think your confused, I am doubly confused. The tree is still at the point of making decisions. I have seen specimens with fewer branches and they look very good. I look at this tree and I am still not sure if I should do some major surgery or move some of the branches. A friend of mine at the School of Bonsai told me last week of a tree he has seen that was developed to look like a gum tree. He is chasing up some photos for me to have a look at. One of the other teachers is also bringing in some photos of a tree in his next door neighbors place. He really likes the tree so I am looking forward to see some photos of it. Thanks for your comments, I appreciate them.

Regards Ray

Ray M · Post by **Ray M** » November 5th, 2013, 9:21 pm

Hi Boics,
This is the photo of the tree developed to look like a Gum tree. The tree that caught a lot of attention way back in 2008 in Adelaide. It is a beautiful tree.

I have seen some photos of the other tree I mentioned growing in a back yard. I hope to have a copy of the photos on Thursday. I will post them when I can.

The question that is still nagging in my mind is, do I create a tree like what is represented in this photo, or, do I create a tree that more resemblies how they grow naturally.

adelaide - Claret Top Melaleuca.jpg

Regards Ray

Boics · Post by **Boics** » November 6th, 2013, 6:02 am

Hi Ray.

Did you see this photo?

2nd last pic in the thread.

viewtopic.php?f=106&t=14123&p=168822&hi ... ns#p168822

Ray M · Post by **Ray M** » November 6th, 2013, 5:40 pm

Boics wrote:Hi Ray.

Did you see this photo?

2nd last pic in the thread.

viewtopic.php?f=106&t=14123&p=168822&hi ... ns#p168822

Hi Boics,
Thanks mate for posting the link. I should get the other photos tomorrow night. Will post them for you to have a look.

It appears that these trees love light to get into the tree. In nature they will get a lot of die back where there is little sun. When I first cleaned this tree out it was amazing how much die back there was. When I did the last prune, which isn't all that long since pruning the time before, there was still die back.

Regards Ray

AusBonsai