my best privet for a best mate

[phillips_head]

This is a story of my favourite bonsai and the best pet i have ever had.

In the summer of 2003/2004 whilst working for a landscaping company we removed a broad leaved privet (Ligustrum lucidum), and we were not gentle; it was cut down with a chainsaw and the stump yanked out with a bobcat in the hottest part of the day. Despite my doubts about it surviving I threw it in the boot of the car and potted it up at the end of the day.

Weeks latter when it did begin to sprout i got very excited and in my young ignorant haste i quickly potted it up into a display pot; due to this haste it took a very long time to develop decent branches.

mitchies small.jpg

But this isn't just a story of a privet, my other passion is snakes... yes i know, weird.
when i was much younger i got my pet Mitchie, a large blotched python and the best pet i have ever known. it may be hard for those not familiar with snakes to accept but Mitchie had the temperament of a labrador, totally chilled out and always excited to see me. He followed me every where and when it was warm outside loved nothing better than playing on my privet.

mitchie 2 small.jpg

He regularly broke branches off that took years to grow, but he loved that tree so i figured he could have it.
In 2010 Mitchie sadly died of old-age, and i could think of no better place to lay him to rest than in the pot of his favourite bonsai. becoming part of the tree he loved.

By the winter of 2013 i had begun to reduce the number of branches on Mitchies tree and focus on establishing nice movement in those lines selected.

mitchies 3 small.jpg

But i was also faced with the problem of needing to perform a root trim and re-pot, thankfully by this stage Mitchie had become part of the tree.
i have now lowered the position of the tree in the pot and am now getting the ramification and shape if have been seeking.

mitchies tree 4 small.jpg

I will soon begin wiring down the runners with the aim of achieving 'clouds' of foliage; and will add further photos soon.

Mitchie was a great mate and i think that a bonsai is a fine memorial for him.

Please feel free to provide advice on design and direction, i want this bonsai to be beautiful and could use all the help i can get.

[Brad75]

Hi there,

Privets are very common in penjing chinese bonsai and stand up well to harsh conditions so are frequently carved for ornamental effect. You should buy a DREMEL with the flex attachment and consider carving that little beauty.

Cheers,

Brad.

[JaseH]

Wonderful story, thanks for sharing.

[MrSnoopy]

From one snake lover to another..Honestly I cant think of a better memorial for your little buddy... Im sure that he would love being part of his favourite tree. Also im a tad jealous of the privet... i personally dont have one but i can see it has potential

[phillips_head]

Hi there,

Privets are very common in penjing chinese bonsai and stand up well to harsh conditions so are frequently carved for ornamental effect. You should buy a DREMEL with the flex attachment and consider carving that little beauty.

Cheers,

Brad.

Yeh i definitely have some carving to do on this one; the hollows in the trunk that i have put in were done with an angle grinder, a multi-tool and i hollowed some of the trunk out with a very long drill bit (its really hard wood). After i did so i was worried that i may have gone overboard, but it seems to have softened with age. I want to carve the main stem on the left (where it was cut off flat with a chain saw, I just need to get the courage.

[phillips_head]

Actually, can anyone suggest a really good carver in melbourne who might be able to help me with this?

[Jason]

Beautiful story mate, thankyou kindly for sharing.

Haven't no advice unfortunately, but think it'll be a corker of a tree

[bodhidharma]

A lovely story and i enjoyed reading it, Thanks Your privet has good potential.

[Brad75]

Hi again,

I can't recommend a carver in Melbourne but I am confident your tree will survive a carving if you do it yourself. You never know!

Good luck

Cheers,

Brad.