With our January meeting fast approaching we were still in search of a demonstrator to fill the night, that was until I summoned the courage, raised my hand and said "I'll give it a go", I had two weeks to prepare and with that I my search for the 'perfect' rock was on ... it needed to be big, light, and have adequate holes and crevices (that ruled out everything I could find) ... a mate offered some unused white aquarium rock, but I was I was a bit dubious as to how the ph might effect the trees, and they probably still had an embedded salt content. So the next saturday the search continued, hoping to find a supplier of pumice or 'tufa' or similar, aquariums, nurseries, landscape supplies, hardware, nobody had what I needed. As a backup I started also collecting the ingredients to make hyper-tufa (cement, peat moss, perlite), as I had found some inspiration in some installation growing art by Jamie North http://www.jamienorth.com/ ... then near the end of the day I suddenly thought HEBEL I can carve HEBEL!
So Sunday, and the following week was spent carving hebel blocks in the garage using a cordless drill, various bits and attachments and hand saw. I had a respirator mask and glasses on, but that white dust - it goes everywhere else! I finished the first block off with some cement oxide tint (to add some definition and colour) mixed with clear pond sealer to waterproof it. The pond sealer I also found toughens the surface and guards against chipping.
After finishing my first 'tower' suddenly I remembered Apline had also used hebel, and was comforting to know that he has used similar methods with success. After my modest hebel carving experience, my hat goes off to Alpine with his ability to carve, shape and colour much larger pieces, with such naturalistic outcomes
I was also relieved to find our end styles were also quite different, as my inspiration was of an urban environment, derelict concrete/bluestone/sandstone buildings being repopulated by native flora ... the Port Jackson Fig.The club meeting night had come, but not having spoken in front of an audience since high school I was nervous (and over prepared). But once I got going, it went well
My aim was to present a topic that hadn't been covered before (or at least not in my presence) and I believe I succeeded, taking the audience through the hebel carving process above. It was discussed that instead of using oxide as the colouring agent had the potential to be toxic and possibly be detrimental to the plants health, and that watercolour or acrylic paint may work just as well. We then moved onto potting up. I also had never seen anyone demonstrate how to make muck, so, ambitiously I got out all my ingredients (clay, sifted cow manure, spag moss, akadama fines, seasol and water) ... and asked for advice ... experienced members from the audience agreed I didn't need the akadama dust as I already wet clay, then Joann kindly imparted some of her experience, got her hands dirty and helped me combine the ingredients into the suitable texture. Next I plugged up suitable areas for planting allowing for drainage holes made with yakult straws. I then filled the areas with fine grade bonsai mix and potted up the trees some were very tricky to place and get to hold. One of the trickiest parts of the night was getting this creation home, it rode home strapped to the front passenger seat.The next day I added Seamungus and spagnum moss to help hold the trees in place, provide nutrients and retain moisture. So far all are still alive, although the top 2 are struggling a bit yet that is the nature of their position - weather beaten - and hence they were the smaller choices. When they are all well established, I can then start their styling process.
For me I was glad the audience was interested, had the ability and wanted to interact regarding knowledge and outcomes of this project. I had great time realising that I could do it, and appreciate the help and support received and opportunity to be able to do it! I trust most of the audience learned something, as I know I did
Hope you enjoyed the retelling of ... my first Demonstration. And as much as we all hate photos of ourselves, here are some of that night ...
eventually I'd love to see roots encasing parts of the structure. 
version, I like the industrial-rustic garden / interior design style so I guess that's shining through a bit. Moreover it's a comment on interpreting our surroundings.
I've also seen the Chinese and Indonesian versions of styled trees growing on a section of brick wall
