Melaleuca Armillaris (?) Progression

[Steven]

PS:
Pup wrote:
I have just had another look. Put it in a round pot
Mr Pup - I think you might need your eyes checked: the tree is in a round pot...

I think Pup was referring to the fact that this pre-bonsai is a perfect specimen for a 360 degree tree. I wouldn't try to find a front, I'd work with all angles as a front - in time I'm sure one will stand out as the best.

Regards,
Steven

[Pup]

I agree Steven, but he will have to get a wonky pot for his wonky turntable

[FlyBri]

I agree Steven, but he will have to get a wonky pot for his wonky turntable

Hey Pup - I have recently taken delivery of a non-wonky turntable, and shall soon be taking over the world of 360° Bonsai photography! Bwaahahahah!!!

* * *

Well, I didn't get my wiring/shaping done in time to get any decent photos, but I did manage to snap off a couple of progress pics before the sun got too high in the sky. You can see why I dropped out of my Engineering course after the first year... My ideas on mechanics were clearly too revolutionary for the times.

Mel_Amarillis_Apr_09_08.jpg

Mel_Amarillis_Apr_09_09.jpg

Anyway, wish me luck with the final bits of bending...

Thanks.

Fly.

[Pup]

Good luck Mate I see what you mean about engineering
Did you take up an Arborist career instead
Go to it best of, Pup

[FlyBri]

Good luck Mate

Thanks Pup!

I think I'm done for now (but no pics until tomorrow AM when the Sun is better for photography).

In the process of bending, I heard the dreaded >SNAP!< numerous times (the loudest was when I wrenched the 20mm thick first branch down) bit the sisal/jute/Coban™ and kilometres of copper has held everything in place. It is my experience with this specimen that a bit of cracking can be a good thing, and you virtually have to snap a branch off completely in order to kill it.

Anyway, I'm off to snap some She-Oaks!

[anttal63]

good work fly that is art pal! im holding my breath till the morning.

[FlyBri]

im holding my breath till the morning.

Well Antonio, you can breathe again... I've taken the photos, and they are nothing short of ordinary.

Viewing my Melaleuca in this way, I can see that it has a long way to go before being showable, but I guess that's the nature of the word 'progression'... I can now see some key areas that need to be addressed in the next wiring session. It's not quite 360°, but if you open the first image and hit the 'play' button (►) you can see a slideshow of 12 views (most of which are obscured by foliage and/or timber and/or wire).

Comments, advice, abuse and general banter always welcome.

Thanks.

Fly.

Mel_Arm_Apr_09_Rot_01.jpg

Mel_Arm_Apr_09_Rot_02.jpg

Mel_Arm_Apr_09_Rot_03.jpg

Mel_Arm_Apr_09_Rot_04.jpg

Mel_Arm_Apr_09_Rot_05.jpg

Mel_Arm_Apr_09_Rot_06.jpg

Mel_Arm_Apr_09_Rot_07.jpg

Mel_Arm_Apr_09_Rot_08.jpg

Mel_Arm_Apr_09_Rot_09.jpg

Mel_Arm_Apr_09_Rot_10.jpg

Mel_Arm_Apr_09_Rot_11.jpg

Mel_Arm_Apr_09_Rot_12.jpg

PS: Apologies for the photo quality: I've tried to keep the file size down as best I could, and have learned that automated batch processing of images is a dicey affair at times...

[Pup]

OOOOh you are a clever boy!!! Nice work Fly however (isn't there always one ) I would twerit mine, shorten the foliage to help you define it more.
That way it will put some ramification on also. I have found that with most needle type foliage on Melaleucas, respond well to being shortened,never behind green though. Just some thoughts. Pup

[anttal63]

ya sure ya got enough angles on the shots? well done pal!

[FlyBri]

I would twerit mine, shorten the foliage to help you define it more.
That way it will put some ramification on also. I have found that with most needle type foliage on Melaleucas, respond well to being shortened,never behind green though. Just some thoughts.

Gday Mr Pup!

I fully agree that cutting back on the green (or some fine deatil wiring) would help bring some definintion to the design. However, as it's growing well at the moment, I thought I'd let the tree grow into its new wires over the next couple of months. I think that if the canopy is to remain this wide, I need to get some trunk thickening going on too. My plan is to give it a haircut when I repot in Spring (and I'll bear in mind your advice about not cutting beyond green growth).

ya sure ya got enough angles on the shots?

Gday Ant!

Well, according to my calculations it's only 1/3 of the amount of shots needed for a 360° display. I'm considering this to be practice.

Thanks gents!

Fly.

[Grant Bowie]

Looks like some heavy wiring coming up Mr Fly

That's right, Mr Oz!

As of now, I have my sisal and jute twine in place, and a generous strapping of Coban™ tape, and I'm planning on some serious turnbuckle action. But... I'm having a crisis of styling, and now I can't find a front... [EDIT] Now that I think of it, I'm having a crisis of styling, and now I can't find a back... [/EDIT]

Any suggestions anybody?

Fly.

John Naka said "If you can't find the front ; then find the back! The other side is the front!"

He also said :"If you have a problem cut it off. If you then still have a problem you've really got a problem"

In your case you have a 360 degree bonsai; No Problem.

Grant

[FlyBri]

In your case you have a 360 degree bonsai; No Problem.

Gday Grant!

I wouldn't go so far as to call this Bonsai yet. Give it 3-5 years, a good bit of pruning and a decent pot, and then we shall see.

I like that it presents a number of possible fronts (not that you can see any of them through all the foliage), but I will not sacrifice a great front for an ordinary 360°. If it ends up looking good from multiple angles, that's just a bonus. Now all I need do is find that great front (or back ).

Thanks!

Fly.

[FlyBri]

Mel_Amarillis_Sep_09_01.jpg

[Joel]

Such a tease. . . . .

[anttal63]

are you doin that mystery shari again? not fair.