"the serpent" bougie

[wattynine]

Hi All, wanted to share with you a progression on a garden plant that was in the yard when I bought what is now known as the "Wattage Cottage"
First photo (I have 33 in total so I'll have to cut this down as well)
The bougie was in a plastic garden pot but had busted thru the bottom. I cut the plastic pot off to expose some more trunk, liked what I saw but had decided to leave it in the ground. It got blown over twice with two cyclones Yasi and Larry so I decided it had to come out of the ground
see red circle March 2009

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after removal Feb 2012

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Aug this year

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the tree cleaned up a little

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and the root removed and the tree lifted for exposure

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and the separated root will make a tree of its own in time.

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[Rory]

I preferred it with the root still attached, just my opinion. Nice progression anyway

[Eusto]

I preferred it with the root still attached, just my opinion. Nice progression anyway

The tree looks like it has reverse taper now. Looked great before the root was removed.
It'll still be a great tree, just my opinion, each to their own.

Edit: just seeing you now have two trees from the one. This changes things i suppose.

[Bougy Fan]

While it looked good as one tree I think it would have rotted eventually. You can carve it to remove and taper issues - just make sure you seal it to stop rot. The product I use with a lot of success is A.T.C.S. tree wound sealant. The brown colour blends in well with bougy bark

[wattynine]

Thanks for the critique gentlemen, I figured it would get some controversy.
Being the only one who can see this tree in its original and new formats I can confirm to you all, it definitely looks better now, the twisted root thing did not work at all.
To the "bougiefan", yes you are right carving will be the next move to remove the reverse taper but I thought I should let the tree settle for a bit.
Stay tuned for the posting.
As to the removed root, no I don't think it would have rotted, it has it's own root network and is a very healthy stump.
It wasn't removed to "gain" a tree but that has proven to be a happy advantage.
Thanks for your interest

[Bush bunny]

Hee hee looks like a slug to me. Not a serpent. Well if you like it, go for it. I prefered the root left, but ...

[hard1all]

and just to prove that opinions differ ....

..... I much prefer the improved, root removed version

it now has movement and interest

and I love it in that pot!

if it were mine (and I wish it were) I'd lose all the lower branches and go for a broad rounded canopy with the branches all wired to hang vertically

please keep updated photos coming

[wattynine]

Just a little update on this, not much happening, missed photographing while it was in flower, sorry.
Still along way to go for styling but i'm patient.
Awesome base/ trunk and closer inspections since it was last posted tells me the trunk is hollow, awesome carving opportunity in it's near future.
anyhooo...thanks for lookin'
Watty

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[hawkeyes]

I love this tree.

[boom64]

Great work Watty. Fantastic tree ,can only get better.. Looks like you enjoy yourself in Wattyland ,never have enough projects going.....Cheers John.

[matlea]

If that's not movement in a trunk then I don't know what is! Plenty of options with this one, interested as to how this develops.

[Steven]

Great progression Watty!

To me the awesome movement in the lower trunk is not complimented by the upper trunk. It could be different in the bark?

I hope you don't mind but I've done a quick virt on what I see as a possible future. Hope I don't offend.

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I'm interested to see the future with this one Watty. Keep up the great work

Regards,
Steven

[wattynine]

Thanks Steve, and to those that responded, thank you for the compliments.
Steve, absolutely no offense, it's a forum and good and bad should be thrown around for the betterment of the tree.
I think every tree is different in the bark, this being no exception.
I have included a bodgy virt to show my possible direction, what I cannot do (my ignorance) is just tilt this maybe a couple of degrees to the right to counter the fact that there is little to no branching on that side where you have "created" branching to compliment.
Early days and a few futures are possible no doubt.
I appreciate you took the time to look and comment and now I know someone else out there does virt's as bad as me.
many thanks again
Watty

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