Prickly Paperbark. (Good Mates)

[boom64]

I have a good mate who runs a small earthworks company and over the years has been a great source of material and in exchange I have helped out his Beer appreciation...Works well for both of us. Lucky enough to get a call with an offer to collect a few of those" spikey" ones. Had to be quick as it all had to be levelled for a housing estate. Took of with my shovel and a few tools ,however was not having much luck as most had very long tap roots and not much up top. I could hear a bit of rumbling and my mate came over the hill with his machine to give me a hand. Good fellow. From this clump came this little fellow. Have recently took the wire of and am pretty happy with the result so far. A little hairy at the moment but will cut back at potting up time. Only has three main quirky branches to work with plus a tiny little apex. Very enjoyable species to work with. All feedback welcome .Cheers John.

[Ryceman3]

That’s how to dig! (Get somebody else )
Stypheliodes?? Looks great already, lovely stuff.

[Raging Bull]

I've got to get myself one of those diggers!!

[MJL]

Boom! Yet another ripper. I like the fact that you took your “shovel and a few tools” ... given your good mate has a reasonable bit of yellow kit with wheels on .... the shovel must be quite valuable... to lean on!

This little tree is insightful... the movement in the trunk isn’t much, quite subtle but it’s there down low. The mood is then created with an array of random branch movement ... did you wire these (circled) to turn back behind the trunk like that ... if so, it’s bloody good imagination or clever and
And that little growth down low ... I don’t think I’d ever want it to be a strong branch .... it may be too distracting - but there’s something about a small shoot that adds to the balance of this tree. I am sure this will turn into yet another ruggedly beautiful tree under your care.


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[Watto]

The biggest question - how much for your mate? I need a mate like that.
These make good bonsai from what I've seen and yours is well on its way.

[Matt S]

I've got a dig coming up soon and suddenly my digging tools seem inadequate...

That's a nice tree already! Great pickup.

Matt.

[greg27]

I've got a dig coming up soon and suddenly my digging tools seem inadequate...

Wait, you're not providing one of these?!

[boom64]

Thanks for feedback guys ,always a treat to go out with these guys with the big toys..
Reece it is a Stypheliodes ,and leave size is pretty small at the moment ,hopefully stays this way.
Mark ,love your take on the small little branch ,not to sure how it will play out. All the bends were accentuated a fair bit. They all were heading towards the back originally . As only a small tree they would have cluttered things up if I took them to the left ,so wired them heavily to the right.
Always think of those wonderful images of Zhao Qingquan trees and have something along those lines for this one.
Greg ,better get on to Matt about organising the big gear ..
Cheers John.