Escallonia - give me some ideas

[Webos]

Hey Guys,
I got this Escallonia today...looking at it I see a few options but I wanted to throw it out to the AusBonsai gang to see if there were any other good options that I could explore before I give it the chop tonight after bath and bed time for the young fella.

This was a gift from a landscaper I know who called me today and told me he had just dug it out of a lady's garden..

Comments are welcome as are all of the excellent virt artists out there

Thanks

[Webos]

I forgot to say please!!!

[bodhidharma]

Start by getting rid of everything straight then look at it again

[anttal63]

more or less what bodi said. you are looking for a rythm here. i think that dominant thick curvy trunk is the focal point. it also sets a line character for you to follow. any thing that doesnt follow this or cant be made to with time should go. i suggest you clean it up a little more and then put some more shots up. if i was over there i'd get the saw out myself.

[MelaQuin]

Here's your tree - and very nice it is. Not sure about the left small branch. I'd keep it for the moment and wait to see what shot but I think the beauty and strength and power is in the two main trunks. GREAT FIND!!! And a good size for the foliage growth pattern. Very lucky.

escallonia.JPG

[Webos]

Yep, the big trunk is one option... Also there is a trunk that curves over from one side then comes out on the other still at soil level, then comes up to a nice taper...I'm thinking that I might leave both of those trunks on and then see what develops

[Jamie]

hey pal, i got a murraya that had similar trunks on it, well a few less than yours but none the less to many, heres the link

viewtopic.php?f=104&t=2571&p=28957&hili ... ies#p28957


it got hit hard on sunday with the new chainsaw... love that beast now a few other unwanted stuff got chopped to along with it. cant wait for the melalueca's i took down to stumps start back budding


jamie

[Webos]

Gave it a massive prune top and bottom. It had been left in the shade today but the temp got to 35....didnt get a chance to work on it until 10pm so I'm hoping it has survived. If it has, it is gonna be a ripper. Definitely the largest and heaviest tree I have so once it finds its spot in the yard, it will be there to stay.

Photos tomorrow

[Jamie]

how about clump???

from this

webos escallonia.jpg

to this

webos escallonia virt.jpg

just for an idea

jamie

[MelaQuin]

Unfortunately it's four trunks... a no-no number. Pity but there you have it. And with the solidity and power of those trunks I don't think you can count that little bit in front as a trunk. Can you go for 3?? But you are definitely on the right route...

[Jamie]

i know four is a no-no number, but i am one to not always follow the guidelenes, but yes the right hand side could go as all trunks are leaning to the left side except the far right hand side.


jamie