Sumo and Son Olive

[alpineart]

This is one of the numerous olive i collected back in July 09

100_3473.jpg

,it was a multi trunk specimen around 1200mm high with a base of 250mm x 220mm .

100_3478.jpg

I planted it into a 350mm planter bag

100_3493.jpg

and allowed it to sucker up before removing the main leaders .

I decided to slip pot it into a large bonsai pot for training purposes and to check the progress of the roots . The pot measures 380mm x 280mm x 120mm , the olive base at ground level is 200mm x 150mm , the canopy measure 550 mm x 350 mm by 300mm high . Unfortunately i don't have a pot large enough to rotate the tree another 30-40 degrees to the desired position .

[alpineart]

100_4351.jpg

Prior to slip potting

100_4353.jpg

Potted and trimmed ,i will allow it to settle then wire and style

100_4354.jpg

[Greth]

Nice start, I get lost with those multistemmed ones, they can be absolute thickets. The ones I collected turned into firewood maybe I should have been more patient, but they sure as heck looked dead to me. Ive got a couple of smaller ones which have worked ok, and will make nice little minis, didn't want backbreakers anyway.

[alpineart]

Hi Greth if a tree doesn't appear today it will show up tomorrow , i never in too much of a hurry . Cheers

[Greth]

I have collected all the olives within walking distance of the house (walking distance isn't very far as I have a 22 month old girl to deal with, cant take her with me, cant leave her home). Now playing with eucs and casurina, which are within easy walk.

[Jamie]

nice piece of material Alpine!

i am wondering what the go is with the branch that seems to go at a right angle? in the main trunk? the child trunk looks like it is thickening quite quickly to, i know you can move these ok but wouldnt it be a good idea to put movement in it is soon if you plan on it mate?


jamie

[Greth]

suspect hes just waiting for it to settle before deciding what to do with that one, hardly ever hurts to be cautious with bonsai, tho the most stunning trees are often the result of drastic action. It has had a lot of serious pruning and repotting, give it a while to show it is happy before another round of reworking.

[alpineart]

I have collected all the olives within walking distance of the house (walking distance isn't very far as I have a 22 month old girl to deal with, cant take her with me, cant leave her home). Now playing with eucs and casurina, which are within easy walk.

Hi Greth walkies in the pram strap them on the side and enjoy the day .I've been dragging my little bloke out since before he could walk , now he drags me out {P.S the wife too} we make a day of it

[alpineart]

suspect hes just waiting for it to settle before deciding what to do with that one, hardly ever hurts to be cautious with bonsai, tho the most stunning trees are often the result of drastic action. It has had a lot of serious pruning and repotting, give it a while to show it is happy before another round of reworking.

Great minds think alike , you nailed it in one , plus i've still got hundreds of trainer to sort out Cheers

[alpineart]

Cut and carved the trunk a few week ago and placed it into a large oval tray . I think its on the right track .

100_5300.jpg

100_5302.jpg

Cheers

[bonsai4life]

Lovin it alpine.....you always impress with what you do....definately on the right track.

Just wanted to know if all of what carved was alive when you carved it? if so how'd you treat it...with fire or anything?

Cheers
Gott

[alpineart]

Lovin it alpine.....you always impress with what you do....definately on the right track.

Just wanted to know if all of what carved was alive when you carved it? if so how'd you treat it...with fire or anything?

Cheers
Gott

Hi Gott ,thanks for the comp' . Yes the bulb was alive when carved . Mate this is one of the hardest timbers i have carved in bonsai so i haven't treated it .If it does rot it will only add to the character .Cheers Alpine

[MattA]

Hi Gott ,thanks for the comp' . Yes the bulb was alive when carved . Mate this is one of the hardest timbers i have carved in bonsai so i haven't treated it .If it does rot it will only add to the character .Cheers Alpine

Alpine, as always great work, olives are hard wood but they can & do rot out with speed. This is an olive that a member brought along to the club meeting a few months ago, the entire core has rotted out naturally, leaving the thinnest layer of wood and bark imaginable. The pic doesnt really show the hollow well but you can see the light coming thru from the back of it.

DSCN0111.jpg

Nice start, I get lost with those multistemmed ones, they can be absolute thickets. The ones I collected turned into firewood maybe I should have been more patient, but they sure as heck looked dead to me. Ive got a couple of smaller ones which have worked ok, and will make nice little minis, didn't want backbreakers anyway.

Greth, many years ago Dot K. told me to not throw anything out until it had been "dead" for atleast 12mths, just stick it in the corner or under the bench where its out of the way but will get watered. It is amazing how often I have decided to ditch something, get it out from its hideyhole to throw & discover signs of new life.

Matt

[alpineart]

Hi Matt , no doubt in time i may rot out . That olive does look a mature old tree .Everything that comes onto this planet has to go sometime. Hope to collect 1 old bugger like that very soon .Thanks for posting it .Cheers Alpine

[MattA]

quote="alpineart"] no doubt in time i may rot out . [/quote] Dont you just love typos

Alpine, this tree was bought as 10yr old nursery stock, the owner has had it for over 20yrs. After a few years he noticed some rot & upon inspection found the whole core had gone the way of the gods. All the rot that could be removed was then it was treated with a wood hardener to preserve it & stop any further rot.

I have a few photos of it but none really show off this stunning tree, the owners grand daughter calls it the 'Fairy tree', when he told me this I had another look & sure enough there was one poking her head out from the hollow and poking her tongue out at me for not noticing her or her friends earlier.

Matt

Btw my rot has already set in.. I just reshoot from the base & grow on again until the next time and the process repeats all over again