Callistemon - NBPCA

[NBPCA]

Bottlebrush “Captain Cook”. This cultivar of the bottlebrush was dug from a garden in 2000.
Already an advanced shrub at the time, it had the heavy trunk and corrugated bark that suggested an
old tree, which are excellent starting points for a bonsai. The simple, slanting style suits the abundant
flowering in Spring. A great Australian icon, and a great bonsai.
The West Australian artist is an enthusiastic proponent of growing native plants as bonsai.

Callistemon7 - DO - 2010-5-19 800x600.jpg

Leigh Taafe
NBPCA

[Amanda]

A great Australian icon indeed, a very beautiful specimen.

[Glenda]

Bottlebrush “Captain Cook”. ....
The West Australian artist is an enthusiastic proponent of growing native plants as bonsai......
Leigh Taafe
NBPCA

Would that West Australian artist who is an enthusiastic proponent of growing native plants as bonsai be a member of this forum, whose online name begins with a P, ends in a p and has a u somewhere in the middle?

Glenda

[Leigh Taafe]

[Grant Bowie]

Bottlebrush “Captain Cook”. ....
The West Australian artist is an enthusiastic proponent of growing native plants as bonsai......
Leigh Taafe
NBPCA

Would that West Australian artist who is an enthusiastic proponent of growing native plants as bonsai be a member of this forum, whose online name begins with a P, ends in a p and has a u somewhere in the middle?

Glenda

Hmm, lets see. Yep, yep and yep.

He's our living national treasure from the west.

Grant

[Glenda]

Bottlebrush “Captain Cook”. ....
The West Australian artist is an enthusiastic proponent of growing native plants as bonsai......
Leigh Taafe
NBPCA

Would that West Australian artist who is an enthusiastic proponent of growing native plants as bonsai be a member of this forum, whose online name begins with a P, ends in a p and has a u somewhere in the middle?

Glenda

Hmm, lets see. Yep, yep and yep.

He's our living national treasure from the west.

Grant

He certainly is, and this tree is a living testament to the fact, as are all his bonsais!

Pup, when is that book coming? Pass on your knowledge to the next generation!

Glenda

[NBPCA]

Hi all,

Here is a picture or three of the Callistemon before we transported it accross the Nullabor to Canberra.

Picture1 - Copy.png

Picture4.png

Picture2.png

Grant

[Beaumatsu]

yeah pup i hear and see so much of your work with natives i would love to see and read a book on natives I'm 14 (15 in a few days) and i would love to get into natives so please bring out a book.

Beaumastu

[NBPCA]

Summer flowering of Bottlebrush Dec 2008.JPG

RIMG3385.JPG

RIMG3393.JPG

The reason for the shot of the back of the tree is to highlight the next area of work we undertook on this tree.
Note the two scars left after heavy branches or trunks were removed.
Since the tree is on display all year round and can be seen from behind I took on the job of disguising the scars.

Grant

[NBPCA]

Callistemon carving June 2009 001.jpg

Callistemon carving June 2009 002.jpg

[NBPCA]

Callistemon carving June 2009 011.jpg

Callistemon carving June 2009 012.jpg

Callistemon carving June 2009 015.jpg

[Pup]

With what you are doing to this tree Grant, I want it back, so when you come to the west next year will you bring it with you.

As I said I had it as an upright tree then changed it, then thought about changing it back to a more upright tree as I was sure it was the best option.
I do really like what you guys are doing with these trees.

It shows dedication and a love for the job and the trees, So on behalf of the Australian Bonsai and general viewing public a big THANK YOU.

Pup Mrs Pup and the Foreman

[NBPCA]

Anyhow it flowered well this year and has now been trimmed back.

CV 22112010.JPG

However the lowest left branch was becoming too dominant and the right hand side would not stay vigorous so with Pups permission we looked at a new angle for the tree.

Angle 1.JPG

Angle 2.JPG

Angle 3.JPG

By tilting the tree it lessens the visual impact of the heavy left branch, raises and stretches out the right hand side and rounds out the tree nicely.

Grant

[NBPCA]

IMG_0681 - Copy.JPG

IMG_0688 - Copy.JPG

ok 001 - Copy.JPG

Grant

[kcpoole]

I like it more as a little more upright tree

Nice work Boys
Ken