A SHORT RECENT HISTORY OF A BOUGAINVILLEA.

[Dave54]

No doubt about you blokes, sure know how to deviate from the thrust of the posting
cheers
Dave

[Marc]

Hi Dave, can i ask a question? PLEASE DO NOT TAKE THIS THE WRONG WAY, JUST FOR MY CURIOSITY!!!!

Why would you take a vine, bascially that is what a Boug is, and turn it into a tree like this?

Before you answer: this stems from the everlasting question we all seem to ask about who likes what styles for their bonsais? My opinion is that most of the time I would train a tree to replicate what it would look like in nature. So for a Boug, it grows up - then comes down, so a cascade of some sort... for me anyways.

Another example could be a wisteria, a lot of people train them as a tree, when they are a vine. So you could train them into a tree of sorts, as long as there are dangly down bits to represent reality.

Now I can't and wont say 100% of the time you have to do it this way, I don't think so. But to my mind I like bonsai to represent real life...

[PeterW]

Sorry Brett, i didnt know you had feelings also.
Peter

This seems to insinuate that I have offended you in some way?

No Brett, all in jest mate. Thats why i put the little smiley face beside my post
It changes the feel to the post when it is removed doesnt it! See how it isnt in the quoted post by you. Then look back to were it was posted and see the smiley face. They are there for a reason.
However i do apoligies if i have offended you, it certainly wasnt intentional.
Peter

[PeterW]

Hi Dave, can i ask a question? PLEASE DO NOT TAKE THIS THE WRONG WAY, JUST FOR MY CURIOSITY!!!!

Why would you take a vine, bascially that is what a Boug is, and turn it into a tree like this?

Before you answer: this stems from the everlasting question we all seem to ask about who likes what styles for their bonsais? My opinion is that most of the time I would train a tree to replicate what it would look like in nature. So for a Boug, it grows up - then comes down, so a cascade of some sort... for me anyways.

Another example could be a wisteria, a lot of people train them as a tree, when they are a vine. So you could train them into a tree of sorts, as long as there are dangly down bits to represent reality.

Now I can't and wont say 100% of the time you have to do it this way, I don't think so. But to my mind I like bonsai to represent real life...

Marc...Mate. How do you honestly expect anyone to answer that? Why do we grow a maple in a style of a pine, there are numerous comparisons, to go into it publicly would only become a nasty episode in my opinion. To grow a boug like we see them in nature (up here anyway) i would have to let it kill a great bonsai by growing the boug over the top of it...that dont make sense hey!

Regards
Peter

[Bretts]

No doubt about you blokes, sure know how to deviate from the thrust of the posting
cheers
Dave

Online forums are an amazing thing Dave once you post a thread it can be anyones guess were it will go. It is not like a Demonstration or Article that you are in control of. It is often futile to get upset about it. Even the disagreement of members in your post( Sorry ) After a while you can see this is also one of the best things about it. It can lead in directions you never saw. It has possibilities and the freedom of speech that we love so much in this country. Some times you have to try your question in a different Angle or even get a bit stern with people. If it gets too bad you can restart the thread and tell them to stay away from your thread. Hey they might even listen The worst thing you can do is get upset.

I hope you can still enjoy our company here

[Asus101]

Another example could be a wisteria, a lot of people train them as a tree, when they are a vine. So you could train them into a tree of sorts, as long as there are dangly down bits to represent reality.
.

Wisteria is trained to show off the flowers then to show the age of the tree. The tentacles ( yeah they are like an octopus....) can grow up to 6 inches a night, they are unruly and not very good looking when in full leaf.
So for wisteria you aim to train for show of flowers.

[Dave54]

Hi Marc,
As I have said in this forum before, to me Bonsai is DEFINATELY NOT a replication of nature in a pot. Every enthusiast's trees that I see, who subscribe to the "Natural" theory, usually have the most untidy collection of trees.( My opinion only) In my collection I am acused of having the trees too manicured, especially Privets.
Again, I am well documented as stating my thoughts on Bonsai, is that it is a combination of Art, Horticulture and Perception.
For your info, when I style a tree, I look for a terrific base with CHARACTER, I then try to style the tree around it. This particular tree is done in a left, right, rear format and to allow it to grow in its natural form, to my eye would have been unruly. I ultimately look for a finished product with STYLE, GRACE, BALANCE and CHARACTER. It doesn't mean, however, that on another given styling day, I may not have come up with something different.
I do bonsai to please my own eye, although it is nice for others to appreciate your art, it is not always the case.
You comments are nonetheless interesting.

And Soltan,
I am certainly not upset, I must be getting soft as I couldn't quite tell where the insults were and I lost the gist of why he would be sounding like Soltan
cheers
Dave

[Hector Johnson]

We could actually discuss the topic posted. That would prevent AusBonsai turning into a personality-driven wasteland of drivel like a few forum boards I joined about three years ago then quit because they turned into ego-stroking cesspits.

[buddaboy]

Marc, As a queensland bonsai butcher, I would like to add a little something here. I love flowering trees. Most collections showcase flowering trees. My apricot, Idont know how well it will flower in my climate. My Maples, do not go red in my climate. My callistimon is quite happy in my climate. AZALEAS die in my climate!!!

Bougainvilleas Love my climate.

To make any tree accurate to nature.....well my gum tree is a stick in a pot. To give the appearance of natural form and shape through styling is the pinnicle of our art.
To make a fig tree with the growth habit of a feral cat look like a 600 year old Black Pine in shape, you have to know what a tree looks like in the wild. Even if the tree is styled in a different way than you would see in nature ie: Bougainvillea, Grape, Olive, Orange, Fig etc, you can still make the tree look like a tree. Whether you like a 'Natural' or 'Topiary' look, you still can see that it is in fact a tree. This is bonsai.

Of course everything written above is only "In My Humble Opinion".

As for growing Bougs as a weeping style, it is hard to see the relevance for this when I drive past 15 to 30 foot tall trees on the side of the road which show no weeping tendancies at all.

Ron

[PeterW]

A grower in queensland once told me he treats the wounds on Bougs with a mixture of PVA glue and Lime sulphur. Has anybody tried that? I have been meaning to do it but never seam to get around to doing it.
Peter

[buddaboy]

Pete, If you contact Northside Nursery on Morayfield, They use a paint product for their cuts. Unfortunatly the day I visited, the couldnt find the can of paint so I couldnt find out what it was. For myself, I use the tube of wound sealant from Japan although if I ever start carving ill have to figure out the lime sulphur.

Ron

[Jon Chown]

A grower in queensland once told me he treats the wounds on Bougs with a mixture of PVA glue and Lime sulphur

That would make sense Peter as the PVA would act as a sealer for the wood grain and stop the moisture getting in while the Lime sulphur does its work on the wood preservation.

Jon

[PeterW]

Pete, If you contact Northside Nursery on Morayfield, They use a paint product for their cuts. Unfortunatly the day I visited, the couldnt find the can of paint so I couldnt find out what it was. For myself, I use the tube of wound sealant from Japan although if I ever start carving ill have to figure out the lime sulphur.

Ron

Thanks for that Ron, i will ask Tess next time i am down there. I might try and get some pics of a few of here Bougs!
Peter

[Dave54]

Hi Everyone,
my trade secret, don't tell anyone !
treat your carved wood with Lime Sulphur, when it has dried paint on a product called "EARL'S WOOD HARDENER" which is available from Bunnings stores.
The wood hardener is designed for treating already rotted marine wood. Use on your soft wood carving as a preventative for decay, however, if you have an already "soft section" remove as much of the decay as possible and it will certainly slow dow the process.
Hope this helps!
cheers
Dave

[Bretts]

And Soltan,
I am certainly not upset, I must be getting soft as I couldn't quite tell where the insults were and I lost the gist of why he would be sounding like Soltan
cheers
DaveDave54
Aussie Bonsai Fan

I am often lost too