AusBonsai

This size and style is not something that you see every day, and I have appreciated learning a little about it. Personally I wouldn't say this casuarina is beautiful, but it IS impressive. Each tree projects it's own image and story, and to me this one it is something like I AM KING
Now, that's not the kind of tree that I'm usually attracted to - personally I prefer to see more vulnerability/impermanence in a bonsai. It's the idea of wabi sabi that I am still learning about.
Thanks to Luke for posting this link, which helps to identify what I do and don't like about bonsai while at the same time showing me what is possible!

Andrew

treeman wrote: Most of the posts on this forum are people slapping each other on the back and I believe there could be more critical yet subtle assessments of the trees. Let's face it some of the stuff has no future and so the option for the beginner is to find out after years of wasted effort, OR for someone to say ''Look just cut everything off and start again''.

With all due respect Treeman, if that's the case then maybe you can be around more to post some "critical yet subtle assessments" of the trees people post (to keep this great site running on a daily basis) that don't deserve pat's on the back. It'd great to put some of your 25 yrs experience to work and help those less experienced people gain some some insight into the way trees "should" be grown.
I look forward to your future input, Regards Craig..................

Craig wrote:

treeman wrote: Most of the posts on this forum are people slapping each other on the back and I believe there could be more critical yet subtle assessments of the trees. Let's face it some of the stuff has no future and so the option for the beginner is to find out after years of wasted effort, OR for someone to say ''Look just cut everything off and start again''.

With all due respect Treeman, if that's the case then maybe you can be around more to post some "critical yet subtle assessments" of the trees people post (to keep this great site running on a daily basis) that don't deserve pat's on the back. It'd great to put some of your 25 yrs experience to work and help those less experienced people gain some some insight into the way trees "should" be grown.
I look forward to your future input, Regards Craig..................

Couldn't have put it better

treeman wrote:I know many will disagree, but I find this tree and many others like it to be rather grotesque and unatural. If I had it I could see myself becoming unsatisfied before too long Some modern growers are moving away from the traditional reason bonsai were first grown---to have and enjoy a BEAUTIFUL tree in a pot reflecting nature and its seasons. Now it seems the important thing is size and trunk diamater above beauty. I agree with the late Kyuzo Murata when he said bonsai are getting to big. Soon someone is going to try to dig up an elm as big as a house and pot it up. Lets have another look at the old Japanese masterpiece maples, pines and apricots for right direction. Anyone agree?

You mean something like this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7F2cOrGzdo

I can appreciate your sentiment but, although you put alot of "in my opinion" notices up I feel that you think it goes further than your opinion.

Personally I think Roberts casuarina is stunning. The story of that powerful masculine trunk, capped with amazing secondary branching and ramification. To me it shows great skill and is also beautiful.

Again I appreciate your sentiments but get the feeling that you may be a little behind on the trends in the world bonsai community.
Since Kyuzo Murata died in 1991 (maybe it was from his comments?) there has been a trend towards the smaller bonsai being the most popular.

Maybe I misunderstand you some as along with smaller trees there has also been a trend towards "chunkier" trees. This goes hand in hand with wanting to re-create the shohin style in a larger tree.

Personally I appreciate all styles of bonsai big, small, elegant and masculine and don't feel any need to follow the trend. Some times the bueaty of a tree is mainly it's sheer size. Why would we exclude this from the beauty of bonsai. Yet the elegance of a tree can be equally as stunning.
Others may lean towards liking specific styles of bonsai. I don't think it is for anyone to call ones not to their liking grotesque and unnatural. Especially when it is obvious that much time and skill has gone into creating them.

On the other hand large trees like this can captivate a larger audience and it is probably a smaller audience of the more schooled in the arts that will also appreciate an elegant tree just as much for the skill in it's creation and beauty.

I think in time you will find some very stunning examples of penjing that will sway your opinion there. But then again if you fail to see any beauty in this casuarina maybe it is yourself that does not understand why we grow bonsai/penjing

Having grown them for the past 27 years, I think I've an idea why other people do.

treeman wrote:Having grown them for the past 27 years, I think I've an idea why other people do.

please lets see some of your trees, they must be very nice

Whats going on? I just spent an hour writing a post and now I cant find it!!

treeman wrote:Whats going on? I just spent an hour writing a post and now I cant find it!!

If your talking about all the quotes, there gone. If you wrote something else it never showed up,

treeman wrote:Having grown them for the past 27 years, I think I've an idea why other people do.

Maybe you do but I can only go by the words you are printing

Craig wrote:

treeman wrote:Whats going on? I just spent an hour writing a post and now I cant find it!!

If your talking about all the quotes, there gone. If you wrote something else it never showed up,

I'm obviously doing something wrong Craig. What do you mean by ''all the quotes are gone'' ? Help!

i'm sending a pm your way, lets talk

Bretts wrote:

treeman wrote:I know many will disagree, but I find this tree and many others like it to be rather grotesque and unatural. If I had it I could see myself becoming unsatisfied before too long Some modern growers are moving away from the traditional reason bonsai were first grown---to have and enjoy a BEAUTIFUL tree in a pot reflecting nature and its seasons. Now it seems the important thing is size and trunk diamater above beauty. I agree with the late Kyuzo Murata when he said bonsai are getting to big. Soon someone is going to try to dig up an elm as big as a house and pot it up. Lets have another look at the old Japanese masterpiece maples, pines and apricots for right direction. Anyone agree?

You mean something like this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7F2cOrGzdo

Yes Bretts, Thats exactly what I mean. To me these people don't really ''get'' bonsai. I mean what are they trying to prove? ''Mine's bigger that yours''? Give me a break. I think I'm going to hire 17 helecopters and have a look at the 100 year old fig in the botanic gardens!

Since Kyuzo Murata died in 1991 (maybe it was from his comments?) there has been a trend towards the smaller bonsai being the most popular.

Exactly. once again the Japanese are leading the way.

Yes the Japanese have amazing trees. Personally though I am most inspired by some of the work coming from Indonesia at the moment.

Please don't hold us in suspense with all this talk can we see some of your trees ?

Bretts wrote:Yes the Japanese have amazing trees. Personally though I am most inspired by some of the work coming from Indonesia at the moment.

Please don't hold us in suspense with all this talk can we see some of your trees ?

Here is a procumbens. Needs work on the deadwood


An azalea. (these trees have not been cleaned as you can see)



Cotoneaster



J. rigida.

These trees look very strange on screen. they must have somehow got compressed. They are actually much wider