Page 2 of 3
Re: Figs - beautiful Figs.....
Posted: January 10th, 2010, 2:22 pm
by bonzaidog
Thanx for the photo, "Sir" Jerry,
Is it your intention for the host to rot away altogether,or is that the way the cookie crumbles?....
...Dog
Re: Figs - beautiful Figs.....
Posted: January 10th, 2010, 3:05 pm
by Jerry Meislik
Dog,
The trunk is crumbling away so I guess I am resigned to have it eventually hollow out and have a basket of roots remain.
I could try to treat the rotting out wood with a penetrating marine epoxy.
Will keep you posted.
Jerry
Re: Figs - beautiful Figs.....
Posted: January 10th, 2010, 3:33 pm
by hugh grant
Looking good Jerry, it seems to be progressing well
can't wait to see the pic of what it looks like now.
Hugh
From Rainforest to bonsai
Posted: March 20th, 2010, 9:18 pm
by sreeve
Since July 2009, of my four trial plants, I managed to kill two of the plants.
Of the two remaining trials, one needed some surgery on an overly dominant downward root and the fourth is cooking nicely…..time will tell
I just finished re-reading “From Rainforest to Bonsai” by Len Webber and am really excited by some of the things and trials Len documented….what a man……
When I made my original post I had a brain explosion and tried to replicate an example of a natural hollow strangler fig I had seen in a local reserve….……
The book clearly shows that Len beat me to it by ages………..I would REALLY love to see the trees he developed to reproduce these type of strangler figs……
Someone / some people purchased his figs – can you please post them……(in particular the hollow strangler figs)
Max Candy is a legend – unfortunately I never had a chance to learn from him and Grant is doing a great job of documenting some history about him as he made a really significant contribution to Aussie bonsai.
After reading Len Webber’s book it is plainly obvious that Len also made a significant contribution.
Grant, Ric, Noel or Lee, did you get a chance to spend some time with Len?
Are there any examples of his trees?
He seems to have been a real "ideas man”…..a man of action not of talk only
I gleaned a couple of ideas for new ways to replicate figs in nature and will try a few new experiments in the next few weeks
If anyone hasn’t read this book – do yourself a favour and raid the local library
Regards
Steve
Re: Figs - beautiful Figs.....
Posted: March 20th, 2010, 9:33 pm
by Bretts
Steve I am a fan of Len's book as you know. My understanding was that some of his trees where saved in a collection. I am sure you know what I am talking about as this is stated in the book. Is this colection of Lennards trees gone?
Re: Figs - beautiful Figs.....
Posted: March 20th, 2010, 9:36 pm
by sreeve
I think I might need to re-read the book.
Where is the collection - I thought the book implied that most had been sold and only a few retained by the family?
Regards
Steve
Re: Figs - beautiful Figs.....
Posted: March 20th, 2010, 9:49 pm
by Bretts
I just got the book out Steve and could not find what I was talking about. The dyslexic side caught on and I realised I had seen pictures of his trees online. Can't remember if there is a reference to this in the book or not but I found what I was talking about.
http://www.bonsai4me.com/Gallery/Galler ... otanic.htm
Brisbane Botanic Gardens-Bonsai House Collection
Re: From Rainforest to bonsai
Posted: March 20th, 2010, 10:09 pm
by anttal63
Re: Figs - beautiful Figs.....
Posted: March 22nd, 2010, 7:07 pm
by Grant Bowie
Hi all, Grant Bowie here,
Now we are getting back in History!
Len Webber was the first person I ever met to do with Bonsai. I was 13 years old (40 years ago this year) and had been learning indonesian as a language in High School. We were taken to a display of Asian arts somewhere on the north shore of Sydney and in the science lab kitchen/prep room was Lenny Webber and a small display of Bonsai.
I WAS HOOKED FOR LIFE!
He certainly was a "Colorful Bonsai Identity" with all its good and bad conotations;his teaching style and gruff manner certainly didn't suit everyone.
I could relay many stories from the many years I rubbed up against him in many forums but probably the most memorable were the Bonsai Weekend Seminars at the Ryde School of Horticulture. They were great and such an inspiration.
I was pleased to include some of his trees in a BFA display in 1988(I was president for two years).
We also had other School of Bonsai trees in the show as well.
Grant
Re: Figs - beautiful Figs.....
Posted: March 22nd, 2010, 7:14 pm
by Bretts
He sounded like an intresting fellow Grant
Can we still see his trees anywhere, Are they still at the Brisbane Botanic Gardens
Keep an eye out for his book on Ebay. It took me a while to come across it but I have seen them go up for auction on a regular basis over the last few years.
Re: Figs - beautiful Figs.....
Posted: March 22nd, 2010, 7:51 pm
by bonsai4life
Hi all,
Some of his collection is still at the botanic gardens...as well as other trees. I'm not sure but I think most of the figs there are his, of which I have some pics...just trying to work out how to resize them...hmm
cheers Gott
Re: Figs - beautiful Figs.....
Posted: March 22nd, 2010, 7:56 pm
by Bretts
Hi Gott That would be great
irfanview is what I always use to resize pics.
http://www.irfanview.com/
It is a free download.
Re: Figs - beautiful Figs.....
Posted: March 22nd, 2010, 8:08 pm
by sreeve
Thanks Grant
Re: Figs - beautiful Figs.....
Posted: March 22nd, 2010, 8:46 pm
by bonsai4life
heres a few pics..maybe Lens trees...
love the inspiration picture....
Re: Figs - beautiful Figs.....
Posted: March 23rd, 2010, 6:03 am
by sreeve
Thanks Bonsai4life