AusBonsai

Fly, I can see where you are going with this and how you are planning ahead. The future branch structure(s) will bring the carving into proportion with your overall design. Good work so far.

Ash Barns wrote:Fly, I can see where you are going with this and how you are planning ahead. The future branch structure(s) will bring the carving into proportion with your overall design. Good work so far.

Thanks Mr Barns!

At the moment, I am "too close" to the tree to see exactly what I have done, so I'm glad you can see where it's heading. Seriously though, the work I did today is in part inspired by this progression by Walter Pall - you will note the similarities between my stock and his, except that mine is a little more boring and straight.

I expect that once it has grown some, I will want to get in and remove more of that deadwood, but time will tell...

Thanks again!

Fly.

I checked out the link to Walter's Apricot and there is no better to draw inspiration from than Walter. Perhaps slanting the trunk may offer further movement. It would be great if the man himself could give you a few pointers for the trees direction.

I like it even more now .
As you said earlier, it was either take the top right off and use the first branch to build a new tree, or get creative and try something different ( check My sig )

The former route will no doubt make a nice tree given you are doing it, but will take ages, So get creative and See what we can dream up

ken

It's kind of interesting how you treated this tree. Well, with the lack of taper and the thick flat top it would have taken ages before this could have looked somewhat decent. But also this one will take ages. I would set it into a bit too large pot and feed and water it aggressively. Modern substrate, of course and full sun. Let grow very long shoots and then cut back ruthlessly after a few months . Do this for five years and you will get to something like the tree of mine that you posted. It started out a bit like your's.
greetings
WP
http://walter-pall.de

Here is the history of mine so you understand what I am talking about: http://walter-pall.de/floweringprunus_n ... index.html

greetings
WP
http://walter-pall.de

Hello Walter,
Welcome to AusBonsai, it is a pleasure to see you here.

Cheers,
Mojo

Good sound advice from Walter. Many thanks for your contribution to this progression Walter and for taking the time offering it. Over to you Mr. Fly when you get back from work.

Regards Ash

Great to see Walter here and having his input, now we just gotta get him down here for an Aussie Tour...

anttal63 wrote:Great to see Walter here and having his input, now we just gotta get him down here for an Aussie Tour...

That would be the icing on the cake of our bonsai calendar. 2012 for the AABC would seem appropriate.

Ash Barns wrote:

anttal63 wrote:Great to see Walter here and having his input, now we just gotta get him down here for an Aussie Tour...

That would be the icing on the cake of our bonsai calendar. 2012 for the AABC would seem appropriate.

Now wouldn't that be something??? VERY progressive move!!!

Ash Barns wrote:I checked out the link to Walter's Apricot and there is no better to draw inspiration from than Walter. Perhaps slanting the trunk may offer further movement. It would be great if the man himself could give you a few pointers for the trees direction.

Gday Ash!

I agree about tilting the trunk - I'm thinking that 15-20 degrees to the right might work - and it is not too late to re-repot it in the next few days. It will mean having to do some more vigorous root work in future, but that is OK by me.

Walter Pall wrote:It's kind of interesting how you treated this tree. Well, with the lack of taper and the thick flat top it would have taken ages before this could have looked somewhat decent. But also this one will take ages. I would set it into a bit too large pot and feed and water it aggressively. Modern substrate, of course and full sun. Let grow very long shoots and then cut back ruthlessly after a few months . Do this for five years and you will get to something like the tree of mine that you posted. It started out a bit like your's.

Gday Walter, and welcome to AusBonsai.com!

I could only see two ways to go with this tree:

(1) Chop it at the first or second branch and start from scratch; or,

(2) Try to make the height of the trunk into a commodity rather than a liability, as you have done with your Prunus. (Likewise, the creator of the tree in the Bonsai Focus photos I included.)

Of course, my carving needs a lot of refinement to further improve the appearance of taper, and I hope to bring a hollow down the entire trunk eventually. Mr Ash's suggestion of tilting the trunk is much appreciated, also.

I am surprised at your prediction of a 5 year plan for this tree - I was thinking more like 10+ years to achieve a decent looking tree. I am constantly re-adjusting my 'soil' mixes to obtain maximum root growth in an effort to optimize the development of my trees, as well as finally learning how to fertilize my trees. Your prediction is very encouraging!

Thanks for taking the time to join and reply! I hope to make it worth your while someday.

Fly.

Mr. Fly thanks for accepting my meagre advice on your tree. The five year timescale Walter offered is not so far fetched considering our growing season. His feeding regime may be the key for us in the southern hemisphere if it works for him in the north.

hey fly, any more pics of the apricot. very eager to watch its progression