AusBonsai

hi craig

mate that would be perfect and look right just like that! I think that flows so much better and the hole at the back looks right then

I reckon a graft or two with some cuttings/whips and you will be good in a season or three

jamie

Hi all,I'm just going to post a progression of the new buds opening,I think every 2 days should do it Craig

Lookin great Craig! You sure have done justice to this elm.
Have you found a suitable pot for it or will you be getting one of our local potters to create something special?
Regards,
Steven

Thanks Steven, not too sure about a suitable pot yet, open to suggestions, Craig

Day2 and Day3 today is rainy so pic has shadows, sorry:D - Craig

Day 4-taken inside Day 5- outside again

I like it Craig. By posting every couple of days, it's interesting watching it progress.

I don't think I've commented on this one, but that's not to say I haven't been following it. Personally, I don't see that broken away section at the bottom of the hollowed out trunk as a problem. If anything, to me it adds a lot of character to the overall effect. Sort of like: The tree has been through a lot of hardship (even a bushfire) but refused to fall over and die - strength through adversity. In all honesty, if this one was mine (I wish), I wouldn't even worry about trying to fill that bottom section in. I'd leave it exactly as it is. Over time, I guess this tree will thicken, so that lower 'supposed problem' won't be so pronounced.

Tman wrote:I like it Craig. By posting every couple of days, it's interesting watching it progress

Thanks Tman,thats what i thought, and it keeps within the whole progression thing.

Tman wrote:Personally, I don't see that broken away section at the bottom of the hollowed out trunk as a problem. If anything, to me it adds a lot of character to the overall effect. Sort of like: The tree has been through a lot of hardship (even a bushfire) but refused to fall over and die - strength through adversity. In all honesty, if this one was mine (I wish), I wouldn't even worry about trying to fill that bottom section in. I'd leave it exactly as it is

My thoughts are, that i do struggle with idea of filling the hole because -A- it bring individuality to this tree -B- theres no reason that a tree couldn't grow like this in the wild,.However i'm always open to suggestions because thats how we learn to be more open minded about our trees thanks Craig

You're exactly right Craig. Everyone has their own opinion about the way a tree should or should not be styled, and that's good because it gives different aspects on the tree. From your own ideas and the ideas of others, you can work out what you think will give you the best outcome - the one that you as the owner and grower will me most happy with.

Quite often, you can look at your tree and believe it's the best you can make it, then someone will come along and point out something that you may have overlooked or ignored. You look at your tree again with a different slant on it and see that what they have suggested would definitely enhance the tree. That's what is so good about forums - so many people with so many different and varied ideas, opinions and advice. It all helps to create good quality trees.

Craig wrote:

bodhidharma wrote:You are forgiven I like this tree a lot but, like Jamie, keep getting drawn to the base and the piece missing.You should be able to fill it, there are many ways to do it. Wood filler and colouring, maybe grow a second trunk and turn it into Mother and child. Lots of solutions

Thanks Bodhi, are you drawn to it because Jamie pointed it out?maybe. Basically i have a cutting from this same tree that i will use to address the issue but plan to leave the hole and complete the trunkline down to the roots again, something like this maybe,,, cheers mate Craig

No, it hit me as soon as i looked at the tree. But looking at the response some like it and some dont but that is what Bonsai is all about. I like the idea in the photo you have attached.

G,day Craig as you know I am one of the dont like it, as it looks like it might fall over. When I see it posted, I imediatly look at your avatar.
With the nice flow of the roots and how they flair out.
The picture that Bohdi put up show's how much better, it would look with just a hole and not the missing link, to stability.

JMHO cheers Pup

Keep the missing link, for mine. A very dramatic element in the trunk-destruction story. It wouldn't work, except that the guts of the trunk has gone. Check out some of the radical prunus mume trunks, and some of the wilder penjing.

Good going.

Gavin

When you see those dramatic Prunus mume bBonsai and Penjing, do you notice the sparsity of foliage, not the full canopy of healthy foliage this tree has.

Hi all, thanks for the feedback ,

Hi Craig,

Like the song says... "What a difference a day makes....... Just 24 little hours"