AusBonsai

Great thread Watto.

So good to see well documented work over a number of years..
Cheers!

Coming along nicely Watto The cambium is rolling over beautifully and the branch building is coming along a treat. Another ten or so years and it will be a treat to look at.

What a master class. Great? One English master didn't approve of this type of bonsai. He called them 'logs in pots' Well I think that is unkind for sure. Great work.

I have been trying to continue this progression over a number of years, and so here is the latest photo. This is the summer shot for 2014 (only just made it into 2014) and the shape is developing OK. I still need to reduce the leaf size and to increase the ramification, but those things take time.
Hope you enjoy the latest offering.

Very nice watto love your work very nice tree

Very nice work!
Just wondering if you under cut the roots closer to the trunk to induce more roots growing closer to the trunk? This would make the next root reduction a tad easier as there would already be fibrous roots growing closer to the trunk.

Thanks Sammy
Edward - the roots system is quite extensive under the trunk so I don't have any plans to induce more roots. Hopefully at the next re-pot in 2 years time I can rearrange a few of the roots and get a better nabari. Thanks for your thoughts.

A couple of up-dated photos. In October this year I decided to put this bonsai in the Goulburn Bonsai Society exhibition, but it really was a bit too early in the season and the leaf out was not completed. It was however a good fun thing to do. The second photo was taken today (apologies for the sun) and it is now in full leaf and I think looks better.
Still a bit of work to do but it is coming along.

Hi Watto
really like where you're taking this tree, appreciate you doing a thread on it for us all to learn and for us newbies to aspire to
peterb

Looks good Watto. You might encounter the same problems i am having in that the leaf size does not reduce readily. Yours is a large tree and you should be able to pull it off. Mine though, is only 450mm tall and looks a little silly. They ramify well though and could be potential in showing them in bud after defoliation.

You could be right Bodhi, leaf size is an issue. I noticed that Mauro Stemberger won at Noelanders with an Italian Alder but that was in its leafless state, so that could be the key?

Watto wrote:You could be right Bodhi, leaf size is an issue. I noticed that Mauro Stemberger won at Noelanders with an Italian Alder but that was in its leafless state, so that could be the key?

Yep, does yours bud in red and then turn green? Mine has lovely red bud swell and then bursts green.

Mine has green bud swell and then green leaves

I'm hoping you might have an update for this beast Watto?

Sorry for the delay in responding Squat Jar. This "little" darling has a new owner and home.
I hope they enjoy her as much as I did.
I have moved on a few of my larger trees, old age must be catching up with me!