AusBonsai

Brett i dont think you can accurately judge scale from a photo of a tree growing in the ground. Although to me those leaves look more slender than normal.

Glad this was moved to sept, the rare plant fair is on in april at bilpin. Now all i have to do is find someone to babysit the dogs & I am there with spades on Might drag a mate or 2 along to help with the digging. Is olive the only stuff thats around out there to collect?

Matt

Here is a pic of some olive leaf. this tree stump is in the clare valley. and this is from the top of one of the many branches.

God dam is that diseased or is that the leaf size?
I don't think we will get any smaller than that Chris. Thanks kindly for your effort.
I hade no idea it was this small we where talking about it will be intresting if this is it or not. Please collect one if you can. If Don doesn't want it I reckon I would like to give that a go.

i will go back and get a pic of the stump and area. im sure chemicals are involved and will ask the grape grower near the tree for some info

Yeah thats freaky isn't it, those small leaves like that, I think its been poisoned and turned into some sort of mutant, if you dug it up and started looking after it it would probably revert back to its original leaf size, what you would have to do is find out what they hit with and keep giving it mild doses of the same stuff, not sure how long you could keep that up for though, probably not long, it would end up dying I'd say ... or maybe it would eventually turn into a triffid, escape from its pot and go on a killing rampage.

Theres a particular chemical you can spray that retards the growth and produces smaller leaves. Bonzabud / Paclobutrazol. I purchased a chinese elm that had normal foliage till i got it hope and slip potted it. With in weeks the old foliage fell and the new foliage grew back like hokkeido. When i inquired about that to who i purchased from, the answer was they had experimented with Bonzabud. Aparrently lasts 6 months to a year. Leong speaks of this in his book and sais it lasts up to 4 yrs on ficus. That tree definately looks sick though.

I recall Asus mentioning glyphosate does that some years ago. If so i wouldn't risk it.

Joel

mmmm time is getting closer and closer to the date we will all arive for a grand bonsai BBQ in Hay bring it on i say

i have recently got 2 new tyres for my dad's trolley lucky i work at a dump as they where free

Ozzy and i will test the trolley

i will have a pic for don soon with the small leaf olive verity

I am having trouble finding someone who can look after my dogs so I can come on the dig. I am not of means to be able to kennel them and to be honest I wouldnt leave them in one even if I could afford it. So..

I am wondering how others would feel if my babies came with me. They are Gus, wolfhound x pointer who thinks at 75kg he is still small enough to be cradled like a baby and Rei, great dane with 3 legs who likes to tease those less able than herself ie everyone (she isnt disabled she is super abled, and yes she really believes this).

Huge but the biggest sooks you have ever met... scared of little dogs, cats, chickens, ducks and even my mice scare them They have been taught how to behave in company & especially around my bonsai. Gus had a penchant for eating them as a puppy, including a very old inherited Magnolia stellata

Matt

MattA wrote:Glad this was moved to sept, the rare plant fair is on in april at bilpin. Now all i have to do is find someone to babysit the dogs & I am there with spades on Might drag a mate or 2 along to help with the digging. Is olive the only stuff thats around out there to collect?

Matt

Hey Matt, I'm a bit south on the Central Coast, and I'll look after your dogs if you bring me back and olive, or 2

Anja that is an extremely generous offer, have pmd you.

Am planning on digging as many olives as I can so an extra couple wont be an overburden on the ute

Matt

Hi Matt
We would have to ask Don that one and consider if any members had a dislike of Dogs. If it was just up to me I am always happy to have the company of great dogs If no members object we can ask Don! I like to think no harm in asking
Oh and nice one Chris I hadn't thought of any trolleys. I always wanted to make up a cart that my dog could pull

If Don wants small african leafed olives, he doesn't need to go to Goulburn. There is a patch near the bridge over the Murrumbidgee behind Yanco Ag College. Its on the right as you head south, just before the bridge. Take a mattock and chainsaw. No other tools required. Mattock the surface roots, pull the top until the tap root snaps, trim the roots and tops.

The NSW Parks and Wildlife people will give permission to dig the trees - call the Wagga office.

Go to Dugzbonsai.com for directions on how to keep youir olive alive and grow it into a bonsai.

Hey folks can we get a few pics up of this elusive small leaf olive some close up's would be great.