Vitis rotundifolia

[pjkatich]

Here is a species that you don't see very often used for bonsai: Vitis rotundifolia.

Vitis rotundifolia02.jpg

Vitis rotundifolia is a vine that is native to my area of the US.

Locally, it is know as the Muscadine.

It is a small leaved member of the grape family that grows in great abundance here.

Any thoughts on this one?

Cheers,
Paul

[bodhidharma]

Hi Paul, does it do autumn colour as it looks like it is decidious. I like it and i think more vines should be used for Bonsai. Virginia creeper and Boston Ivy do magnificent colour in Australia. Re the pot for the Wisteria, I will shop locally as we have excellent potters here and i like supporting local artists who could use the work.

[pjkatich]

Hi Paul, does it do autumn colour as it looks like it is decidious. I like it and i think more vines should be used for Bonsai. Virginia creeper and Boston Ivy do magnificent colour in Australia. Re the pot for the Wisteria, I will shop locally as we have excellent potters here and i like supporting local artists who could use the work.

G'day bodhi,

Yes, they do get some autumn color.

Normally, the leaves of this species turn a bright yellow color.

The ones growing wild around my area put on a heck of a show last year.

Unfortunately, this particular one was sort of hit and miss and it was not worth taking a photo.

In regards to the pot for your wisteria, that sounds like a good plan. I always recommend supporting your local artists.

Cheers,
Paul

[Dario]

Hi Paul, I like it!
It has a lovely aged trunk...how old is it please?
Also, I am no photographer but I love all the colour tones in this presentation...from stump, to pot, to trunk, to back drop...all similar dulled tones and shades, Ripper
Also, do you know what tree species the stump is and have you carved it out at all?
Cheers, Dario.
EDIT oh yeah...sorry yet another question, forgot to ask...does it have fruit like a grape and if so is it edible?

[pjkatich]

Hi Paul, I like it!
It has a lovely aged trunk...how old is it please?
Also, I am no photographer but I love all the colour tones in this presentation...from stump, to pot, to trunk, to back drop...all similar dulled tones and shades, Ripper
Also, do you know what tree species the stump is and have you carved it out at all?
Cheers, Dario.
EDIT oh yeah...sorry yet another question, forgot to ask...does it have fruit like a grape and if so is it edible?

G'day Dario,

This vine was originally collected in 2006 by one of my mates. He had been working with this species for several years and gave me the collected stump in 2007 because he was interested in seeing what I could do with it.

The stump that I am using as the stand is oak. It was laying in the back yard of my home when I bought the place in 1984. It has laid on the ground next to my compost bins until recently when I decided it would make a good stand for this cascade. All the character is the result of mother nature in action. The only thing I have done to it was clean it off and cut one end flat to make it usable as a stand.

It has not really changed much over the years and I assumed that it was probably a piece of a treated telephone pole. I was very surprised when I cut off the end and found that it was oak and does not appear to have had any type of treatment. The wood that is left is extremely dense and as solid as a fresh cut tree.

This species does fruit quite easily. The grapes are 10 to 15mm in diameter and are edible. All the local varmints love them. For this reason, I normally do not let the fruit ripen on the vine. The last time I did, a raccoon visited in the middle of the night and knocked the tree off the bench braking the previous pot.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts with me.

Have a great day.

Cheers,
Paul

[Dario]

That is some really interesting history Paul, thanks for sharing your story!
Wow, that is some durable wood
I have some stumps of cork oak that I plan to display my trees on one day and I think they are stunning with the mature cork on them.
I like bonsai presented like this on tree stumps.
Thanks again, and I hope you get to eat some ripened grapes from your bonsai without the animals getting to them or damaging things first.
Cheers, Dario.

[pjkatich]

That is some really interesting history Paul, thanks for sharing your story!
Wow, that is some durable wood
I have some stumps of cork oak that I plan to display my trees on one day and I think they are stunning with the mature cork on them.
I like bonsai presented like this on tree stumps.
Thanks again, and I hope you get to eat some ripened grapes from your bonsai without the animals getting to them or damaging things first.
Cheers, Dario.

It's been my pleasure Dario.

I look forward to seeing a few of your trees displayed on the cork oak stumps when they are ready.

In regards to the grapes, I have learned my lesson. I'll buy my grapes at the store. It's cheaper than replacing the pot every year.

Cheers,
Paul

[Dario]

I look forward to seeing a few of your trees displayed on the cork oak stumps when they are ready.
Paul

Thanks Paul I will let you know when the time comes

In regards to the grapes, I have learned my lesson. I'll buy my grapes at the store. It's cheaper than replacing the pot every year.

Makes perfect sense Paul
Oh I forgot to ask, a you an experienced photographer?
Cheers, Dario.

[pjkatich]

Oh I forgot to ask, are you an experienced photographer?

I'm no professional, but I know my way around a camera.

Is there something that I can help you with?

Cheers,
Paul

[Dario]

Is there something that I can help you with?

Thanks for the offer of help Paul that is very nice of you
I was just wondering because I really liked the pictures you have taken!
I don't know a thing about photography but if I ever get a decent camera I might ask you some questions then if that is ok?...but unfortunately purchasing a decent camera is not likely in the immediate future
Thanks, and take care!
Cheers, Dario.

[Damian Bee]

It's a good cascade Paul, that thick part On the trunk behind the branches erks me a little (I am guessing that is the nature of the plant) but the stand certainly makes up for that. I like your taste paul.

[pjkatich]

Thanks for the offer of help Paul that is very nice of you
I was just wondering because I really liked the pictures you have taken!
I don't know a thing about photography but if I ever get a decent camera I might ask you some questions then if that is ok?...but unfortunately purchasing a decent camera is not likely in the immediate future
Thanks, and take care!
Cheers, Dario.

Dario,

The funny thing is, you don't really need much to take good photos.

A digital camera that has a manual mode, a tri-pod, and a couple of lights will do the trick.

I used an old 4 megapixel digital camera I bought years ago, a tri-pod, two 60 watt light bulbs, and a roll of grey paper to take these photos.

Photography, as with bonsai, is all about technique.

Cheers,
Paul

[pjkatich]

It's a good cascade Paul, that thick part On the trunk behind the branches erks me a little (I am guessing that is the nature of the plant) but the stand certainly makes up for that. I like your taste paul.

Thanks for your feedback Damian.

That thick part on the trunk bothers me a bit also. It would be nice to have more taper along that portion of trunk line.

However, this is a vine. And as you pointed out, that is the nature of the plant.

I have found that growing vines as bonsai is a lot different than growing a tree or shrub. In my opinion, it's more difficult because of their growth habits.

I appreciate the compliment.

Cheers,
Paul

[Dario]

I used an old 4 megapixel digital camera I bought years ago, a tri-pod, two 60 watt light bulbs, and a roll of grey paper to take these photos.
Paul

Hi Paul, thanks for the info
How did you use the roll of grey paper?
Cheers, Dario.

[pjkatich]

How did you use the roll of grey paper?

For the back-drop Dario.

Cheers,
Paul