AusBonsai

For about 3 years now I have been watching the progress of this crepe myrtle which belongs to a friend.
I love the mottled bark on this species and this enourmous specimen is a wonder to behold.
Still some way to go before it is ready to exhibit.
Lots of thread grafts happening at the moment still some large roots need to be reduced and a new pot with less depth needs to be found.

Hi Gerard , thats going to be a decent tree when its refined . Any chance of some clearer pics . Cheers Alpineart

Hi all,

Makes me want to go out and try a crepe myrtle. Thanks for the post.

Brad75.

Wow a wonderful trunk line, got some dimensions for us Gerard.

alpineart wrote:Hi Gerard , thats going to be a decent tree when its refined . Any chance of some clearer pics . Cheers Alpineart

Hi Alpine,
Sorry but these were taken on my phone,
The tree does not leave home very often because it is so difficult to move. I suspect it could be a year or more before I get another opportunity.

bodhidharma wrote:Wow a wonderful trunk line, got some dimensions for us Gerard.

I should bring a tape measure as well.
My best guess.... pot is 80-90cm
Base is approx 50cm but would be difficult to give an accurate measurement because the taper is dramatic and some surface roots extend almost all the way to the edge of the pot.
Where does the base start? (for measurement)
Height approx 90cm above soil
Four people lifted the tree while the trolley was slid under it.

A new photo with less foliage allows a better view of the trunkline.
A new pot transforms it to a tree which can be lifted by two people.

that surely is one of the best Crappy Myrtle trunks I have seen, but I dunno about the branching?
to me it looks like the 3 sets of bar branches

The first bend to the right and then the one above to the left need a branch on the outside of the bends do they not?

ken

Bar branches or not, I reckon that has to be Australia's best Crepe Myrtle!!!! It surely is going to be a great Bonsai, given a couple more years refinment.

Nice trunk!! I've never tried Crepe Myrtle, but they must make excellent material.

This thread got me searching to see how big of a Crepe Myrtle trunk I could find, and I managed to find one that someone a few states down from me is selling. Check out that trunk!!

http://orlando.craigslist.org/grd/3341414888.html

H FG.
I am sure I have seen that tree posted on the old BonsaiTalk forum ages ago
Looks very familiar and yes a monster.

Ken

kcpoole wrote:H FG.
I am sure I have seen that tree posted on the old BonsaiTalk forum ages ago
Looks very familiar and yes a monster.

Ken

I just recently saw it posted on another forum actually, but it wasn't BonsaiTalk. I can't believe he's selling such a monster.

kcpoole wrote:that surely is one of the best Crappy Myrtle trunks I have seen, but I dunno about the branching?
to me it looks like the 3 sets of bar branches

The first bend to the right and then the one above to the left need a branch on the outside of the bends do they not?

ken

Several thread grafts are in place, most will be successful some will need another try.
Thread grafts will appear as perfect "bar branches" until they are severed.
It will take a few years to get the branching in order.

Gerard wrote:

kcpoole wrote:that surely is one of the best Crappy Myrtle trunks I have seen, but I dunno about the branching?
to me it looks like the 3 sets of bar branches

The first bend to the right and then the one above to the left need a branch on the outside of the bends do they not?

ken

Several thread grafts are in place, most will be successful some will need another try.
Thread grafts will appear as perfect "bar branches" until they are severed.
It will take a few years to get the branching in order.

no worries I thought you might still be on itm and have under control

Ken

The tree appeared again today at the Yarra Valley "Rob Kempinski" critique session. Rob was impressed and suggested it could become one of the best crepe myrtles in the world.
High praise from a man who has worked bonsai on 5 continents

Rob was impressed and suggested it could become one of the best crepe myrtles in the world.

Its easy to understand why he states this. Fantastic trunk and not too much work before this tree is on the way to being outstanding!