spindle tree

[anttal63]

display tree at a club meeting last night by quinten ballantine.

[anttal63]

just wondering why this tree hasn't been mentioned. it has been in training 19 yrs. collected from a garden and approx 90 yrs old all up.
quinten told us how this tree needs it's branche's rebuilt every 3 yrs or so. for some reason it all goes to crap in that time and he almost starts again. this is the 1st year in its rebuild.

[PeterW]

just wondering why this tree hasn't been mentioned. it has been in training 19 yrs. collected from a garden and approx 90 yrs old all up.
quinten told us how this tree needs it's branche's rebuilt every 3 yrs or so. for some reason it all goes to crap in that time and he almost starts again. this is the 1st year in its rebuild.

It would make an interesting progression series Ant! I would love to see pics of this tree during its training, the good the bad and the ugly....
It certainly is a lovely little tree now! How tall is it?
Peter

[Jon Chown]

My pappy always said 'If you can't say something good, then say nothing at all' and seeing as I have largly ignored his advice over the years, I'll step in here with my 2 cents worth.

While the trunk looks aged, I personaly don't like the shari and the branches appear too young for the trunk. Having said that, I can appreciate the effort that the artist has gone to to produce the plaesing shape. Not having ever worked on this species, it is also hard to appreciate the degree of difficulty in growing this species.

Jon

[anttal63]

john thats all fair comment and valid.

peter this little tree is about 24"

[PeterW]

My pappy always said 'If you can't say something good, then say nothing at all' and seeing as I have largly ignored his advice over the years, I'll step in here with my 2 cents worth.

While the trunk looks aged, I personaly don't like the shari and the branches appear too young for the trunk. Having said that, I can appreciate the effort that the artist has gone to to produce the plaesing shape. Not having ever worked on this species, it is also hard to appreciate the degree of difficulty in growing this species.

Jon

I like the shari buti think it could do with some carving or whats that method some use on Junipers, cant think of the term for it but its were you lift an individual strand and strip it back up or down the trunk/branch. Leaves a nice natural and aged look. The branches do look young as does the canopy but as you mentioned Jon, i to am completely ignorant of the difficulties of growing this species. It does have an appealing shape/outline and at 60cm ish tall, a very well proportioned tree! All in all, i would like to have it taking up space on my bench!
Peter

[anttal63]

peter i agree in all of that, the only thing i would add is to torch it as well and get the white out of it, then that shari would really come to life.

[PeterW]

peter i agree in all of that, the only thing i would add is to torch it as well and get the white out of it, then that shari would really come to life.

Yes torching it would make it look more natural. I hollowed out an olive some time ago and recently applied Lime sulphur to it, i have regretted doing it since. Its just to stark, but its a long way off being ready for a pot or to be shown anyway. I keep forgetting to try and add some ink to lime sulphur and play around with that to get a more natural colour or look. Any tips, have you done much in that area?
Peter

[anttal63]

hey pete ive made that mistake as well. i now leave my olive's for a couple of years after carving and let nature do its bit. then i clean,burn,clean and then some sulphur. dont worry too much with your the weather will wear it back soon enough. francois jeker; bonsai aesthetics. cant reccomend it enough.

[PeterW]

hey pete ive made that mistake as well. i now leave my olive's for a couple of years after carving and let nature do its bit. then i clean,burn,clean and then some sulphur. dont worry too much with your the weather will wear it back soon enough. francois jeker; bonsai aethstetics. cant reccomend it enough.

Thanks for that, i will keep an eye out for it. I dont think i have seen that one anywhere here, i might have to order it, can you give me isbn # for it please. Thank you.
Regards
Peter.

[anttal63]

stone lantern http://www.stonelantern.com/Bonsai_Japa ... s_s/30.htm