AusBonsai

I have had this tree for a long time and, without a doubt, it is the harshest i have ever treated a tree. It has nearly been cut in half to create movement and i have cracked and cut its branches that should have died. i have split branches and moved them to places they should not have gone. In other words i was a beginner and experimenting and the tree suffered me for years and years and..never died. it always came back So, this next week i am home alone while my wife goes visiting family in Canberra (and mr "G") and i am going to do unspeakable things to this tree. The tree is now huge and UGLY and i am going to try and make it beautiful. keep you posted.
Footnote..If you look at where i cut the tree nearly in half it has never fully healed and i doubt it ever will. If you look at the branch placing in the photos you will see how much they have been moved around by splitting them.

I like it when trees are chained to the bench before work commences
Means there is a Promise of impressive bending to come

Ken

kcpoole wrote:I like it when trees are chained to the bench before work commences
Means there is a Promise of impressive bending to come

You have seen me coming ken.

kcpoole wrote:I like it when trees are chained to the bench before work commences

I was going to say something similar

Nice tree with lots of character Bodhi. I'm looking forward to seeing what you get up to when the cat's away...

Regards,
Steven

It's not ugly! It looks great already, can't wait to see it after!


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Hi Mr Bodhi , mate i love the Douglas firs -aka NZ Oregon , they are as you say very hardy and can be treated with total disregard for manipulation . Ithink the resinous bark is its secret to healing splits and severe bends .Unfortunately mine were cooked this Summer under 70% shade cloth so i wont be working on them anymore .

I'm keen to see where you take this one .

Cheers Alpine

Steven wrote:Nice tree with lots of character Bodhi. I'm looking forward to seeing what you get up to when the cat's away...

It was a choice of a bottle of bourbon and some hookers or Bonsai. Might just go with the Bourbon AND Bonsai.

Beano wrote:It's not ugly! It looks great already, can't wait to see it after!

To me it is ugly Beano, the downfall of too critical an eye and desire to change things.

alpineart wrote: Ithink the resinous bark is its secret to healing splits and severe bends .Unfortunately mine were cooked this Summer under 70% shade cloth so i wont be working on them anymore .

Thanks for that secret and i think you are right in that regard. Funny that mine powered in the heat

First things first, my opinion of this tree is that i do not think it will EVER be a great tree or not even a good tree but i have, as stated, a sentimental attachment to the tree as it has taught me so much. I had to relocate to under the verandah as it is raining (yah) The tree is probably 30 plus years old and i love playing with it. So, on with the show and i hope i am entertaining you all.

Next round. I have no idea where this tree is heading just yet because, like everything you start, things change on the run. It will take a while to wire out the rest of the tree so, keep you posted. I am having lots of fun by the way.

So i have gone as far as i dare to with this tree as the trunk cut i made 10 years ago was starting to separate. My plan "B" bottom branch has been styled into a smaller version tree just in case i hammered the top to much and it dies. So, wadda you all think, bin it or keep at it I have left the leader unwired and the last top branches as they are a little to piddly to do much with. very unruly still but it should come together.

Hi Bodhi
Maybe lose the leader, Jin something at the top and create a windswept?
Cheers Rod

Hi Bodhi , makes for a nice tree now. I had 3 - 30 footers in the garden and the heat killed 1 and never effected the others , i'm still at a loss as to why it died they are 15 -20 yo . The radiant heat here killed dozens of container growing material i have had for many years .

Cheers Alpine

rodm wrote:Hi Bodhi
Maybe lose the leader, Jin something at the top and create a windswept?
Cheers Rod

I dont know where this project is heading yet Ray. it seems to be evolving itself. I like your suggestion but no more for a year or so and see if it likes what i have done.

alpineart wrote:Hi Bodhi , makes for a nice tree now. I had 3 - 30 footers in the garden and the heat killed 1 and never effected the others , i'm still at a loss as to why it died they are 15 -20 yo . The radiant heat here killed dozens of container growing material i have had for many years .

see above Alps. Everything in the garden here struggled this year too. I am lucky that i have a bore and hand watered a lot of trees that are in the ground. It felt like i was constantly watering my garden and my bonsai's, and in hindsight i guess i was.

Seriously!!! This tree will come back from the dead i reckon. I continue to experiment and it continues to survive It has completely healed and set where i jig sawed it and is starting to grow out the cut mark, amazing!!! I have now decided to wire it out completely and dead wood some of it. The main branching is done and the fine wiring will be fiddly and i will post an after. I will also ADD some dead branches and make the tree as "out there" as possible. Why not i say. If it survives all of that (probably) i will start to see what it takes to refine the foliage, as, after checking lots of websites, nobody else does either.
I will post again when it is wired out and some dead branching has been added. Thoroughly enjoying myself am i
A very contrived tree i know but what else could we do with it.