Gotta love a project..Picea abies

[bodhidharma]

I have these Christmas trees you see, and have been wondering where they need to go and what to do with them. I had a couple of older Aus Bonsai'ers around a couple of years ago who spied these and were thinking of doing a group with them. It had been in the back of my mind as well but the jury is still out as to whether or not they are a good Bonsai candidate. They are doing great things with them in Europe (Walter pall etc) so i will give it a go. I developed the one already in work, a couple of years ago as a singular tree, and it looked pretty much like the other big guy you see. I have always admired some of the classic groups e.g "Goshin" and so on so i will try and develop some "Gnarliness" into the group. The idea will be to have a couple of older, weather damaged trees surrounded by smaller not so damaged trees. I thought i would post this as i am doing it, which will take a while so please, no holding of breaths. I have an even number (bugger) so i will be on the lookout for another (Alpine, are you available) It will be a big group as the semi developed tree is 900mm.

[Brad75]

Hi Bodhidarma,

I have a book by Craig Coussins that has a group planting in it that is similar to the one you are preparing. Who knows maybe you have a picture book in you!

Cheers,

Brad75.

[Reece]

Looking forward to seeing this!

[Boics]

Hello Bodhi.

I started work on one of these a while ago but lost interest.
You've now re-sparked my interest!

I wasn't too happy with some reverse tapering at some major whorls at some lengths of the trunk.
Do you think that one could either carve or chop this out?

Thanks for the inspiration!

[Jason]

Will definatley be watching with interest Bodhi!

[Jan]

I'm sure quite a few of us have one or two of these "loitering at the back of the bench". Thanks for the inspiration (I'll be watching with interest), the nudge to "do something with them" and to look at what others elsewhere have achieved.

Looking good so far : I look forward to the next instalment,

Jan

[cre8ivbonsai]

I'll be watching with interest, got a mate who put together a group of these about three years ago, he got a bit 'uninspired' and just kept them trimmed a 'Christmas tree farm', then they got spider infested dieback, and now look a bit mangey. It'll be great to show him some inspiration to transform them into something interesting!

Plus everyone loves to see a progression from scratch

[bodhidharma]

The second tree for this project has been styled and you will notice in the second picture where there is a large gap because of a bar branch. I cut and stripped the branch and used it as a dead branch a little higher up. It has filled the gap nicely and added some character to the tree. The tertiary branches are a little underdeveloped yet for wiring purposes and hence the tree looks a little scruffy. Time will take care of that. There is also some carving to be done at the top of the tree but that is a later job. All comments appreciated.

[Brad75]

Hi Bodhidarma,

Can't wait for this group to be finished!

Cheers

Brad75.

[Mount Nasura]

Nice work, I love it's natural weathered appearance. Like its put up with years of heavy snow falls.

[Rory]

Great material for this group. Looking good so far Bodhi. You can tell you've put a lot of work into this so far.

[GavinG]

Good to see the thought processes as they happen - very useful. Are you planning how they will sit together yet, or will you sort that out when you pot them together?

Gavin

[treeman]

I think they might be albertianas Bodi. Difficult species! good luck...

[Grant Bowie]

Just worked on a Picea glauca "Albertiana conica" today and I quite like them.

Word of warning; the few remaining branches that you are leaving on each tree will now thicken dramatically with the spring growth and so you will have to keep an eagle eye on the wire cutting in.

Pg"Ac" and mugo pines react very badly to wire cutting in so be very careful and vigilant.

Grant

[bodhidharma]

And then there is three. This has just the main branches wired as the secondary's are a little spindly and will need a few years growth. They stay pliable so should not prove difficult. Four to go!!!