AusBonsai

This tree is a melaleuca bracteata x golden gem. I was the first native I had way back in 1988, it was also my first public demonstration.
It was also the first time I used a blowtorch to good effect.
The original style was an informal upright. Since then it has been styled more in the Bunjingii (literati) over the years it has had some rather traumatic times with Cats knocking it over to timber fall and breaking branches, and also some dying of, as is with the last, from another fall from a windy day.
So today as I was feeling better I started to restyle again this time into a Semi Cascade. Here are some progression pics. The material use is furniture webbing, but bias binding will also work. Hope you like it I do. The rest of this is on the next page.

[]Here are the rest.
Some refinement and regrowth and the right pot, any potters out there willing to have a go for me PM and I will give you dimensions.

Cheers Pup

Hi Pup, I saw this webbing used on a tree in a recent magazine, and wondered how its suitability was. Could you please enlighten us all on this subject. Regards, miyagiman.

miyagiman wrote:Hi Pup, I saw this webbing used on a tree in a recent magazine, and wondered how its suitability was. Could you please enlighten us all on this subject. Regards, miyagiman.

I have used this on quite a few trees now with very pleasing results it is porous so it preforms one of the functions of rhaphia it breaths and tightens as it gets wet and dries, it is reusable as you can unwind it and use it again.
I used it on OH Bugger post here on a Chinese elm, I have also used it on 3 other trees Baekia/ Babingtonia/Sannantha virgata.

Hirotoshi Saitoh used cotton Bias binding in 1996, when he was the headliner for the Bonsai Society of WA, with great success also. On a juniper.

Cheers Pup

Hi Pup,

I have never been a great fan of cascade or even semi-cascading bonsai, but this may be due to ignorance or just good ol' fashion stupidity on my part. Either way, gosh I love the stock you are working with there. Beautiful.
I am looking forward to seeing where you go with this.

If this beauty were mine, I'd be inclined to do the following. But, that is just me. I have always been partial to unusual literati natives.

Love the character in the bark, particularly the base. Great Job Pup

Any potters want to have a go at making one of these pots similar in style to fit this tree it needs to be.

25cm across by 30cm deep. Pm if you wish to give me a quote. Colours are optional no high glaze please the tree is left facing, being a native I would like something to represent that.
Thanking you all in advance.

Cheers Pup

Very useful progression, your thought process is very clear. Thanks for posting.

Gavin

Just thought I would bring this up for the attention of the POTTERS here.

Cheers Pup

I have to change the depth to 20 cm I was not looking at the right angle.

So it needs to be 25cm wide and 20cm deep.
Any one.

very nice character mel you have there-----when you decide on a radical realignment do you check under the soil for appropriate nebari or decide what's best above ground then deal with whatever roots turn up---could the nebari be a big enough influence for you to change any decision with the upper tree--I only ask cos with some cuttings Ive tried the roots can end up on the "wrong" side and have had to change from a left semi-cascade to a right literati slanter.

Hi ya Guy, that does have some influence on the style of the tree. I have always looked on that as they can be improved by layers or grafts so at the beginning it is not a problem ( better if you have good roots from the start though). If you look at the roots of this tree you will notice that they spread all round, so when it comes to potting this tree up I have some roots that will be on the stretching side and some on the compression side.
As that is how slanting cascading trees grow in nature.

Cheers Pup

thanks pup----my I have a terrible record with natives--I see some possible local yamadori but tend to leave them alone and let them live--much to learn in only 80 years approx. ---give or take
---approx 20yrs ago I was staying at a motel in Denham -- the 'owner manager' had a nice bonsai collection-showed what could be done in a place of extreme temps----a nice memory- but my 2 yr old son
had absolutely no interest in the dolphins---

These are better picture of the tree, I am waiting on Mudlark to send me though some of her pots. 3 slight angle differences so we can get a better feel. The last 2 are of one of her pots that I think might match OK with slight modification.

Today after some weeding and slight pruning and wiring I took some pictures to try for the right angle also noticed a ducks head!!.

Here are the pics.

I like the first angle Poor duck needs a wash..