AusBonsai

I have an azalea - $35 reduced to $17.50. Flowers spectacularly but trunk poor. I just swapped it for a ground growing Christmas Cheer [YES, I now believe in Santa!!!]. I was after a Karume near the front gate until Mrs asked if that was all I wanted when I knocked on the door and put my request to her. I got on the ground and damn near dropped my non-existent dentures when I saw the trunk on the Christmas Cheer. Coolly [oh you better believe Ms Cool] I asked if I could have the C-Cheer instead of the Karume. She was going to ask her hubby, the gardener, but he was at work and she changed her mind and gave me the go-ahead. I was away, home, loaded up gear, and back in 15 minutes. The plant was lifted in less than 20, the Rose King azalea removed from the pot and grounded, everything left spic and span including hand sweeping the walkway [I forgot to bring a broom and I wasn't blotting my copybook].

I brought my find home and while it soaked in Seasol I cut the living daylights out of it. Now, as soon as this post is done, I will bolt up the street to get a flat styrofoam box to pot it in. I don't want to reduce the roots further this year and I don't have anything big enough. I am just over the moon. And I can't decide on a front. There are several options. The smeary spot on one side is the sealing goop where I took off a flock of branchlets. But this baby is going to be beautiful.

So there you have it, walk the dog and watch the gardens. They can say no but they can also say YES. I can't get my thumb and first finger to join around the trunk .. the trunk is about 3 cm fatter. I envisage this bonsai about 30-35 cm tall.

Great find!!

Hey Lee that is a nice one. I am guessing Christmas cheer is another azalea? I wonder why they would swap one azalea for another?
I must be missing something in your story?
Good luck.

Yes, everything being discussed is an azalea. And maybe Mrs was nice to me because I'm a little old lady and I asked sweetly and what I was offering was good for a garden plant. AND Mrs wasn't a gardener!!

Now, I have wrecked the gardening plans for today - shot to hell but, WHO CARES? Not Me.... I swapped a planned day forking in manure to get a treasure in my backyard. I spent 5 hours working on this tree, including another dog walk up the street to get a styro box for it for this year. Trimmed a major branch off and selected two fronts. I am just so chuffed... this azalea is going to be beautiful. So here are the final First Stage photos.

As I have said before bloody load of rubbish put it in the ute.
I'll take to the tip for you Lee

Pup

Nice you are lucky.
Why didn't yo grab the other one as well?

very nice Lee, if u want to get rid of this one it will go nicely next to the other 1 i got of u.
cheers
strawbs

Christmas cheer, Red flowers and dark green leaves i believe,

Not going in any ute!! I have wanted a decent Christmas Cheer and a Kirin for quite some time but never hoped to get one so beautiful with so much potential for $17.50 [and an osteo treatment.. .but I needed that anyway - just making it more worthwhile - more value for money!]. CC has small leaves and a single shocking reddish-pink flower. Ideal size for bonsai. It is hardy, sun tolerant and pads up beautifully. I got one early this year but decided the trunk was so hopeless once it was pruned that I put it in the ground. Now it can stay there.

I did ask about the Kirin but Mrs was quite happy to swap one but not two. But believe me, I got the better of the two. However, they have another Christmas Cheer larger than the one I got... but I'm not being greedy. I am counting my blessings and content.

Congratulations! Christmas has certainly come early for you.
Penny.