so ...is it or is it not a Bonsai

[bodhidharma]

about 10 years ago i was playing around with an italian alder (alnus cordata) and wondering, as it was not good material, what the hell to do with it. After a lot of thought and other things, the decision was made to grow it inside this stump i had lying around wondering what to do with. It seems like they where made for each other. As it grew and i manipulated branches through holes, i realized it didnt look to bad. Obviously it will outgrow the stump which will be interesting in itself. The question though, as it is an illusion. is it really a bonsai. look forward to your thoughts.

[Jamie]

i think yes. it comes down that you are miniturising a tree to mimic a full scale specimen, even if it is an out there design, but i like it.
my question is what happens when it does out grow the stump?

[bodhidharma]

DONT KNOW?

[anttal63]

bodhi its outhere! man. i love the concept. my only problem is its not convincing at the present time. the stump contrasts greatly against the tree makes it look contrived. however if the stump wasnt so clean and smooth looking ? maybe some texture and burning, i believe would be a better marriage. my 2 bob for what its worth man.

[Jamie]

well if your not happy with it you can send it to me and i will take care of it!! i love the idea

[Mojo Moyogi]

As an experimental fusion of art and horticulture, in my opinion it has merit, but it's not really in the realm of what I would call bonsai. To be honest it bashes a few of my negative buttons in a bonsai regard, but I am a bit of a traditionalist as far as bonsai design goes. But I am a horticulturalist with a Frankenstein or two in my backyard and I will be interested to see what happens when the branches and the trunk begin to fill the hollows and swell at their exits from the dead shell. If successful to some extent, would conifers work, using this procedure? The potential of shari on a Larch perhaps, they have a super callous mechanism that may work? In your climate with your cooler than most places winter, they would flourish and may be worth a try.

But definitely not a waste of time, or material.

Just my opinion, and like TV remote controls, everybody has at least one, some take a while to locate theirs and others simply can't find them

Cheers and good luck
MM

[Jamie]

i was thinking conifer would be good for this stump to. probly several actually. inside and out phoenix grafts would be wicked.
still think its a great idea!
and very well done to, just would worry that once the tree inside fills out the dead wood hollow would crack and fall apart??

[Mojo Moyogi]

Swamp Cypress for those in warmer places?

[Jamie]

Swamp Cypress for those in warmer places?

no idea... i know my junipers grow like crazy where i am wide bay queensland, seen some huge swamp cypress on the sunshine coast too

[bodhidharma]

hey Ant ...yep i agree with what you say. It was a bit of fun, i also think it would work on most trees but as i said , it was a bit of fun and it will be interesting watching it grow and what the end result , in another ten years , will be.

[anttal63]

fun is to be had! and yep i too am interested where it goes.

[Pup]

What do these have in common

P1040241.JPG

They are both Tanuki.
Phoenix graft wrap around or in this case wrap in.
This has been discussed before with many different answers.
The definitive answer is providing you do not try to conceal what it is,it is OK

I asked this same question of one of my tree's years ago it was a sucker coming up off the stump.
I was told by 99% that was not Tanuki. It is applied to tree's that are attached to a piece of Dead wood not there own dead trunk!!

[bodhidharma]

We can always rely on you for the answer Pup!!!

[Bretts]

Cute picture Pup but I get the feeling that is the wrong one?

[Jamie]

is that a panda in ornamental bamboo grass...?