AusBonsai

Well, I finally did what I said I would never do. After seeing big guys struggleing with big trees I was quoted as saying many times."I will never collect a tree that needs two people to pick up". Yes folks, I sucummed to the inevitable so can I now be classed as a Bonsai freek I wonder.
So the story so far. Collected six months ago at a location where there are more to be had although this one was the best. The location happens to be just one minute from where I work. It's amazing what you find if you only do a little exploring in your lunch break.
It was surprisingly easy to liberate after 30 mins. The biggest strugle was getting it back to the car and getting it in. Because this is an obvious long term project I thought that I better get some ideas on this one, so feel free to thro all you have at it for me.
I fancy the front to be pic 2 but that is not making much of the natural ginning that could be done with the large overhanging dead portion which would then be at the back. But the taper on the front trunk is not bad, and shows some half decent nebari. You can see right thru the centre at ground level.
Club freaks advise pic 1 so you can see extensive ginning yet to be done and the bark is a little more interesting.
Anyway the four views are for you all to ponder over below. Hows it go "your gona need a bigger pot"

well mate, nice find for a start

as for working out which front, well. i will get to that.

how long has it been out of the ground?? i can see it throwing new shoots which is a good thing i just hope its not energy from the trunk, if it has been out of the ground and recovered the effects of this great!!!

as for a decision to a front i try and make my trees nice from all the way around, but obviously there is always an optimum veiwing angle

for me this angle would be pic three, i think you get the best of both worlds with Jinning the tree. the taper, and the overall end shape it depends what you will be going for whether there will be pads of foliage or a full crowned canopy, but i think pic 3 has the most to offer for all aspects of it

nice find

regards jamie

Thats a MONSTER !! Nice one!

i just bought a Pyracantha from bonsai south for 95 dollars BUT WOW what a magnificent find

I WOULD REALLY LOVE TO COLLECT ONE are there anymore on the site?

Hey alan, any updates?
has it shot everywhere?

Ken

Makes my reasonable sized pyracantha look small =P
Nice find!!

Update on the Mother Pyracantha.
6 months and all is well. The front took some healthy debate but now it's been decided I can get on and style it up and keep my eye out for a pot. Shall better make my mind up on that one after I see the colour of the berries. I was sure they were yellow ones. Thought I'd get the paint can out and see if I could arrive at a reasonable image of what I'm trying to achieve. If anyone can improve feel free to suggest anything, except me giving it you of course.

Confucius say, he who sits with closed mouth, cannot swallow foot.

My experience with pyracantha is it bites - painful

Thought I would bring you all upto date on the progress of this brute.
Firstly I have to addmit the mistake of calling it a Pyracantha at the start of the thread. It's an Olive of course, blame it on the fact that I couldn't wait to show anyone and there were tons of Pyra's at the same location.
Anyway she has come a long way but with a ways to go yet. Still have some carving refinement to do but don't want to go too tizzy or fine with the detail as it has a masculinity about the trunk I don't want to lose. But I do need to reduce the dominant base aspect. What do you think.?
Have more of the right branches to establish further out too. Would also like to take the right apex down and bring the left canopy across the top of the right apex, but I'm being a bit picky, or am I.?
Again, comments please.

fantastic!!

do you have anymore photos from along the way?

well done mate great find great bonsai

Great job!!!

Hi Andrew , very nice progression over 3 years , I definately need to have a play with a few of mine .

Cheers Alpineart

Beautiful result and great progression Alan. you must be really happy. Top stuff

Ken

Nice one

Very nice refinement in such a short time. I certainly agree with not tizzying it up.

I am wondering whether your issues with the right apex and left branches might actually come from the jinn on the left. It is so strongly in a straight line from the trunk, and takes the attention away from the body of the tree. When I cover it up on the photo, the tree comes together, for me.

Of course it's hard to tell from a two-dimensional photo - what do you think?

Gavin