Some interesting trees I've come across. All in and around the Great Southern region of Western Australia. I hope to keep adding to this thread as I continue to explore and take photos.
These are all Melaleuca Cuticularis in and around Albany.
This is Jarrah (Eucalyptus Marginata) in Kendenup, inland from the south coast. I love the interplay of deadwood on this tree.
These are Melaleuca Preissiana in Mount Lindesay National Park between the towns of Denmark and Mt Barker.
This is WA Sheoak (Allocasuarina Fraseriana), also in Mt Lindesay NP, with natural shari common in old specimens.
Southern WA nature inspiration thread
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Patmet
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Southern WA nature inspiration thread
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Patmet
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Re: Southern WA nature inspiration thread
These are Marri (Corymbia Calophylla). One of my favourite tree species. They are so versatile and variable in their growth as you can see in the pictures.
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EdwardH
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Re: Southern WA nature inspiration thread
Thanks for the photos.
The thing that stands out to me is that most of these trees are the last token tree in a paddock. They are attacked by the elements, insects etc and struggle to survive. This is not the sort of thing that is usual when the trees are grown naturally with many other trees in the vicinity. Reminds me of a boxer AFTER a match battered and bruised.
The thing that stands out to me is that most of these trees are the last token tree in a paddock. They are attacked by the elements, insects etc and struggle to survive. This is not the sort of thing that is usual when the trees are grown naturally with many other trees in the vicinity. Reminds me of a boxer AFTER a match battered and bruised.
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shibui
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Re: Southern WA nature inspiration thread
Agree that some of them are not 'average' forest trees but some of these trees may still have been the original inhabitants.The thing that stands out to me is that most of these trees are the last token tree in a paddock. They are attacked by the elements, insects etc and struggle to survive. This is not the sort of thing that is usual when the trees are grown naturally with many other trees in the vicinity.
These trees may be left BECAUSE they are twisted and malformed. When settlers first come, they take the tall, straight trees for building and milling into timber. Sawmills take any that are straight for milling. Next to go are the firewood trees. They don't need to be absolutely straight but the real twisted ones are hard to split so the twisted ones get passed again.
After the first rounds of clearing the wind may take out any remaining tall, straight trees because they've lost the protection of their larger neighbours.
100 years or so of selection later, we are left with very different looking trees from what was there originally.
There will, undoubtedly, be some that have grown since the original clearing with contorted shapes but I don't think that's always the full story.
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Keep Calm and Ramify
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Re: Southern WA nature inspiration thread
Very cool.. great inspirational pics. Looking forward to more updates. (more photos the better! 
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Patmet
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Re: Southern WA nature inspiration thread
Went and had a look around Torndirrup National Park today. It's a pretty gnarly, wind battered peninsula that cops all the weather straight off the southern ocean.
There is a lot of naturally dwarfed trees and shrubs here from the harsh weather, and limited root space in pockets among granite.
Some of the landscape
Granite/Albany Banksia (Banksia Verticillata)
These are abundant in cracks and pockets in the granite hills, both alive and dead. All naturally dwarfed by the conditions. Very interested in the potential for bonsai cultivation for this species.
What I have identified as Hakea Drupacea. Quite a striking sight on a sparse field of granite. From a distance could be mistaken for a niwaki pine. Quite interested in this one too.
Some Lepto's
Banksia Praemorsa and Woolly Bush
There is a lot of naturally dwarfed trees and shrubs here from the harsh weather, and limited root space in pockets among granite.
Some of the landscape
Granite/Albany Banksia (Banksia Verticillata)
These are abundant in cracks and pockets in the granite hills, both alive and dead. All naturally dwarfed by the conditions. Very interested in the potential for bonsai cultivation for this species.
What I have identified as Hakea Drupacea. Quite a striking sight on a sparse field of granite. From a distance could be mistaken for a niwaki pine. Quite interested in this one too.
Some Lepto's
Banksia Praemorsa and Woolly Bush
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Patmet
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Re: Southern WA nature inspiration thread
Bankisa Ilicifolia or Holly-leaved Banksia also photographed in Torndirrup NP. There are many of these scattered around that are big like this one or stunted small trees. They are just hard to photograph as they tend to grow a fair way back from the road in the thick scrub. This one happened to be on the roadside. I have a small one I am growing for bonsai currently.
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GavinG
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Re: Southern WA nature inspiration thread
Keep 'em coming... They are wild and wonderful survivors. My query is, if we want to be inspired by these trees, why do we end up clipping the foliage on our natives Neatly and Tidily - that isn't the way they grow, and it doesn't contribute to the feeling of wild survival. All it does it make the trees look like Proper Bonsai - is that the best we can do?
I'm not sure what the alternative is to neat clipping - it's possibly deliberately clipping to avoid smooth outlines, with spaces, visible branchlets, lots of angles and complexity, not smooth tidiness. So shoot me now...
And a happy new year, and thanks for posting, Pat,
Gavin
I'm not sure what the alternative is to neat clipping - it's possibly deliberately clipping to avoid smooth outlines, with spaces, visible branchlets, lots of angles and complexity, not smooth tidiness. So shoot me now...
And a happy new year, and thanks for posting, Pat,
Gavin
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Patmet
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Re: Southern WA nature inspiration thread
It's an often controversial and interesting topic Gavin. I feel like it's a personal/individual part of pursuing bonsai.GavinG wrote: ↑December 30th, 2023, 12:52 pm Keep 'em coming... They are wild and wonderful survivors. My query is, if we want to be inspired by these trees, why do we end up clipping the foliage on our natives Neatly and Tidily - that isn't the way they grow, and it doesn't contribute to the feeling of wild survival. All it does it make the trees look like Proper Bonsai - is that the best we can do?
I'm not sure what the alternative is to neat clipping - it's possibly deliberately clipping to avoid smooth outlines, with spaces, visible branchlets, lots of angles and complexity, not smooth tidiness. So shoot me now...
And a happy new year, and thanks for posting, Pat,
Gavin
Some like to make trees look wild and untamed/untouched by the hands of man, as they would often appear in nature - Dan Robinson for instance, .
Some like to give a bit more emphasis to the hand of man, and make a stylised or idealised version of a tree that may or may not exist in nature. ie, traditional bonsai.
Some like a combination of both.
I feel like this just applies to anything whether it's our Australian natives or any foreign species. I understand what you're saying though. It's something I try to do with my shaping these days, making enough negative space and lots of levels in the branching and silhouette. I am still always thinking about what looks aesthetically good to me in the overall design be it completely natural or not. It's one of the challenges of bonsai getting that balance.
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Patmet
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Re: Southern WA nature inspiration thread
How's the trunks on these. I've identified them as Darwinia Diosmoides. Two Peoples Bay NP.
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Patmet
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Re: Southern WA nature inspiration thread
Also Two Peoples Bay NP.
Bullich (Eucalyptus Megacarpa)
A dead Banksia Littoralis
Bullich (Eucalyptus Megacarpa)
A dead Banksia Littoralis
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Patmet
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Re: Southern WA nature inspiration thread
Did the Bald Head walk trail yesterday. It's a tourist attraction here in Albany. A granite peninsula that has King George Sound on one side, and the Soutern Ocean on the other. It's quite challenging, almost 13km return up and down steep hills and rugged terrain. Well worth it though for spectacular views and awesome bush land.
There were too many gnarly 'natural bonsai' to photograph it all, but here are some photos.
The landscape
Taxandria Marginata
Hakea Drupacea
Darwinia Diosmoides
There were too many gnarly 'natural bonsai' to photograph it all, but here are some photos.
The landscape
Taxandria Marginata
Hakea Drupacea
Darwinia Diosmoides
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Patmet
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Re: Southern WA nature inspiration thread
Allocasuarina Lehmanniana
Banksia Praemorsa
Banksia Verticillata
Westringia Dampieri
Banksia Praemorsa
Banksia Verticillata
Westringia Dampieri
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Patmet
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Re: Southern WA nature inspiration thread
How's this massive Jarrah (Eucalyptus Marginata). It's the biggest I've seen as far as girth is concerned so I had to stop and take pictures. It lives just outside of Bridgetown WA. My wife is in some of the pictures for scale.
It has a hollowed out trunk you can sit inside.
It has a hollowed out trunk you can sit inside.
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SuperBonSaiyan
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Re: Southern WA nature inspiration thread
Those pictures are amazing, thank you for posting them.
I'm curious how the deadwood was created on some of those trees. I'm assuming a mixture of fire and wind?
I'm curious how the deadwood was created on some of those trees. I'm assuming a mixture of fire and wind?
