AusBonsai

By special request a tree to virt. common old privet collected last july, sulked naked until newyear. I was about to throw it out when i noticed a bud. Matt

Forgot to add its 22cm tall & in a cut down 20cm pot

gday mate, nice fat privet there pal, i gotta get one of these to but i dont like the idea of working on one for years and then have it die all of a sudden that privet can do.

anyway here is a virt for you, had to extend the top for a new leader to get taper and room for pads it might look a little thin, i think so anyways but it gives you the idea ! lots of deadwood to so get the dremel and arbotech out mate, and you will definately have to wire this one with out a doubt, you could go clip and grow but it think this would be good for you to change your ways as i dont think string will work for this one
hope you like it, oh i used alternate number 1 i think it was. the middle pic anyways

jamie

That was quick Love the virt, agree it needs more height. They are a ficle things but thats part of the fun, the challenge of keeping them alive. If it dies down the line i can always phoenix it, I will get over my dislike for them. What i have found over the years is those that died were always rootbound. They also hate any drying, weird given some of the places & ways i have seen them growing in the bush. Am hoping if i keep the roots free it wont roll over on me, only time will tell.

I liked the look of the tree bowing in the 1st pic, it doesnt show up real good in the pic. Also there is a branch behind the large stub that once carved becomes visible & could be used as the first branch to add even more emphasis to the taper. With the other 2 views it ends up at the back & not really usable. ALOT of carving to be done over time. I do think its possible to get it to the design you have done using clip & grow. As for string theory, i am experimenting on some junk to see what i can achieve, in the past have mainly used it for major branch positioning then clip & grow to take my trees the rest of the way. At the end of the day i think you are right, the wire will have to go on but we shall see.

Am taking it to a mates tomorow will see if he is up for some work

Matt

I see the possibility of a landscape type where the trunk gives the impression of a rock with the branches being a forest of trees. Robert Stevens style. I am not sure that trunk will ever look like a trunk.

Bretts wrote:I see the possibility of a landscape type where the trunk gives the impression of a rock with the branches being a forest of trees. Robert Stevens style. I am not sure that trunk will ever look like a trunk.

That had been my original idea, a rocky mountain with a path of live vein zigzagging up the front face.

This tree was at our last club meet and it gave me a few other ideas. It is completely hollow & because of this only minimal wiring & movement can be done. Most of its training has been clip & grow. It is about 30cm high.

Finally got round to clearing off the bark & establishing life lines, bit of a hatchet job but alls good. I have a pretty good idea in my head of where this will end up just thought i would throw it open to more crit as it is exposed. 1st pic is my new prefered front.

Matt

definately gonna be a different tree matt

Jamie wrote:definately gonna be a different tree matt

most of them are bud...