AusBonsai

Hey guys been working this one for a about 4yrs. Some of you may recoganise it from BT days. Its been growing strong for approx 18 months. Only breaking off the long tendrils every 6 months or so. This year it is due for a serious overhaul. There are workshops with Hirotoshi Saito and Michael Persiano in Melbourne this year. I also have the privelage and honour of doing a triple Demo at the Vic Society may meeting. Jow, Gerrard and myself up on stage for that one. We are gonna kick some stink that night !!! So this is one of many to be prepped up now and allow the inner growth to get stronger ready for styling. There is nothing worse than buds being too small and weak to style into pads when doing either a workshop and even more so a demo. People i urge you to think ahead of the game. Growing on for better bonsai and for your workshops that take up your money and your time. like all material, it needs preliminary work before you grow on. these days im thinking and planning 2 years ahead. It feels great to have material ready for workshops this year and there for will not only aid in a better tree but allow one to learn more because you can. I amazed myself today! What would once take me a day or two to contemplate and do, only took me a hour and a half this morning. The amount of trees and workshops i've done are finally paying off. Im not telling you guys this to blow my trumpet, I'm telling you guys to get out and do it !!! Here's a b4 and after of the clean up to get ready for styling in the next few months. The rest will come at a later date

interesting ant, i guess we are gonna have to wait and see what this one turns out like as i guess you arent gonna tell us plans?

How right you are Ant.I have seen some of the material put in front of these Japanese experts and wondered what they are going to say about it . Its so much more rewarding to take in first rate material. These days I always take in my best trees for advise on further refinement and am always impressed with the advice I get. No mater what you take into Hiro he will be very patient but it must secretly dishearten him sometimes to be presented with very young untrained trees. Much better to take a leaf from Ants book and put something up he can really get his teeth into.
Craig

Well advised Antonio. Preplanning is essential in Bonsai and work on as many trees as you can to get over the fear of taking a major branch or leader to make the tree better. There is no fear in Bonsai.

Hi Ant, so what was the outcome for this tree. It has some similarities to tree I'm working on now and wondered what direction you went with at the work shop. Any pictures of after this one????

Josh

Hi Josh this tree belongs to a friend of mine and after styling was repotted and returned. Unfortunately since then it has taken a turn in health and am now working hard to get it healthy again. The styling with Hiro came out great but i cannot find a pic sorry. Personally for my taste these days this tree is too tall and skinny and would serve better as Bunjin which is where it may go the next time it is styled. I think your tree is shorter and more compact and there for this is not the right model for it.