AusBonsai

This was a Pinus Nigra Austriaca / European Black Pine that i located in 1997 over the next 4 years i spent countless hours trimming and preparing for removal . Root work in the ground is essential for a tree of this size it stood 7' 6" in the old language or about 2.3m and had a spread of 4' or 1.2m .The trunk diameter was 85-90mm estimated at around 40 years old.

In 2001 i successfully removed the tree and potted it in a huge terracotta bowl .Over the next 7 years it was nurtured trimmed and styled into an informal upright building on ramification an back budding This pic was taken in 2005 where it resided as a feature tree in the front of my house .

Not long after this pic was taken i decided to place some movement into the trunk .From 2005 to 2008 it was placed under some serious pressure using 1500 kg heavy duty ratchet tie downs .If your going to bend make sure the equipment is up to the task. After 3 1/2 years it was reduced in height from 2.3m to a mere 430mm and it had some serious movement .This pic was taken on the 8 / 10 / 2008 .

Due to the weight factor i decided to place the tree on the ground where it sat over the summer period then promptly died .On investigation i found the Curl grubs had managed to penetrate the soil , possibly through a misplaced mess covering the drain holes . .Sad but true , but i have no doubt if you want too bend it you can and yes there is more than 1 way to skin a cat .Cheers

It is a shame it died, but i guess that is the Nature of what we do. We can put it in the category of,.. what i did wrong and i wont do it next time...pity though, it looked like the extreme makeover would have succeeded. Oh, and thanks for the photos.

very muuch so a shame Alpine, its great that you have the confidence to twist the hel out of a tree like this, i found it quite pleasing to the eye as it was but what you had done would of change it from a good tree to something different and pleasing, i love the yamadori twisted style!


jamie

bodhidharma wrote:It is a shame it died, but i guess that is the Nature of what we do. We can put it in the category of,.. what i did wrong and i wont do it next time...pity though, it looked like the extreme makeover would have succeeded. Oh, and thanks for the photos.

Hi Bodhi those curl grubs are wicked here , can't have boxes or pots on the ground now .I have heard of a nematode available to release into the ground but i don't have any more info .Would have worked well the Nigra can handle the rough stuff.Cheers

[quote="Jamie"]very muuch so a shame Alpine, its great that you have the confidence to twist the hel out of a tree like this, i found it quite pleasing to the eye as it was but what you had done would of change it from a good tree to something different and pleasing, i love the yamadori twisted style!


jamie [/quote

Hi Jamie it did look Grouse , very pleasing to the eye but a over 2 meters , well not too many big trees make it to this stage .Its a pity i did take more pics but now i have 15,000 pictures of all the stuff i get up too it become a task and a half to find the photo's .Cheers

A definate OH BUGGER moment! What a pity. It looked like it was well on its way.

I an trying to build up a collection(private) of lots of different pines and would be interested in an interesting Euro Black pine.

I have Japanese Black, Red and White, Alleppo, Jack, Mexican, Scotts and Mugo so far.

Grant

[quote="Grant Bowie"]A definate OH BUGGER moment! What a pity. It looked like it was well on its way.

I an trying to build up a collection(private) of lots of different pines and would be interested in an interesting Euro Black pine.

I have Japanese Black, Red and White, Alleppo, Jack, Mexican, Scotts and Mugo so far.

Grant[/quote

I've had a few OH BUGGER and some real harsh ones , nice collection of species i'm doing the same .Will send a P.M .Cheers Alpine

Managed to find these pics of the big Black pine "Nigra" after the rachet straps were removed .I have discovered 3 more trees ,not as impressive as this one but i hope to remove them and add to my collection in the coming weeks .Cheers Alpine

Alpine, you have successfully trained a dragon. If you don't mind. I would like to rename this 'Nigra' the black 'Eragon'

Edit: sorry I didn't read that it died. Anyway, a dragon never really died you know. It lives in your heart.

I know the feeling mate,
we do, we learn, we move forward!!!

Bummer eh alpine
It woudl have been a nice tree .
Looking at the last 2 photos, I am curious abotu the first big bend. The top of it looks really sharp as if it had Broken, but eventually healed. It is a much sharper radius than the rest of the bend. Did it break, or did you drill it or carve to allow the sharp Kink bit?

Ken

Great photos, inspiring work.

After a fit of uncharacteristically thorough wiring, I watched a lovely Atlantic Cedar die slowly over months - seems I may have separated the cambium layer in my enthusiasm.

No good deed goes unpunished.

Gavin

kvan64 wrote:Alpine, you have successfully trained a dragon. If you don't mind. I would like to rename this 'Nigra' the black 'Eragon'

Edit: sorry I didn't read that it died. Anyway, a dragon never really died you know. It lives in your heart.

Hi kvan64 , the dragon will rise from a new trunk for sure .Cheers

Skippy wrote:I know the feeling mate,
we do, we learn, we move forward!!!

Hi Skippy , shari happens to the best of us , i've had my fair share.Cheers

kcpoole wrote:Bummer eh alpine
It woudl have been a nice tree .
Looking at the last 2 photos, I am curious abotu the first big bend. The top of it looks really sharp as if it had Broken, but eventually healed. It is a much sharper radius than the rest of the bend. Did it break, or did you drill it or carve to allow the sharp Kink bit?

Ken

Hi Ken , it had a natural shari done by the roo's/deer so it flared out and flattened as more and more pressure was applied .I should have strapped that area but no need to now .Lessens learned .Cheers Alpine