AusBonsai

This is an old Paperbark/Malalueca? .The tree is the largest in the area being approx' 1.4m x 1.6m in diameter at the base When i spotted this i instantly thought of the "old fella" from the West

Sorry Alpine but it just wouldnt wash as a bonsai.. it has the worst nebari I have ever seen, nothing but a tangled mess of roots...in the 2nd photo it even has a root wrapping around the trunk from way above ground level... totally unacceptable (we need a tongue smiley)

Matt

Being cheeky I forgot to say.. thanks for the pics and inspiration, its a beauty & something to aspire to the recreation of.

Apart from the roots it's a great tree, wouldn't it look fabulous in a pot
Don't the roots grow like that because of drought...they stay closer to the surface so they can capture any moisture that may be around. That's been my experiece with surface roots. The bougs my daughters partner gave me were like that, they were just clinging to the ground for grim death as they never ever got watered. I'd like to add they all have lovelly new shoots on them now and I've now moved them to where they will get morning sun
cheers Loretta

By the way, can I ask who the old fella from the west is...it wouldn't be Pup would it

Now this is Yamadori , yes you could improve it as with all collected trees .The buttress trunk is what i was keen on . Looks like it may have been run over quite a few times in its life ,being next to a drive way .Nothing perfect about Mother Nature , i see a lot of Bonsai that look like Manufactured trees and some of them are Beautiful Bonsai .Cheers Alpine

awsome trunk would look great in a pot, too bad about the messy tangled nebari

Nature serves to tell us, that all of her creation have a beauty of there own. All concerns for the roots can be allayed in a pot. The canopy is good and healthy.

A great example of Australian trees if you look at it as an Australian Penjing, then you have no worries on the Nebari.

Cheers the Old Grump from the West.

Nah Just Airlayer a new set of roots onto it

Nice alpine

Seems my tongue in cheek was taken as serious.. I actually love the roots & wouldnt touch them...

But, I have never been a fan of "perfect nebari" nature doesnt do perfect and I am the first to admit I dont either. I have seen many OLD bonsai and penjing with masses of tangled surface roots & they just add to the appeal, telling the story of the tree's long years in its pot or in the case of this mela the ground.


Matt