AusBonsai

After looking at this Juniper in a pot i had brought back from Japan and deciding that maybe they were not the perfect fit i had imagined, I decided to see how it would match with a slab i had. The slab was collected a year or two ago along with the rock underneath (collected off our property) and the project was left hanging around until the enthusiasm, and a tree, presented itself. Yesterday i decided the time was right to put the plan into action. The slab was prepared by cutting a large drain hole in it and a ring was cut out of Californian redwood and treated with lime sulpher for the tree to sit in. I then attached the ring to the slab and covered it with clay from the dam and worked it in to the side of the ring for the moss to attach to. I know it is technically correct to use muck but i find it is not permanent enough as a support for the tree. Also, it is good to experiment as to what does a better job. Now i can see what needs to be refined in the setting and have given myself a good 6 months to finish the job in readiness for our upcoming Goldfields exhibition.I have seen it to many times that people start preparing a composition one week out from the show and then wonder why the tree does not exhibit well. The tree needed no root work as it plonked straight into the ring i had prepared. Good planning i say If i had to do extensive root work i would not have gone ahead. I can now work on it and let it settle in as it will take a good 3-6 months to combine. Let me know what you think I will probably loose the wise man sitting under it as the jury is out on figurines in my household.

That is awsome i want one like that

Pat

Verry nice job bodhi
they tree matches the slab really well

Ken

Hi Bodhi,

I like it very much, like the tree, like the slab, like the whole arrangement. I wouldn't worry to much about the little wise guy. When he gets sick of sitting there he will get up and walk away. He will probably have to go and get something to eat before that show in six months time.

I think your method of using timber wall instead of straight muck is a good practical one. Muck does not last long enough- infiltrates the growing medium and has a lot of other unnamed drawbacks so I avoid using it. The way you have it you can separated the muck from the growing medium.

One suggestion is to try and reduce the boundary between the slab 'wall' moss and the moss growing on the upper portion (top of old pot?). They are different species and there is an obvious margin between them. If I could grow moss like that I would try to interdisperse the species a bit more and break up the chunks.

cheers
Ash

One suggestion is to try and reduce the boundary between the slab 'wall' moss and the moss growing on the upper portion (top of old pot?). They are different species and there is an obvious margin between them. If I could grow moss like that I would try to interdisperse the species a bit more and break up the chunks.

cheers
Ash

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I know exactly where you mean Ash. It is the wall of the retainer and the shape of the pot which the tree resided in that is the problem. I think the moss will blend itself over the next couple of months. If not, next repotting season it will be rectified.

That is awesome Diederik - do you have any progress shots to show the mechanics of the ring of redwood. I am having a hard time picturing it and how much built up the rest is.


Tony

Great work bodhi, I really like the slab.

Have you got any before pictures?

Bougy Fan wrote:That is awesome Diederik - do you have any progress shots to show the mechanics of the ring of redwood. I am having a hard time picturing it and how much built up the rest is.


Tony

AGGHHH I knew somebody would ask me. I was so caught up in the doing before i realized. I was having a "ART" moment. I will try words, I cut a ring the same size as the pot the tree was in. The difference being, the pot is about 250mm high and the ring is only 50mm high and 10mm thick and has no bottom. It retains the soil and stops it from washing away. It also gives the roots 50mm to grow down into. It is fixed to the slab with a water resistant silicone and if that does not work i will drill holes from underneath and screw the retainer to the slab with stainless screws. I used redwood for its ability not to rot.(although i believe everything breaks down eventually.) I then covered the walls of the ring with clay. I hope that covers it for you.

Absolutely love it, wish I had something in my collection like this

OMG. I would kill to be able to do that.
Maybe one day.
Brad

hi bohdi
keep the wise old man as it add,s character to the tree and by the way you done a top job on the tree im impressed
dean
PS what material is the slab (sandstone,granit?????)

Bohdi do you wish to show a Penjing, or a Bonsai? if it is Bonsai send the old man on his way. If it penjing get him a book to read. A semi cascade on a slab, I must admit I have not seen this, it does look balanced too.

Also I commend you on what you say about getting trees ready for shows, I started 18months ago for our show in May. Some trees have not come up, some are getting there, one tree has lost it child but teenagers do sometimes leave home.

Just my Pup

Thanks for the "words" Diederik - that covers it beautifully. I love the way most members are willing to share their secrets and methods. So the clay is just stuck to the ring for the moss to grow on ? I presume the ring was filled with a type of bonsia mix ?

By the way love the lateral thinking as Pup pointed out with the use of a semi cascade on a slab.


Tony

I got goosebumps when I saw your completed project mate

I love all the mythical themes going on in the piece; from the Juniper's position on the moss-covered hill and craggy slab, to the gentle slope and little man sitting under its shade. It's a real work of art. One of the directions I've been working on for some time with my own Bonsai is developing tress which 'tell a story' rather than just show a tree. And your piece does just that.

I'm not sure I'm able to top your piece, but I hope some day I can come close!

Love it Bodhi! Although technically Pup is correct on the little bloke under there, I think the boundary between Japanese/Chinese and Western "bonsai" (used as a kind of all-encompassing word) is blurred enough outside of China and Japan to be able to justify either. I may be shot down on this one, but why do we insist on boxing ourselves into categories. Same goes for style rules. They are there as a result of sensible horticulture and basic principles of art, but must we stick to them slavishly?

Again, lovely little composition! I'm going to officially start a new category of trees in pots. Its called Bonjing , and it's for those of us who don't know or care whether what we are doing is Japanese, Chinese or a mix of both, but love it all the same!

Andrew