AusBonsai

I was having a cuppa a home lamenting my mistake of mixing up my workshop schedules. I was supposed to conduct a repotting workshop at our club and thought they were coming to me but as it worked out i was supposed to go there. Anyway, a ballsup on my behalf. Gerard had decided to pay me a visit with the Peter Adams workshop tree and, it seems, a new idea. As i stated earlier, i thought the changes to the tree were safe, nice, but safe and i thought something more could be done. Gerard showed me a drawing he had done at a suggestion of someone else and it was brilliant. I couldnt wait to instigate it, so we did, and i also think Gerard was very keen. If Gerard wants to mention whos idea it was thats cool but it is not my business to, as maybe they dont want to be mentioned. Anyway, heres lots of pictures.

Maybe Gerard can put up a before for me.

It was a big decision to change away from the Peter Adams design. It was (as Bodhi suggested) safe and would have resulted in a nice tree.
Before the workshop we had a discussion about where we might go with the tree.
Bodhi had a preference to keep both trunks and do some dramatic bending.
My idea was more like what Peter Adams suggested. I liked the deadwood with the shari which extended from the roots all the way along the main trunk, around the "elbow" and up the second trunk.

With the new design the very old powerful trunk with all the shari will drop straight down from the rim of the pot and the newer foliage will grow upwards.

It is now recovery time for the tree, we have kept lots of foliage options but I am confident recovery will go well. (I was pleased to see a pot full of healthy fibrous roots)

bodhidharma wrote:. Gerard showed me a drawing he had done at a suggestion of someone else and it was brilliant. I couldnt wait to instigate it, so we did, and i also think Gerard was very keen. If Gerard wants to mention whos idea it was thats cool but it is not my business to, as maybe they dont want to be mentioned.

It would not be fair to put someone elses name to the design until they confirm that I understood what was being suggested.

I will update this tree as it comes along. It is now starting to take shape and i am looking at commissioning a pot for it. I think this will be a nice tree and unusual in the future.

Looks great Bodhi. What sort of pot do you have in mind?

Damian79 wrote:Looks great Bodhi. What sort of pot do you have in mind?

That would be the Million dollar question as the pot will make or break. I would think a square, tall chunky natural colored pot would fit the bill but i am all ears with this selection if people have ideas.

MMM I have an idea. Ill have to put pencil to paper to show you.

The first "front" for my money - it brings the head into a better relation with the trunk and the pot. It's a startling re-imagining of a fairly ordinary trunk - brilliant work by all concerned. I like the way that, after a while, a tree becomes itself, a product of many minds. With luck, they will out-live us, and improve with age.

Thanks for posting,

Gavin

Coming along very nicely.
I think the decision was the right one.

I wasn't sure it would look as good after the restyling but IMO it looks better. good job

GavinG wrote:The first "front" for my money - it brings the head into a better relation with the trunk and the pot. It's a startling re-imagining of a fairly ordinary trunk - brilliant work by all concerned. I like the way that, after a while, a tree becomes itself, a product of many minds. With luck, they will out-live us, and improve with age.

Thanks for posting,

I think so to Gavin but, as you can see, It changed completely once it was put into its training pot. I emphasize TRAINING POT.As the pot i commissioned did not eventuate, not yet anyway. It can sit in this guy for a year or two and give me an opportunity to hunt one down. I will then do extensive rootwork to make it sit in the pot better.

Boics wrote:Coming along very nicely.
I think the decision was the right one.

Agree wholeheartedly.

PAUL2229 wrote:I wasn't sure it would look as good after the restyling but IMO it looks better. good job

Thanks Jezz.

This tree has thrived on a diet of sun, water and fertiliser and is the healthiest i have seen it. It is a good time to work this tree hard as it changes colour and goes a little dormant in a couple of months. I am trying to keep the tree as uncluttered as possible so the eye can take in the trunk line, and this required the removal of a couple of branches and lots of thinning out and wiring. it now has tertiary branching and took a while to wire out. The next job will be the designing of a new pot and changing the planting angle. Also want to add more movement on the main trunk. A way off yet but i feel i am making some in roads with this tree. Any comments are welcome.

Really love the first front, It's movement is a bit less linear and I think a little more emotive. Either front would be great though and I think this tree tells a great story!

Kez

kez wrote:Really love the first front, It's movement is a bit less linear and I think a little more emotive. Either front would be great though and I think this tree tells a great story!

Thanks Kez, yes the tree has a great story and this tree keeps on changing. The tree has a lot more movement in the flesh but, again, photographic skills do not help this trees cause.

Very interesting tree Bodhi.

Really marks a move away from a traditional "cookie cut" Bonsai style.
I think this is really positive as it brings out the creative "art" component of Bonsai which is important.

I will say that the new style does not lend itself as kindly to 360 degree viewing due to much of the tree being obscured from certain angles.
Having said this it's not a big deal and I think the added interest achieved via the complex style more than makes up for it.

Thanks for continuing to inspire rookies like me.