Hi Benbenrobertson4730 wrote:Looks fantastic. What time of the year did you collect this? I've got several growing on my property that have some potential. Do you have any tips for caring for the roots when digging?
Thanks, Ben
I find late winter/early spring has been the best time so far, in my area thats about august/september. straight into full sun and plenty!!! of water everyday. thats if it is in fact a swamp mel, a different mel that prefers drier environments such as m.nodosa, water well but on a less regular basis. keep an intact root ball, and only bare root if there is a fibrous mat of root, the boggier the conditions the more fine root you will have close to the trunk.
Her Gerard!Gerard wrote:Love your work Grant, thought provoking as always. I love the species amazed at how quickly and easily they develop.
My attention is drawn to the massive apical jin.(which I do not love) Jins tell a story of age and history but on melaleucas it may be hard to pull off. Soft wood which would deteriorate quickly in the natural environment tells a story of a tree in a transitional stage. An older tree will have lost most of the jin and developed a new crown. I feel that while the jin is large the image portrayed will be that of a tree in transition but perhaps that is the intention?
Thanks for your comments. the apical deadwood is an extremely common feature of old melaleucas in the mid NSW east coast, sometimes even competing with size of the live part of the tree. part of the apical deadwood was natural so i saw it only appropriate to keep it and work with it. it may go it may not, it will depend how well i can make it work in the design at the end of the day.
Hi Rolfrolfster wrote:Hi Hugh,
This is my swamp paperbark I collected 13 years ago and took some years to develop, but it's certainly worthwhile. Not to mention being patient.
It's beautiful material to work with.
Cheers
Rolf
Wow Wow Wow! thats an amazing tree there mate, well done. beautiful captures the grace of an old tall melaleuca!
