NBPCA and Floriade 2009

[Grant Bowie]

That definately is the front of the tree. It is a fabulous tree in the flesh/bark/leaf. well you know what I mean.

[alexgee]

a friend of mine visited last week and isnt into bonsai and came back with heaps of photos(mainly for me) but was very impressed himself

looks great

[Grant Bowie]

Today is a very busy day at the collection(about 1,500 people through already) and we are currently being serenaded by Marcia Hines on the stage next to us in Commonwealth Park.

A tough day at the office.

[Grant Bowie]

Hi everyone,

We have had close to 3,000 visitors today. Some crowd shots and a maple you may remember from last autumn in its spring growth. Also an interesting shadow.

Floriade 2009 1.JPG

Floriade 2009 7.JPG

Japanese Maple Spring 2009.JPG

Autumn colour on Japanese maple 1984 (cropped).jpg

Grant Bowie

[LLK]

Thats the second picture of this Elm from that angle. I would swear that was the back of the tree. I would definatly like to see a picture from the other side if I can.

My apologies for inflicting another pic of that tree on you, Brett. My photo was more of a close-up and somehow I thought that people here would like it, as it's such a stunning tree. Still, I can imagine why you think that the view shown in the photos might be of the back, since the trunk clearly curves away from the viewer, towards the back. It returns to the front higher up, though. The artist obviously saw the combination of that big carved hollow, together with the beautiful bark and the trunk movement plus curved root as the most interesting aspect of his tree, and we have to accept that. By the way, one of the other volunteers said that there should be a little owl placed at the entrance of the hole. If it had been Nick Lenz' tree, he would surely have done it.

Lisa

[anttal63]

lisa and bretts i know that elm well. its a real gem! so is the artist. the tree looks good from any angle. the cambium rolling round those hollows is so sensual

all of you that have trees there deserve to and should be very proud of your selves. grant; an amazing show you guys are putting on up there well done, congrats and best wishes. cant wait to get there my self one of these days soon.

[Bretts]

Put all the pictures of this tree up you like Lisa Especially from different angles In no way was I disrespecting the artist obviously this is a very impressive tree and I can't wait to see it in the flesh as Grant mentioned.
I think it only natural to consider these things though.
I thought it was happening a little too often that after styling a tree the back started to make more sense
I recently read Walter Pall often does the same thing so maybe it's not a bad thing

I can't wait to see the other angles Antonio I hope I can control myself

[anttal63]

yes to all of that bretts. is this occurence of back being front trying to tell us something? i sure have a deep respect for where walter is coming from.

[Grant Bowie]

Slightly off topic but with my privat trees I often form the apex from a back branch as it adds a lot of depth to the tree and doesn't give it a feeling of relentlessly coming forward, without feeling like it is falling backwards either.

[aaron_tas]

form the apex from a back branch

when you said this at the launceston bonsai centre, it stuck, and works very well the other 1/3 of hardknocks down here also preaches your same words

even the shadow of that tree looks amazing...

and the display looks fantastic

thank you to everyone for thier efforts with the collection

I promised you an up to date pic of the olive grove, so here it is.

thank you so much, i wish i could be face up with this setting... (i miss it )

That setting gets a lot of attention from visitors, and they all love the story that it was put together by group of 3 young people of "the bonsai of hard knocks".

that puts such a big smile on my face, thanks a bunch, i love it

[Grant Bowie]

Hi Aaron,

The native dracophyllum is flowering at the moment as well and it intrigues a lot of people.

Grant

Native Dracophyllum in flower.JPG

[Grant Bowie]

A lot of people also like the accompanying plant in Megumis tree.

Violets at base of Megumi Bennets Banksia serrata.JPG

[Grant Bowie]

Hi Everyone,

We have had everything thrown at us today weather wise. 10 dgrees maximum, sunny periods, rain, wind and even felt like it was snowing nearby at one point.

But still they come. The Floriade tourists are are hardy bunch. And so are our volunteers.

Braving the weather..JPG

Sheltering from the weather.JPG

Finally the shadow has started to leaf out! Spring is definately here.

Shadow of Elm leafing out..JPG

NOTE! It is now halfway through Floriade so if you wish to see the shadow before it is fully leafed out (and all the flowers and attractions of Floriade)you will need to come in the next two weeks.

[Grant Bowie]

A few more photos of some of the trees leafing out, or just about to.

English elm leafing out..JPG

Abies koreana with new bright green growth.JPG

European beech about to start budding and fully deciduous; persistant leaves gone..JPG

Japanese maple more in leaf..JPG

Japanese maple group leafing out.JPG

[anttal63]

nice grant thanks for that. go the tree huggers!