A SHORT RECENT HISTORY OF A BOUGAINVILLEA.

[Dave54]

by Hector Johnson on Today, 19:06

"We could actually discuss the topic posted. That would prevent AusBonsai turning into a personality-driven wasteland of drivel like a few forum boards I joined about three years ago then quit because they turned into ego-stroking cesspits."

Hector, you have a way with words. Here Here !!

I would like to think that the forum is one of open discussion, with often differing views, but without the dribble.
cheers
Dave

[PeterW]

And Soltan,
I am certainly not upset, I must be getting soft as I couldn't quite tell where the insults were and I lost the gist of why he would be sounding like Soltan
cheers
DaveDave54
Aussie Bonsai Fan

I am often lost too

It was in jest, i said that it was the tree's first time in wire....it just sounded like something that brett would say..thats all guys. I will take all and any humor out of my posts from now on...ok.
Peter

[Bretts]

Hey Dave I had heard of Minwax wood hardener and searched for it everywhere as I could not find a similar product. I finally tracked down an Aussie supplier It works great dries hard as like petrified wood. (my contact may still work if anyone interested) I then came across the Earls wood hardener that you suggest. I have only had a tiny experiment with it. It has been good to hear it works. I was convinced to just burn the wood on my last carving of my hornbeam. Although this is a fairly hard wood as deciduous goes.

[Asus101]

I will be looking into wood hardeners for the wisteria when it comes time.
Knowing there is a product at bunnings makes it easier.

[irene_b]

Another item to use is marine poxy....Used on punky wood it stops the decay. A item to note when dealing with Bougies is that when you do carve into them make sure you channel moisture away from the heart. Any pool left in carving will rot quicker.
Mum

[Asus101]

A item to note when dealing with Bougies is that when you do carve into them make sure you channel moisture away from the heart. Any pool left in carving will rot quicker.
Mum

Would this be the same for wisteria?

[anttal63]

brett once you've burnt, steel brushed and are done its still best to finish with lime sulphur to preserve. softer woods i keep hearing again and again how good earls is.

[irene_b]

A item to note when dealing with Bougies is that when you do carve into them make sure you channel moisture away from the heart. Any pool left in carving will rot quicker.
Mum

Would this be the same for wisteria?

Yes
Any tree that can rot can benefit from a sealer that locks out moisture..
And when you consider how we water our trees (daily or several times daily) it starts to make more sense to use products that our ship builders use ..
Mom

[anttal63]

indeed mom your so right. when carving always think about water running off, on any specie

[Marc]

He he, high Peter, how do I expect you to answer that? with honesty only.

Asus101 made the comment, we grow them for their flowers, exactly, I sincerely agree.

I love flowering bonsai, they are wonderful. I guess some of my favourite are rhoderdendrons in informal uprights, but who has seen them growing like this in a garden, they are a messy-as-hell bush. so I defeat my own arguement!

But, like you said Dave, you grow them to suit your own eye, and if someone else likes them, that's good.

[MelaQuin]

I admire all the bougs coming into the community that are so well developed. I planted one 22 years ago and it simply does not thicken tho it is replete with flowers every year. Another one planted about 10 years ago has developed well but only for a garden bougs...there is nothing, nothing at all exciting for a future bonsai. Disappointing but at least it keeps yet another tree off the benches....

[Dave54]

Hi everyone,
a perfect example as to why I often purchase old, already worked on trees that I can improve. It saves 22 years and you know what you are buying will make a bonsai in the end.
cheers
Dave

[Hector Johnson]

Well said, [Dave]. Bougainvillea and Wisteria are very slow to thicken. Better to save an old one from destruction than try to wait for a youg one to grow.

[Jon Chown]

Better to save an old one from destruction than try to wait for a youg one to grow.

Yes, well put, and people being critical of what is then available should take into account that the Custodian (I like that word Dave) has had very litttle if anything to do with the initial trunk design they have to make choices with what is available so it is obvious that there may be some blemishes.

Jon

[Hector Johnson]

That's true of almost any stock you buy from a specialist grower or that you collect, [Jon]. I think it's hilarious when I hear that someone has "collected a ready-made bonsai from a small, natural bowl in a rock, high on a windswept cliff face, above the snowline, blah blah blah..." Bonsai is a compromise between age, the habits of the species, your luck in getting branches to grow in startegic spots and your skill in creating the taper, perspective and impression of age necessary to develop an aesthetically pleasing design.

You take what you get and work from there. It's why we pick through the plants in the stock area or in the backlot of the nursery, looking for something that new, young plants just don't possess. It's equally hilarious to hear someone preparing to grow a masterpiece from some "bonsai seeds". I just hope they got a lot of them for the cow they were meant to sell.