AusBonsai

I took this tree along to the Grant Bowie workshop on the weekend (I also took this tree viewtopic.php?f=104&t=12257 )

He wanted me to dig away the soil around the trunk & clean up the roots. I ended up removing the tangled knot of roots at the base of the trunk with a pair of knob cutters. After that we looked at t from all angles and agreed on the best viewing angle. From there I pruned 2 of the possible 3 trunks sealing both cuts. I then tip pruned anywhere up to 3 inches of each branches terminal bud to hopefully promote some back budding and some lower branch options for the future. I haven't decided if I should re-pot it this spring and risk its ability to back bud this year, or leave it as is and hope for lots of buds down low. So Its back on the bench for now.

Well this is a loooong overdue update.

This tree was somewhat neglected for 8-10 years without being repotted. It was watered and occasionally fertilised and rarely pruned.

Then one day I was looking in to natives and remembered I had this in my backyard.

Drumroll please
This is in a Murrumbung pot and on its way to becoming a nice bonsai imo

Nice. The callistemon species that naturally droop their branching is the goldmine for making these look aged and natural.
For so many years I neglected Callistemon because of the leaf size. I've since acquired a few good ones with smallish leaves, but I still prefer Mels.
What colour is the flower?

Red flowers on this one

Time for another quick update.

I gave this a reasonably heavy prune in late summer/early autumn (I think?). This is one of the trees I see every time I look out the kitchen window, and I must say it is fast becoming one of my favourites in my collection.

This was just a quick snap taken in the midday sun on the bench. I have purchased quite a few natives tube stock, and 6 inch pot stock in the past 12 months after seeing what can be done in such little time (When not neglected )

I am thinking of exhibiting it at this years Royal Adelaide Show which is end of August/early September. Fingers crossed for a warm winter so it has a few flowers opening by then.

That's grown into a nice tree. Good job. It's cool to see long term progressions like this and good to see that you've stuck with the hobby. However, you didn't answer the most important question, was old mate at your bonsai club correct? Did your trees out last your girlfriend? Or maybe she's come around and become an addict too

DaveZ wrote: ↑May 30th, 2025, 7:04 am That's grown into a nice tree. Good job. It's cool to see long term progressions like this and good to see that you've stuck with the hobby. However, you didn't answer the most important question, was old mate at your bonsai club correct? Did your trees out last your girlfriend? Or maybe she's come around and become an addict too

haha thanks. that gf is long gone, and I am married to someone else for 9 years now. She doesn't love bonsai, but has heard me talk enough about it she can even appreciate a good tree. She said the other day - oh wow look at the ramification on that! I was very proud

It probably needs a quick haircut yet again, but here is a better photo from this week