Collected Cotoneaster

[Scott Roxburgh]

No branches on the front of the tree?

[Bretts]

Bingo Scott on the nose, you can even see where I removed the front branch I saved in the last style in the perfect spot.
I removed several branches this time to simplify the design but only after I took the picture did I realise the mistake I had made.
As I stated earlier when able to remove some more wood I will be able to turn the tree more in the pot and if you look at earlier pics this will improve the look of the root base and the straight line on the left that mojo points out.
I forgot it needed to be turned more and felt the front branch was too centrally forward.
Fingers crossed it will not be a big problem in the future as it is a strong grower and should give me another to choose for there.
Marc explained this well as being important to give a little mystery to the tree you have to look closer before you get to see all the trunk. I think of this much like the idea that a Japanese garden can not be fully seen from one spot. The garden invites you to walk into it before you can see other parts of it.

[Mojo Moyogi]

Marc explained this well as being important to give a little mystery to the tree you have to look closer before you get to see all the trunk. I think of this much like the idea that a Japanese garden can not be fully seen from one spot. The garden invites you to walk into it before you can see other parts of it.

Absolutely! Peter Adams has written of this a few times in his books, how interest is added to a trees image by allowing foliage planes to subtly interrupt the line of the trunk as it ascends. Many of the best Japanese and Taiwanese bonsai I have seen utilise the method in one way or another, despite it being right there staring at me in colour pictures, it took someone describing it in print to make it obvious.

Cheers,
Mojo

[Paulneill]

Hi Brett's how is this one going now ? Would it be possible to get an update please.

I have a cotoneaster which looks like the same species as yours do u know the species ?
Also do you have any tips on growing them can you allow them to dry out ?
I also read they don't respond we'll to heavy fertilising . Any info you can provide will be a great help.
Also can I hit the roots hard and expect it to bounce back ?

[Bretts]

Thanks for the reminder Paul this one was overdue for it's second trim this season. It has been in a fairly shaded spot this season after repotting and then after the last trim I was hesitant to put it straight in the sun again. So growth could have been lots faster if I gave it more sun and feed. Seems it got sunburnt at some stage and I have some new deadwood to play with so I think the shadey side will do this tree until early Autumn.
Hmm maybe I did put it in the sun for a couple of days after the last trim and then changed my mind. In any event we now have some deadwood and I think I like it, not sure i should carve it much I kinda like it as it is

It has only just popped a small weak bud where I need to replace the branch I removed, Isn't it always the way as the tree puts out heaps of advantagous buds everywhere else that need to be constantly removed

coton 003.jpg

coton 005.jpg

Oh and sorry I am not sure what species it is but I will have a good guess when I take it accross state borders

[Pup]

Hi Brettles, what surprises me is it survived Pup. As I said just looking at them usually means they curl up and kark it, for me any way.

It has lots of very healthy growth, what has been pointed out, has always led me to try and say it looks like a ladder, to some people it is like a red rag to a bull.

So I gave up, but Dorothy Koreshoff has always said foliage in the right place makes a big difference, so put it there, and mystery in trees takes you back to your child hood when you explored more than analysed.

Cheers Pup

[bodhidharma]

A nice clean out Bretts, it is starting to come along now. Crappy back drop though, run out of sheets.

[Bretts]

I thought I would spare you the view of my undies on the line

[Webos]

Don't see enough cotoneasters in bonsai here in Australia. Good to see this one developing. Wonder how wattos is going

[Bretts]

It is suprising there are not many about as there are heaps to collect in the cetral west at least anyway and they love our climate.

[Watto]

Yours is kicking along Bretts and won't be long before it is at an exhibition. I appreciate your no undies photo!
Mine is also coming along and have decided to re-pot in late spring or early autumn Webos. If Brett doesn't mine I will post a photo next week.

[Bretts]

No worries Watto

[Watto]

This one of mine needs a re-pot (coming soon) and a bit more work on the foliage structure but it is moving in the right direction.

[Webos]

Good to see it moving along watto

[Watto]

Would you have a new pic for us Brett? At this time of year they normally throw out pleanty of growth.
By the way, I think they may be Cotoneaster glaucophyllus?