AusBonsai

G'day,

Back in 2010, I was visiting Noel Summerell and this particular Melaleuca caught my eye. Noel advised that he had been growing it since around 1985 and the trunk was shaped by cut and grow.
Somehow the tree found its way into my car and back to my garden but Noel wouldn't let go of the antique Japanese pot that it was in.
It didn't seem to mind having branches grow below horizontal so I decided to style it using this as a feature.
It grew well over the next 9 months and filled out substantially. I was unsure if the final design should have a head so decided to wire the lower section and 'go with the flow'.
In October 2011 I took this tree along to a workshop with Bill Valavanis to see what he would do.

I couldn't help but think that there was a better design possible so I tweaked it a bit in November 2011.
Earlier this week I gave it a haircut and potted it into this hand made pot, created and given to me by Lynette.
Comments, criticism and discussion are encouraged.

Regards,
Steven

Beautiful trunk Steven, I would keep the foliage arrangement very simple so all the emphasis goes to the trunk, just 2 simple foliage pads.
Craigw

Hi Steven,

It is an elegant trunk and has a nice and airy lofty feel, in contrast to craig, I like the transparency of the small tufts of foliage as opposed to two larger ones. Two very small tufts may work though, especially if there was space between them, but I wonder if there would be sufficient foliage to keep the trunk and roots well fed if they were too small. In my opinion a dark pot would suit it well, but the shape it is in is much lighter than the pot preceding it which has much advantage.

Ash

I to think it is a wonderful trunk and also like the pot you have chosen for it. If i was to make a comment i would cut the very top branch to lighten the branching. These will grow (duh!!) and would make it a little top heavy.

Love it. Though my favorite styling was the early 'after some work'. Less is more with this one for me.

Hey Steven,

The trunk is beautiful and I like the tree in all its stylings. The only thing that lets it down for me is the curves in the branches, none of the sudden direction changes as there is in the trunkline.

Matt

nice Movement thru the trunk.

i had a couple of minutes to sparemiddle one is the original

I think #3 is really nice Craig
Regards
Steve

With all the bends that are low I find picture no 3 of Craigs to be more pleasing, as well as it does help the eye when it gets there. As the curves are less drastic up there and the foliage helps.

I would also hazard a guess at this being one of the cultivars of Melaleuca bracteata, possibly revolution green.


I do like it a lot

Pup

soda wrote:Love it. Though my favorite styling was the early 'after some work'. Less is more with this one for me.

I also prefer the upright trunk--perhaps develop some jinning branches near the top of the foliage pad

Nice taper, texture of the bark is great too.

The last picture is best Steve.

Good work

Agreed, number 3 has nice movement and feel to it. Top work on the trunk though, that's what catches my eye.

I figured one more with an upright trunk wouldn't hurt

Steven wrote:
Comments, criticism and discussion are encouraged.

Regards,
Steven

Hi Steven,

IMO, the movement of the apex brings about a feminine feel about this tree, and so the first two pots are much too strong for the tree. The colour and style of this pot suits the tree much better.

I would not make any more changes to the styling of the tree. But concentrating on making the foliage a bit more mature.

Best regards.

Hi Steve,

I do like # 3 im a big fan of the literati style very nice

Regard's

The Hacker