AusBonsai

Hi All,

Recently I wired up a JBP of mine and put together another progression video comprised of photos with a 360' view of the tree at the end captured on video camera. (Its actually my 2nd attempt of a vid of this pine, the first one is pretty dodgy, which explains the title of the vid)

I bought this tree in the early 90's from Leong Kwong when he had a stall at Bankstown markets (pre nursery days) and to be honest I am surprised it has survived through till today. Between when I got it up till 2009, it was repotted once, never given any fertilzer, I think you get the picture.....

I did a bit of wiring to it in 09 when I repotted it, then I had absolutely no idea what I was doing (some might suggest that still applies today lolol which I'll admit is a fair comment.....MattA, no comment from you lol) and it wasn't until Christmas of last year I obtained a Pine Book which has helped me accquire confidence with Pines. Since getting the book I have tried to get some direction into this tree and think its looking better, but like everything of mine, a work in progress.



I can already see a few possible changes down the track, but would love to hear your thoughts and ideas on how to improve this pine and get the best out of it. If need be I can post photos of the tree now to make it easier, if requested. Perhaps I should get around to getting some Bonsai Lessons

Cheers

David

Thanks David.

Amazing effort you have gone too with both of these video compilations.
Great foresight to take the pictures and document the changes over time.

The new front is definitely for the better.
I actually really like the back too!

Pot is maybe a bit light for my preference but seeing as it's due for a re-pot / re-position I'm sure this may be considered shortly as well.

Keep up the good work!

Its really cool to see as your tree improves so have you !!! Thats really obvious... Great effort and cool track !!!

Boics wrote:Thanks David.

Amazing effort you have gone too with both of these video compilations.
Great foresight to take the pictures and document the changes over time.

The new front is definitely for the better.
I actually really like the back too!

Pot is maybe a bit light for my preference but seeing as it's due for a re-pot / re-position I'm sure this may be considered shortly as well.

Keep up the good work!

Thanks Boics, I appreciate the comments. I agree with you about the pot mate, the light glazed oval pot was never right for it (albeit at the time I repotted it in 09 I thought it was, but can put that down to the learning curve) and will be tossing up ideas in the meantime. If you have any thoughts, I would be all ears.

anttal63 wrote:Its really cool to see as your tree improves so have you !!! Thats really obvious... Great effort and cool track !!!

Thanks Antonio, I appreciate that mate, alot.

I had some time today and seeing I wasn't happy with the first version, I made another with extra photos and a song that I thought would suit it better. I had alot more pics but they were lost, along with thousands of others when my laptop died in 2010 (I learn't a valuable lesson regarding backing things up externally that day).

Cheers

David

Great stuff...camera angle from the top really told the story for me.cheers

Hi David, Thanks for taking the time to put that together. Shows really well the path needed to develope a tree. Was it Leongs black pine book you got. I really need to get a good book on black pines as I have a nice one sitting on my bench at home and no real idea what I'm doing with it. I'll be in Sydney in a couple of weeks and am hoping to get down to Leongs for a look. Well done on the tree. That shot from the top show really good branch structure.

Josh

Mark330 wrote:Great stuff...camera angle from the top really told the story for me.cheers

Thanks Mark, Appreciate the kind words mate. I too like that shot, you don't get a sense of the structure from the normal view and it only becomes visible from the overhead shot.

kidsandall wrote:Hi David, Thanks for taking the time to put that together. Shows really well the path needed to develope a tree. Was it Leongs black pine book you got. I really need to get a good book on black pines as I have a nice one sitting on my bench at home and no real idea what I'm doing with it. I'll be in Sydney in a couple of weeks and am hoping to get down to Leongs for a look. Well done on the tree. That shot from the top show really good branch structure.

Josh

Hi Josh,

Thanks mate, I have to be honest and think it was more good luck more than good management, but you have to get lucky sometimes I think lol. I got my hands on the book in late 2011 and yes it has been an immense help since, Im still reading it and letting things sink it. I was fortunate that I didn't kill it before I started reading it, now I think that pines are quite easy to grow. I hope you do get the chance to visit him as I am sure you will enjoy it. It might pay to give the nursery a call before you go to make sure he is there (seeing that its not as if he is around the corner from you, I'm jealous of your location. The mornington is Gods Country to me, plus the National Golf club is nearby...).

Since making that vid, the crown was annoying me everytime I watered so the otherday I tweaked it to where it sits better on the eye. This is how it stands now
I also can't wait to put it in a better pot come this winter. I will update this when that happens.

Thanks again for the kind comments.

Cheers

David

kidsandall wrote:Hi David, Thanks for taking the time to put that together. Shows really well the path needed to develope a tree. Was it Leongs black pine book you got. I really need to get a good book on black pines as I have a nice one sitting on my bench at home and no real idea what I'm doing with it. I'll be in Sydney in a couple of weeks and am hoping to get down to Leongs for a look. Well done on the tree. That shot from the top show really good branch structure.

Josh

Hi Josh,

Thanks mate, I have to be honest and think it was more good luck more than good management, but you have to get lucky sometimes I think lol. I got my hands on the book in late 2011 and yes it has been an immense help since, Im still reading it and letting things sink it. I was fortunate that I didn't kill it before I started reading it, now I think that pines are quite easy to grow. I hope you do get the chance to visit him as I am sure you will enjoy it. It might pay to give the nursery a call before you go to make sure he is there (seeing that its not as if he is around the corner from you, I'm jealous of your location. The mornington is Gods Country to me, plus the National Golf club is nearby...).

Since making that vid, the crown was annoying me everytime I watered so the otherday I tweaked it to where it sits better on the eye. This is how it stands now
I also can't wait to put it in a better pot come this winter. I will update this when that happens.

Thanks again for the kind comments.

Cheers

David[/quote]
That looks better IMHO. It's coming a long nicely. I want to get his book. I'm actually flying to Sydney on the 13 Jan for 2 days. My wife surprised me at Christmas with a trip to Sydney to see a mate I haven't seen in a long time. I am planning to drop in and see Leong on one of those days. I have pm'd him so hopefully he'll be around. Unfortunately I don't have a heap of time in Sydney so it will be a quick trip. Looking forward to seeing his nursery though. Just trying to work out how to fit some trees in my luggage to bring home lol..

Josh

Hi David,

Great video and great work on the tree it is great to see the progression, I have now started to take before on after photos thanks to your inspiration so I can work on a progression series

Hi Nathan,

sorry for the delay in responding, thank you for your kind words. I did have a heap of other photos but were lost a few years back. I haven't noticed you about of late, I do hope that you still have a interest in Bonsai and will continue with it and share your experiences with us again.

An update on this, since i last posted I was getting a little tired of it and being reminded of a Christmas Tree so tweaked the branches by bringing them down more. It still has many many years to go to fill out, but content on where it sits. I've not long repotted into a more suited pot and with the new front.
After I initially repotted it, it was sitting about an inch and half higher than it sits now, that was a Faux pas so the following day I repotted it again, but this time a little lower. It does still sit quite high in the pot (personally I don't mind this) but over the coming years will gradually bring it down lower with the end goal to have it flush with the surface.

Any comments are always welcomed.

Cheers

David

Hi all,

Almost a year on and time for a quick update. It responded very well to summer thinning and has rewarded me with an abundance of new growth. Still a few years away yet to be show worthy and to where I want it as the crown needs to fill in but happy how its coming along.
late Sept 2013
late Dec 2013
early Jan 2014
how it sits today

It could even have a complete change of direction in the next few years, but will cross that bridge when it comes.

Cheers

David

Looking very nice! Very cool progression

Hi David,

I like the branch placement you've given it. Great work.

Scott

Well done David,enjoying your progression mate..cheers Anthony

Thanks Jason, Scott and Anthony,

A few more seasons of growth, a bit of compacting and the odd tweak here and there, it should be looking about right, the front of the tree will be one of them as I still have yet to get my desired front hahaha. I also hope to get it in a better pot by then as well. Two more feeds before I stop for the winter should give it a flying start for next season.

Thanks again for the positive feedback Chaps.

Cheers

David


EDITED: Grammar