THE FINEST BONSAI I HAVE SEEN IN AUSTRALIA

[MelaQuin]

This tree was not in the exhibition at the AABC held in Adelaide in May. It was in a talk about the type of tree.
It is an Eriocephalus africanus, obviously ground grown for a long time and the styling is simply superb. The styling is breathtaking. I have been to 7 of the AABC Conventions, seen a lot of bonsai at club shows and the AABC and I cannot say I have seen one equal to this. It just blows my mind.
Personally I would like to see it in an Australian made pot with an earthy colour but the pot it is in suits the tree size and shape wise. I just think a satin glaze with a slightly broken surface would add an extra essence to the tree. But that's a small, a VERY small comment in the face of such artistic splendour. Full marks to the artist who did get both top awards and they were so well deserved.

IMG_1869.jpg

[treeman]

Ok I'll bite.
Its a nice tree. For me, too tall for the proportions. If it was collected, the grower cannot take credit for the trunk. If atificially shaped then great job. Canopy is well balanced and skillfully aranged but nothing REALLY out of the ordinary.
But I like the tree a lot.

[Pearcy001]

Can anyone that attended supply a bit better quality photo to the conversation?

[bodhidharma]

Can anyone that attended supply a bit better quality photo to the conversation?

Agreed. A good sized photo please.

[Boics]

This thread needs / deserves better photo's!

[Gerard]

A huge statement Melaquin, but I liked it enough to suggest that it was probably my favorite tree seen at the convention, beautiful sinuous wood and bark.

[Reece]

This thread needs / deserves better photo's!

[Jarad]

...Google doesn't seem to yield any results either...

[Rory]

Ok I'll bite.
Its a nice tree. For me, too tall for the proportions. If it was collected, the grower cannot take credit for the trunk. If atificially shaped then great job. Canopy is well balanced and skillfully aranged but nothing REALLY out of the ordinary.
But I like the tree a lot.

Nice tree. I would however reduce the amount of foliage. I do like the height, but it just looks a little bit top-heavy for that much foliage.

I've noticed you mention the words 'too tall' quite often in your posts. I particularly like tall trees, but mainly on Australian natives that are naturally tall and slender in the wild. I'm not taking issue, I'm just actually curious... do you prefer short trees in general, or do you mean for this actual trunk, you feel that the foliage is too highly placed? I noticed in a different thread you mentioned when you were younger that you were told your trees were too tall and you disagreed at first. Then in hindsight you agreed with the critique and reduced the height. Perhaps I am just further behind in my journey than you and I have not acquired a better eye for it, but I am honestly interested in this subject, because I have given many, many years of thought to this issue.

I think this tree works in my eyes because it creates the illusion of an exceptionally tall stand-alone tree with a weathered trunk. However, call me abnormal, but I do naturally prefer feminine and unusual trees, over strong male trees any day. Though you probably gathered that from my butchered recommendation of your Tea Tree, Treeman.

When I first started bonsai I used to try and cut back hard, grow, cut back hard, grow, cut back hard etc etc to gain a very thick base. Then as I got much older, I found my liking changed. I now naturally lean towards longer feminine stock, but it is a personal thing. I know that it kind of goes against the grain of most bonsai enthusiasts. Though I still love a really thick base, but only when combined naturally with a trunk that is eventually grown tall and ragged.

I have been told that I am a natural lover of the chinese style of growing rather than the Japanese. I'm not up to scratch on the official 'rules' of what makes a great bonsai nor do I profess to know much at all about the rules of styling. But for me, a lot of the stock that I am told has perfect traits, or has branch positioning that is second to none or is of show quality.... I often find that this stock looks contrived and doesn't appeal to my eye at all.

Very much interested in others' views on this, and of course opinions on whether it is just a natural stage in ones development. I realized my liking was very much different hether I'm just a naturally different stylist like I have often been told.

[treeman]

Ok I'll bite.
Its a nice tree. For me, too tall for the proportions. If it was collected, the grower cannot take credit for the trunk. If atificially shaped then great job. Canopy is well balanced and skillfully aranged but nothing REALLY out of the ordinary.
But I like the tree a lot.

Nice tree. I would however reduce the amount of foliage. I do like the height, but it just looks a little bit top-heavy for that much foliage.

I've noticed you mention the words 'too tall' quite often in your posts. I particularly like tall trees, but mainly on Australian natives that are naturally tall and slender in the wild. I'm not taking issue, I'm just actually curious... do you prefer short trees in general, or do you mean for this actual trunk, you feel that the foliage is too highly placed? I noticed in a different thread you mentioned when you were younger that you were told your trees were too tall and you disagreed at first. Then in hindsight you agreed with the critique and reduced the height. Perhaps I am just further behind in my journey than you and I have not acquired a better eye for it, but I am honestly interested in this subject, because I have given many, many years of thought to this issue.

I think this tree works in my eyes because it creates the illusion of an exceptionally tall stand-alone tree with a weathered trunk. However, call me abnormal, but I do naturally prefer feminine and unusual trees, over strong male trees any day. Though you probably gathered that from my butchered recommendation of your Tea Tree, Treeman.

When I first started bonsai I used to try and cut back hard, grow, cut back hard, grow, cut back hard etc etc to gain a very thick base. Then as I got much older, I found my liking changed. I now naturally lean towards longer feminine stock, but it is a personal thing. I know that it kind of goes against the grain of most bonsai enthusiasts. Though I still love a really thick base, but only when combined naturally with a trunk that is eventually grown tall and ragged.

I have been told that I am a natural lover of the chinese style of growing rather than the Japanese. I'm not up to scratch on the official 'rules' of what makes a great bonsai nor do I profess to know much at all about the rules of styling. But for me, a lot of the stock that I am told has perfect traits, or has branch positioning that is second to none or is of show quality.... I often find that this stock looks contrived and doesn't appeal to my eye at all.

Very much interested in others' views on this, and of course opinions on whether it is just a natural stage in ones development. I realized my liking was very much different hether I'm just a naturally different stylist like I have often been told.

Hmmm.... Firstly I agree with the calls for a better pic. As I said I like the tree a lot. In fact the bungin types are some of my favorites. Like you I prefer the wild ''romantic'' type styles which also happen to be the most difficult (perhaps apart from good formal upright) to achieve successfully - particularly if you start from scratch as I tend to do.
With this tree however, it strikes me as a little unsettled or at least ''vulnerable'' if that makes sense. Maybe reducing the weight of the canopy would change that. As it stands, I would be more satisfied with it if the apex of the tree was the height of the first main foliage mass on the right.

[Gerard]

This tree is collected, larger than I would prefer but the lack of low branches means it will must be tall. It would make an excellent tree at an exhibition because of its impressive size. This is not my favourite size but I do enjoy the way trees can compliment each other in a display.

[trident76]

Blimey,
How many of you have either seen this tree species in the flesh, or have grown eriocephalus as bonsai?
For the record, one of the eriocephalus grown by Chris D as seen at the Adelaide convention has been requested by the National Bonsai and Penjing Collection of Australia for a 2 year loan.

[Graeme]

I have been to 7 of the AABC Conventions, seen a lot of bonsai at club shows and the AABC and I cannot say I have seen one equal to this. It just blows my mind.
Full marks to the artist who did get both top awards and they were so well deserved.

IMG_1869.jpg

I have to agree with MelaQuin here. The member believes this is the best tree they have seen, one without equal. And so therefore this is a correct statement. Had MelaQuin said this is the best tree Graeme has ever seen. then I would have disagreed, but as this is not what was said, then I agree with the statement.

You know a real good question to ask would be, "Which Bonsai is the best Bonsai in the world?" Know the answer? If not, ask one of the members on here and they will surely tell you, because they would know the answer.

[hugh grant]

I have to say, i was not at the convention this year, but from what ive seen this is a fantastic tree, Its by far my pick of all the trees ive seen from the convention (even over the one that won ).

And if im not mistaken its off to the National collection!
You will be able to see this if you have facebook
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php? ... 1135497220

otherwise here is a better pic of the tree from the National Bonsai & Penjing Collection of Australia page

11266693_1107199625962361_2960421056371823940_n.jpg

[Rory]

I have to agree with MelaQuin here. The member believes this is the best tree they have seen, one without equal. And so therefore this is a correct statement. Had MelaQuin said this is the best tree Graeme has ever seen. then I would have disagreed, but as this is not what was said, then I agree with the statement.

You know a real good question to ask would be, "Which Bonsai is the best Bonsai in the world?" Know the answer? If not, ask one of the members on here and they will surely tell you, because they would know the answer.

..... Live long and prosper Graeme, you must be related to a vulcan.

Hmmm.... Firstly I agree with the calls for a better pic. As I said I like the tree a lot. In fact the bungin types are some of my favorites. Like you I prefer the wild ''romantic'' type styles which also happen to be the most difficult (perhaps apart from good formal upright) to achieve successfully - particularly if you start from scratch as I tend to do.
With this tree however, it strikes me as a little unsettled or at least ''vulnerable'' if that makes sense. Maybe reducing the weight of the canopy would change that. As it stands, I would be more satisfied with it if the apex of the tree was the height of the first main foliage mass on the right.

Yeah, I find formal upright a little boring. Though in certain species it works well, I just find the majority of Aussie natives it doesn't work well for my liking. I think I also lack the skill to achieve it well though, which may be influencing my brain, but either way I don't bother. When I looked at the requirements for a strict formal upright, my brain vomited from the number of rules.

Hahah, I also started a lot of stock from scratch too, but I just lacked the patience to wait 30 years. So I spent many years of my life in search of advanced starter stock for "romantic" Juliets. I still have stock in the making from seedlings, which will fair better being shaped from day 1.

Yes, I agree, 'vulnerable' is probably a good description. It just looks 'slightly' unnatural because of the large mass atop. Nevertheless, a stunning tree, but also not the finest I have seen in Rory's opinionated mind either.