AusBonsai

This year's Native Bonsai convention lit a fire under me and I've been looking around the local parks to see what might be interesting that I might not have noticed before. Silver Banksia (B. marginata) are quite common in the hills and there are some lovely mature examples about the place. Last weekend the club had an olive dig and as I was poking around I was struck by the great bark and character of the trunks of the Sticky Hop Bush (Dodonaea viscosa). I'm also intrigued by the multi trunked forms of some of the local Mallees, particularly those with smooth trunks.

As luck would have it I needed to buy some native grasses for the front garden so I visited the State Flora nursery in Belair. After quickly choosing what I needed for the garden I spent a happy hour browsing the shrubs and trees for anything interesting.

So here are my purchases - three tubestocks of local flora to play with. From left to right: Sticky Hop Bush, Gooseberry Mallee (Eucalyptus calycogona) and a Silver Banksia. They've all been transplanted to a larger pot and planted on an angle. See you in 10 years!

Matt.

See you in ten years' time.... Is that an act of faith in the little plants, in yourself, or in us?
Oh well, one has to start with some things somewhere and there's always room on the benches for some tubestock.
Keep having fun, and good luck.

Lisa

I'll look forward to seeing these as they develop, Matt. I've been constantly surprised at how quickly the native trees can grow, starting young can certainly make a difference to styling!

Is that an act of faith in the little plants, in yourself, or in us?

Good question. I was talking about the trees but if me, the trees and Ausbonsai are all still going in a decade then that's a win.

I've been constantly surprised at how quickly the native trees can grow,

Absolutely. I don't have access to any area where I can collect natives so all my natives are from seed and tubestock. I have a Callitris that went from seed to a spot in Canberra in 10 years. Couldn't see that happening with a Juniper or Maple.

Matt.

Way to go Matt ,although tube stock has a habit of doubling in number be for you very eyes..... Look out. Cheers John.

melbrackstone wrote: ↑August 25th, 2019, 11:32 am I've been constantly surprised at how quickly the native trees can grow...

Yep, agreed. I just planted out some hop bush today similar to what you got. When I got it 6 months ago it was tube stock the same size as yours. After potting up and letting it grow for a few months it was just under 1m tall with a 4” pot full of roots. Obviously for those in the know understand I didn’t plant it at my place (not much space here!), but the in-laws appreciated it!
Go for it Matt, looking forward to an update or three,

It was only four months ago that I potted these up from tubestock. Crikey, they don't muck around!

Matt.

Wow Matt, good head start to endless possibilities.
Great potential in all, but I particularly like the Mallee.

Another 5 months, another burst of growth.

These three natives have grown to a point where they won't all fit in a photo together. Right now the mallee is the standout, the new growth sets quickly after wiring and the tips grow in interesting directions by themselves.

I reduced the number of banksia stems to three, and the hop bush has been left alone.

Matt.