Native Bonsai Convention ... Impact

[MJL]

Howdy,

I have been thinking about my collection a lot lately, (mostly pre-bonsai). Reflecting on where it has come in the past year or two and where I I am heading, Bonsai wise. That got me thinking about what I am learning and the positive impact of the Native Bonsai Convention earlier this year. The wonderful trees and people at the convention, along with a the passion of some folk on this forum is having an impact.

Over the weekend, I tidied up my little back courtyard and in doing so, noted how many natives were now in process. Mostly, seedling grown or neglected stock from nursery sales. It's all pretty rough but getting better. These pictures tell some of the story.
The little back working garden.

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The 'Natural' competition entries - existing and DQ'd

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Other stuff

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[Rory]

Very nice mate. Looks like the bug has well and truly bitten.


I found the hardest part about growing a large collection was to properly monitor the drainage/watering and care of so many.
Nowadays once I find a species that grows well, I generally only keep 1 or 2 and give away the rest.

Keep up the awesome work MJL.

[TimS]

I’ve been going through this myself Mark, as you know, and working out where I’m headed with the hobby as it was getting overwhelming with literally thousands of plants there at one stage.

There is a happy middle ground where you have enough trees to keep you busy and not endlessly pinching them to death, but also not so many that you lose control of the workload on them and they just become shrubs.

I like the way you are heading, doing a little bit of everything but selling off the odd bits here and there that you don’t have the passion for like at the sales day you posted about.

Just remember that sheer volume won’t make up for the years missed when you were away from the hobby. It’s care, attention and application of technique that will do that rather than hoarding plants! *raises hand guiltily as a plant hoarder*

[melbrackstone]

So when are you moving to a larger plot?

[Ryceman3]

So these are the bits that stuck out to me ...

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Red Ring : I recognise a few of those little guys up there!
Yellow Ring : Might wanna have a look at what's going on there!
Green Ring : Dig it!

Nice little set up there. Don't stress about what could have been, spend your time and energy concentrating on what is and imagining what it will become.

[Keels]

I feel the same.... I would say that the native convention has opened up my eyes to what is possible. I don't remember a time that I looked into natives so much. I don't have many as I've only started my native obsession in the last 6 months. I have also learnt that I have too many trees to manage my self and I'm in the process of sorting out what to giving away

[MJL]

Hey Folks,

Thanks for all the responses. Rory, Sno and other native nuts (a term of endearment to be sure) ... I am listening from a distance ... water baths added - see below

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. That was today's job... hot weather is upon us.
And I am letting my River Gums go bananas (or whatever gums do... probably better described as 'nuts' (as in gum nuts!) . In fact I am letting all my natives run now. Really happy with the movement and branching down low on each of the Native comp entries.

R3 - your offspring pines are thriving .... albeit I placed them too close together and those little pots are now rooted to the ground - literally. I will move them in Winter when they have stopped growing. Regarding the brown branch - it's on a really sh!t, pox total waste of $25 Mexican weeping pine ... another stupid purchase of time's past. That branch died after bending in Winter ... not too worry that whole tree is doing to be reduced to about 3" above ground with wrist sized trunk and a bit of good bark action and two healthy branches ... on sacrifice, one a future tree with a ripping jin where the trunk used to be. Well that's my vision and I have nothing to lose. Winter works awaits that bad boy. And yep, Dad took over the cubby house when the kids grew out of it.

Mel - Buckley's chance of me finding a bigger plot... it will look bigger as I reduce stock.

Keels - just saw your post as I was writing - cool bunch of native stock there ... excellent that you're on the native train too.

As TimS, I board a few trains and I am learning to hop off some lines.

Cheers everyone.