AusBonsai

We where talking about using exotics to recreate the style of our natives. I decided this Firethorn I collected last year was a good candidate. I have never grown these before but as I am so keen to get into my favourite one I thought it would be good to see how this one reacts to chopping before I do it. I wasn't planning on going any further but as I saw an earwig type bug in the borer hole duck away when I was picking some deadwood off I thought I better get the carver out and have a dig after it. Thought this angle was ok.

I was kinda practicing a little different technique than I usually do and I was only doing a rough carve but I might be afraid to touch it now. I think that's about as good as I have got
A couple of different angles

I found the full sized saw I used to take the branches also worked well to cut a wedge ( ) out of the leader to bring it more up and forward. I don't mind how it has come out at the moment. Some might not like the fat start to the branches but I reckon I can get them to settle into the design. I could possibly come down a leader as well and I do always have that option but I am fairly confident I can do what I want from here. I think a gum is pretty natural at about 7:1 in bonsai. With that it gives me heaps of room to move here to make whatever branches I like.
Made up a virt of Gum branches over the top of this to see where I was heading.

Nice firethorn. I have one to do some work on so will keep an eye on this one. By the way, what's the car battery for Bretts?

Love the verts Bretts,
I think the battery is for when the bonsai die, just connect the cables and ZAPPPPP......ZAPPPPP..... back to life.
I was actully thinking does he actully tow his bonsai around in the back of the kids tractor

Thanks Guys
The battery was holding the shed door open when I was cleaning it out and seemed to handle the job Ok so I put it on full time until something better comes along.
Kids tractor express sounds like a great idea. I will have to try that, I know I will regret it when I come out to find all my trees shipped around the yard

awsome verts, how did u aquire the basket? iv'e been trying to get my hands on some for a while but its proving harder then i thought

Thanks.
The Wife was working for the company when Australia ran them out of town
I got a half dozen or so of them. I could have had more but the misses was not keen on seeing them around the yard after looking at them all day long for many years

These baskets would have the best drainage ever. I just repotted a tree today to find out it has a tiny drainage whole about 1.5cm wide. The pot is 50cm in diameter and 60cm tall.

Thought I better get in and do some work before the new branches got too thick

Good rootball Bretts. VERY healthy. Not keen on the leader as it looks a bit angley, to severe a change. I am sure time will smooth it out. Looking forward to it in Berry.

It has been great to watch these guys grow since I started collecting them. It's nice to grow something that loves the climate for once
I think you are right about that leader. I was more worried how it followed a paralell line with the first branch though. Maybe we are seeing the same thing from a different perspective
I considerd putting more effort into moving that branch some. I had already wedge cut it to bring the angle up more (detial in above posts). Maybe a set of branch benders will finish the job

Just a little update. Into a large bonsai pot and will start some more work on it soon.

Looking good!

Thanks parabola
I will have to get a couple more of these they love our climate here.
Tidied this one up a little with a trim and a little wiring. Once it responds to this I think next trim will be much harsher and I will open it up alot more on the inside to show of the trunk and branch structure.
what do you reckon is it starting to look like a gum tree ?

Bretts wrote:what do you reckon is it starting to look like a gum tree

Nope, but i dont mind it. To dense foliage wise. A gum is more open with foliage pads looking a bit softer and spaced. you can see through them. It will look great in berry.