Can we create a bonsai from a death tree?

Eaglion

Hi all,

I do not know if this is a new fashion in garden design that i am not aware of. I am seeing lots of death trees are left as the part of the design in my country. They look like the trees that are gone through spring pruning and give a very cute feel to the landscape.

This gave me an idea of creating bonsais from death trees. I do not mean the real bonsais but as an art form like suseki. They may look good in our training shelves.

What do you think about it?

__________________
Taylan Benker
Eurosia Bonsai Club-Turkey
www.avrasyabonsai.com

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PatArizona

G'day Taylan...

Sounds like you might be talking about making a fake bonsai from dead wood?

Some people here...USA...use what we call driftwood in interior decorating.

In bonsai, what we call "driftwood" is, generally, aged dead wood collected from the mountains or deserts.

Again, in bonsai, "driftwood" is used as a framework...trunk and branches...to create what we call "tanuki". Small livingl plants, most often, junipers, are attached to the "tanuki" to make it look like a real live aged tree.

Try searching the forum for "tanuki". You should be able to find some pictures.

Taylan, can you post pictures of your "death trees"?

One more thing...do you mead DEAD trees?

Pat

__________________
BONSAI isn't about surviving in a storm, rather, how to dance in the rain.
THE ONLY WAY: Always remember, and don't ever forget, that whatever you read here is not cast in concrete... the intent of any advice is to help. In no way should you feel that I’m saying that my way is the only way…heaven forbid! I've seen far too much of the "my way or the highway" attitude in bonsai as well as in other areas of life.

Eaglion

Hi Pat,

Yes, it should be dead not death. Sorry.

Actually what i meant was not the technique phoenix (or tanuki). In that, you embed a live but small tree into a piece of dead wood or log. These trees are in gardens and looks like they died very long ago. No live part.

As i mentioned in my prior post they look like the deciduous trees that had gone through spring pruning. So they are not like driftwood either. But driftwood makes sense too.

I know what you mean. These are usually demonstrated in TV shows like "Martha Steward" and home decoration magazines. These are more like flower arrangements than a stand alone tree. Also they use the driftwood as a modern art sculpture.

The thing in my mind is like this. Think of you training shelves as a giant forest. There are dead trees in it. They had lost all of their leaves already but still stand in their pride.

Also they can be used as an accent. If place a small version of it near a large conifer, it may create a winter feeling.



Not mine. They are in gardens. I am seeing one everyday against my office. I will be on a business trip for ten days starting from tomorrow. I will shoot and post it for you as soon as i return.

Regards,

__________________
Taylan Benker
Eurosia Bonsai Club-Turkey
www.avrasyabonsai.com

PatArizona

G'day Taylan...

I do look forward to the photos...

The answers are yes...yes...yes...

Yes...you can use the dead trees as part of the landscaping...placing your bonsai strategically around the trees. Use the dead trees in the same manner that you would use live trees.

Yes...you can use them as companion plants in a display...follow the same processes you would use for live companions...size, placement, etc. Being leafless, they should be used only in winter displays.

Yes...you can use your dead trees in just about any manner that you would use live plants.

As long as, once you have set up your display area, you can stand back and admire it, and say "...I like it...it's good...", you will have been successful.

The important thing is that you like it.

So...once you have done the project...show us some pictures.

Have a good trip...

Pat

__________________
BONSAI isn't about surviving in a storm, rather, how to dance in the rain.
THE ONLY WAY: Always remember, and don't ever forget, that whatever you read here is not cast in concrete... the intent of any advice is to help. In no way should you feel that I’m saying that my way is the only way…heaven forbid! I've seen far too much of the "my way or the highway" attitude in bonsai as well as in other areas of life.

eeiko321

dead trees?

can you show us a picture as an example?

Eaglion

Thanks Pat.

eeiko321,

I will post them when i will return.

__________________
Taylan Benker
Eurosia Bonsai Club-Turkey
www.avrasyabonsai.com