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6-Aug-2006
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#1 |
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bonsaiTALK Craftsman
 Join Date: May-2006
Country: USA
Posts: 51
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Burford Holly
We "rescued" this holly about 3 years ago from the back of an old nursery. It was barely alive and living in a saucer with no drainage.
We potted it up and it has recovered nicely with new growth but it's such a strange shape that I don't know where to go with it from here. Thank you for any comments/suggestions/ideas. |
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Burford Holly |
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6-Aug-2006
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#2 |
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bonsaiTALK Master Craftsman
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That's a cute tree. I had one with a shape very much like yours and it was trained as a twin trunk. At some point I became frustrated with the leave size and attempted a partial defoliation. Bad mistake, it weakened to a point of no return. It is now in bonsai heaven. The lesson, accept their leave size and you'll be lots of joy with it!
Jorge
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"Always acknowledge a fault. This will throw those in authority off their guard and give you an opportunity to commit more." Mark Twain |
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6-Aug-2006
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#3 |
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day-clay-dreamster
Join Date: Jun-2005
Location: Gennep
Country: the Netherlands
Posts: 386
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Dear Readers
About a Holly ? Have some questions too . Here is my Holly , imported and very sick in the beginning of his life in my garden , he almost died . "Romeo" my Holly had little bugs and i potted him in a bigger pot , he recovered very well. A few branches died but he is now full with little green shining new leaves. So much that i am thinking of cutting , to get good small branching off. (?) When is the best time to do this for a Holly ? Also been thinking of cutting the lowest branch , not sure yet , when is the best time to do this and does a Holly recover such a wound nice and smooth ? The picture is from early summer , now his leaves are much more full . Kind regards Morea Enjoy ----------------------------------> |
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6-Aug-2006
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#5 |
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bonsaiTALK Master Craftsman
Join Date: May-2006
Location: Sydney
Country: Australia
Posts: 890
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I have no idea what you are going to do with it as well as I have never worked with one.
But on first impression it looks like an ENT from Lord of the Rings! 2 upraised arms with leafy hands, a tall forehead, the brown circle looks just like an open mouth to me and I can even see at least one eye! A friend of Treebeards? Great find! enjoy Ken Last edited by kcpoole : 6-Aug-2006 at 09:22 PM. |
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7-Aug-2006
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#6 |
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bonsaiTALK Master Chief
 
Join Date: Aug-2004
Location: Aberystwyth Uni
Country: Wales
USDA Zone: 8
AHS Heat Zone: 0-1
Posts: 1,101
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Would it be possible to squease a few rocks in under some of the exposed roots? If so, that might be an option. I'd suggest looking good and hard at the base of the trunk and decide if the tangle of roots are all necesary; you may find that removing a couple of the crossing roots improves the appearence.
Al
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I can feel another "I wish that was my tree" moment coming on... Currently studying BSc Plant Biology at the Universty of Wales, Aberystwyth |
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7-Aug-2006
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#7 |
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Behr Appleby
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I like what you have here, however I do think if you attempt to make this into a 'traditional' what we usually consider 'bonsai' you will always find it lacking...This material will probably never meet up to your, or anyone else's expectations as a bonsai...The leaf size will reduce somewhat but certainly not enough to become 'good' bonsai...The roots while intriguing will take many years to be 'groomed' to conform to 'bonsai' standards...
The tree in my opinion does have good potential to be more of a 'Chinese' influenced tree...A 'penjing' if you will...I would suggest you spend a lot of time looking at examples of good Chinese tree art, and explore the 'essence' of a very old tree rather than the 'image' of an old tree...The Chinese art is a bit more difficult to comprehend because we don't have the 'guidelines' to point the way for us...Something that I have found useful in the past is the use of 'mud' figurines placed in the pot with the tree...By having a 'mudman', pagoda, crane, or bridge, to help one see a scale, I do find it helps to see a tree in your material... Regardless of your decisions with this material, I do hope you will keep us updated...This is a nice tree thanks for sharing it... Regards Behr 
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As the Master departed the workshop, he could have sworn he heard some one saying rather loudly... "I thought he would never leave" San Antonio Bonsai Society, Inc. |
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7-Aug-2006
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#8 | |
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bonsaiTALK Master Craftsman
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Quote:
And any attempts at aggressive reduction spell disaster in my experience. Based on that, I shifted my interest to the ubiquotous Yaupon Holly which possesses a much smaller (and spineless) leave. Listen to Mr Behr! Jorge
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"Always acknowledge a fault. This will throw those in authority off their guard and give you an opportunity to commit more." Mark Twain |
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7-Aug-2006
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#9 |
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bonsaiTALK Artisan
Join Date: May-2006
Location: Gympie
Country: australia
Posts: 112
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this tree is absouly fantastic it looks like a fat man (budda) lounging back !
Me i would get rid of the branch on the bottom and spend time emphising the "man " in the trunk" this tree is soo full of potential i wish i had it !! Stuart |
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8-Aug-2006
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#10 |
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bonsaiTALK Craftsman
Join Date: May-2006
Country: USA
Posts: 51
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Thank you to all for your comments and ideas. I definitely agree that this holly won't ever fit in with the "traditional" bonsai shape or form.
I'm planning on repotting this fall into a more shallow container and doing some root work as it's finally got some good feeder roots going. I've also been considering taking off that straight dead branch. Just doesn't fit in with all the curves that this tree has in the trunk. I love the comments about the "face" and the budda man! I'll definitely post progress pictures. Thank you again to all for your expertise. Great bonsai site! |
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