Tree of the Day - Monday, May 15, 2005

TreeBay

This forum is an experiment that has evolved out of some of the activities on the bonsaischool program.

I'm going to select a bonsai each day to spark group discussion.

• Trees of the day don't belong to anyone you're likely to know, so there is very little chance that you're going to hurt anyone's feelings with your honest opinions, critique and suggestions. This is key.
• However, if you recognize the tree, please keep it to yourself until at least the next day.
• If you have a tree-of-the-day you'd like to submit, you can start a new thread (not a new post) in this forum. It won't appear immediately.

Some questions to ask about the tree of the day

1. What are the tree's strengths?
2. What are its weaknesses?
3. How could the tree be improved?
4. Does the tree have a message you could define in words?
5. How would you arrange the tree with other elements to create an interesting two or three-point display?

You can respond right here.


ABOUT TODAY'S TREE: Today's tree is a Schefflera. You can make notes with the pencil tool underneath the attachment.

Attached Images

TOD_15MAY2005.jpg (49.2 KB, 396 views)

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node

This is good practice for me, so here goes:


1. Strengths:

The trunk, especially the slant in the movement of the aerial roots in comparison with the rest of the trunkline.

2. Weaknesses:
That long arched root on the left side. Also, the canopy feels wrong in relation to the trunk. I think a lack of enough foilage compared to the trunk size.

3. Improvements:
Remove that root arch. Grow out for more foilage. Prune back, rinse & repeat.

4. Message:
Rainforest Giant. That's also why I think it needs more foilage.

5. I would like to see something green growing at the base of the trunk. Moss seems somehow slightly inappropriate, but I would like to see the trunk contrasted on something green. Now the soil color is very much the same as the trunk color, hiding it. I'm not totally sure about the pot either, but maybe that too has to do more with the relation between soil color, trunk and pot, rather than the pot itself.

Now tell me I'm wrong,
regards,

node

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Ian_Homer

Well Matt has stumped me today.

This is obviously classed as a "tropical" to us here in the UK and I am afraid I have no experience with them at all.

Our climate just does not suit the keeping of these over here, but there may be some who have them as indoor trees or in a greenhouse.

Nice to see a variation tho, to keep the interest of those in Warmer climes

Perhaps members from California, Florida, South America and Australia can tell me more.

Best wishes,
Ian

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BrianBay9

I agree with Node about the "pitcher handle" root on the left - needs to go. And the canopy needs to be a more coherent "whole" as opposed to the three distint units it is now. But, what a great scheff! Id like to see it potted to the left side of a much longer pot, leaving it leaning into some negative space.

Brian

pootsie

Strength:
Fantastic trunk and aerial roots. I'm with node on the curvey one, out of synch with the rest. But as a whole, marvellous and strong.

Weakness:
What canopy
I think this has great potential but a few years of work to create a canopy worthy of the trunk.

FWIW, a terribly crude virtual with some idea of the proportion I think should be in the canopy.

pootsie

Attached Images

totd 051605.JPG (48.0 KB, 55 views)

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Lesley

I really like the curve in the trunk, a little different than the classic banyan type. I'd remove the arch and also the lower branching on the right to show off the main trunk line. I like the aerial roots , but can there be shaped to be less chaotic? Not familiar with the species yet!

Attached Images

TreeofDayMay16.jpg (48.2 KB, 41 views)

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