Help needed with Eu. Olive styling

[Smoke]

The best thread ever posted at Bnut. A plea for ideas was met with indifference to completing the task. Good for you.

The tree has responded favorably to the ideas and it now is well on its way to becoming a fabulous bonsai.

Bravo to you Judy for having the fortitude to chopping off what must have been a very difficult thing to do......but worth it!

 

[cascade]

The best thread ever posted at Bnut. A plea for ideas was met with indifference to completing the task. Good for you.

The tree has responded favorably to the ideas and it now is well on its way to becoming a fabulous bonsai.

Bravo to you Judy for having the fortitude to chopping off what must have been a very difficult thing to do......but worth it!

-Dorothy

 

[dkraft81]

Loving it. Hows the top doing?

 

[JudyB]

I want to thank you all for the nice comments. And to the folks here, who have helped me get to a point of working my material successfully. It's been something I can't put a price on.

Dkraft, the top is still sulking. Not many leaves left, and no new growth. Could be a goner sadly. But cuttings have never been a strong point for me...

 

[Smoke]

I want to thank you all for the nice comments. And to the folks here, who have helped me get to a point of working my material successfully. It's been something I can't put a price on.

Dkraft, the top is still sulking. Not many leaves left, and no new growth. Could be a goner sadly. But cuttings have never been a strong point for me...

Move it into the house. This is one time that propagating a tree may be better indoors than out doors. If it is marginal you have nothing to lose.

 

[JudyB]

True. I'll put it in today. Thanks!

 

[bonsaibp]

If you can supply bottom heat that will help- olives usually root with ease- this was started a little late for your area but I wouldn't give up hope.

 

[JudyB]

For some reason this year, the olive has decided to grow and grow and grow in the winter. So much that I've been developing branches! I thought I'd post a quick update of the growth, I keep thinking it'll slow down at some point, but it keeps on pushing new growth.
Branches are starting to fatten. I'm hoping that the low branch I've started on the right will get thick enough to be believable at some point, and I'll cut it back then.
I'll also carve the chop site in the summer and try to get a nice uro going, although at this point, if I just reduce the site, it may just blend...

I put a couple old pics in here for reference, but it won't allow me to move them around in the new uploading box... so sorry they are out of order.

 

[catfish chapstick]

great little tree! I like it shorter like that, and that pot is just terrific for it. Really makes me want t go get an olive tree. love the bark.

I've been thinking lately about doing a similar trunk chop on one of my trees. I can't decide but your tree here is really inspiring. can't wait to see more images of its future development.

 

[JudyB]

update

Here is a current photo of the tree, it's getting into it's strong growth season, I expect the branches to fatten considerably this year, as it won't get a repot and I won't do any pruning.

This tree will be cool in a few years, it looks like a hot mess now...

 

[JudyB]

After growing like a banshee all summer, I did a cutback recently. Got a fair amount of branch thickness this year, and the shape is coming along. Still don't have a solution for the chop site, I don't want to carve it out forward, as it looks much nicer with clean bark from the front view. Perhaps I'll be a cheater and do a bark plug!
Any other ideas?

 

[JudyB]

Well I decided to go ahead and carve this chop site, and a large scar on the current back. I'm still keeping the back as an option for a front, it has nice movement.
Here are some updated photos.

 

[wireme]

My first time seeing this thread, you've made some big changes! As the tree is now it is a bit similar I think to this potentilla of mine. I like my tree and think its better in person than photos but also think there are some challenges to overcome with the design. I'll probably restart some of the branches from scratch eventually. I look forward to future updates of yours, maybe will help me design mine.

Similar, or is it just me?

 

[Smoke]

Really nice shape coming along. How about a shot with a soda can for size?

 

[edprocoat]

Judy I had heard these grow really slow but looking at the growth you have already achieved it seems like that wound will heal over in a few more seasons.

ed

 

[JudyB]

Here ya go Al, no soda here, but how bout a WD can? (regular- not diet WD...)

The first shot of the "back" (currently) from a bit above lends a very sinister feel in person, don't know if it translates in a photo. Don't understand why from a level shot it looses this a bit.

I am starting to like the shape very much, will need to stay on top of the new growth to keep the twisty feel. Can't decide if I want to do a flatter top, triangle or rounded. Right now I'm leaning rounded....

@Ed, these do grow fast, but almost never heal wounds.
wireme, your branches do a bit...
Thanks all.

 

[Smoke]

Here ya go Al, no soda here, but how bout a WD can? (regular- not diet WD...)

Thanks all.

Thanks for that, No confusion now??@!?&?

 

[JudyB]

Ok, so here's something better...

 

[JudyB]

there's good, there's better, then there's BEER!!!

And Fat Tire at that!

 

[JudyB]

update!

Here it is today after a little wiring on the new shoots. This one seems to put on a lot of growth each year after I bring it inside for some reason, but I just wire it, and keep on growing. Hard to believe it's only been a couple years since the third shot...

I'll have to take some better photos in better light, to show the branching detail from the front shot.