Budget Bonsai Boy's Privet!!

Inspired by Harry's Privet clump, I remembered that I picked up this peice of raw material at Green Lawns last summer. I was charged the princely sum of £5.00 and thought that I could do someting with it......



.... and here's what I did with it



A year on and this tree is well on its way to becoming a lovely little clump. This picture was taken after it's second haircut of the year. I'm trying to get movement into the braches by clip & grow (probably wrong but when do I do things the right way) as I'm struggling to get the wire into some places. The larger "stump" on the left will be reduced over time but overall I'm quite happy with the result.



I hope you think that this tree is on the right lines but, as normal, any input would be great.
Okk, Okk,
Simon

Use wood hardener -- liberally -- on the deadwood in the stump!!!!!

b****y h**l thats cheap for dave at green lawns lol it looks like it is going the right way keep it up

Jim
Thanks for the heads up on the deadwod

Harry
Yeah, I nearly fell off my chair when he said how much it was. Thanks for the positive comment.
I also picked up a hollowed out hazel stump that I'm trying to make into a Chuhin sized Winter image.
Will post it when I'm getting it going in the right direction!!

Regards,
Simon

Looks even better in the flesh, or should I say bark. This little privet is going to be a cracking Shohin in a short space of time. I am sure it will be shown at a future BSA show. Look forward to seeing it's future development Simon.

Regards

Andy

Stone Monkey wrote: This little privet is going to be a cracking Shohin in a short space of time. I am sure it will be shown at a future BSA show. Look forward to seeing it's future development Simon.

Agreed. We hope to see this one soon at teh British Shohin Association exhibition.


Looks even better in the flesh... [/quote] I'm worried about this statement as his title "Budget Bonsai Boy's Privet" already sounds a tad pornographic - especially if you misread (as I did) the "privet" bit.

UPDATE – July 2011

Almost one year on and progress with my Privet* has come on this year as can be seen below.


Front?


Slight Twist - a better Front?

I was hoping to show this tree as part of a Shohin composition at Celebrating Kent Bonsai next May and was therefore looking to give it a new “home”. I’m hoping that my display will be totally native so in keeping it should really be in a UK native pot but I’m at sixes’n’sevens as to colour, shape etc. Being a Shohin (6 inches high with a 9 inch spread) I feel that I could be a wee bit more flamboyant with the colour but must temper that with the tree itself – I’ll already have a yellow potted tree as part of the composition.

I would be grateful for any suggestions or virtuals to try and bring the best out of this little tree,
Love, Peace & Bananas,
Simon

(*Fiona, not sure about the porno version - you'd better check with Sally!!)

Have you thought about planting it deeper to hide the big crossing root? Maybe a ground layer is in order too.

Progressing nicely Simon. I hate to be the bearer of bad news but your tree is not a native. Ovalifolium is an Asian variety and is semi evergreen. Vulgaris is the European variety and is deciduous. Better you know now than have it pointed out in the display.

Looks like Ligustrum sinensis to me -- another Asian privet and, over here, extremely invasive in the SE US.

I have several as bonsai. Here is one, for comparison:

Nice li'l tree, Simon. and very well documented.

Regards,

Faisal

Rob
I hoping that I can move that root to the right (as you look at it) when it's re-potted but deeper or a ground layer is a good option. Maybe back to the drawing board for next year

Jim
Nice little Shohin. Nice to see that the leaf size can reduce quite a bit.

Faisal
Thanks for the compliment mate, means alot coming from a guy with such lovely trees.

will baddeley wrote:Progressing nicely Simon. I hate to be the bearer of bad news but your tree is not a native. Ovalifolium is an Asian variety and is semi evergreen. Vulgaris is the European variety and is deciduous. Better you know now than have it pointed out in the display.

Thanks for that Will. OK, the variety may not be "native" but there is so much of it around in hedging I'm claiming it for our own

No pot suggestions????

Yellow is the in colour I heard lol

Regards

Andy

Looking good Si, looking good!

I'm taking my shohin Privet to Burrs this year for its first proper styling. Maybe we should start a Little Ligustrum Society?

Harleyrider wrote:Looking good Si, looking good!

I'm taking my shohin Privet to Burrs this year for its first proper styling. Maybe we should start a Little Ligustrum Society?

Sounds like a plan Harleyman!!!

Hi Simon,

Tree looks good mate, you've brought it on a long way in a year.

I think you can defoliate Privet, maybe that would let you get a bit of wire on some of the branches?

I've got one or two candidates for the Little Ligustrum Society, I'll post pics soon.

Cheers.

Paul

I love bonsai boy for their discount codes. I have used last week and I would like to share with you guys.

10% Off on all Orders!
Code: COUPONREFUND
Source: http://www.couponrefund.com/stores/bonsai-boy-discount-coupon-codes.html

Spammer?

chagoi10 wrote:Spammer?

May you define this? I got discount and I shared it if you don't want to save your money then I've no issue but don't take it negative.

Please note the bonsai boy of the thread has nothing to do with the store of that name. I think we'll give John the benefit of the doubt, but any general comments about bonsai stores/nurseries (but not adverts for them) should really go in The Lounge.

fiona wrote:Please note the bonsai boy of the thread has nothing to do with the store of that name. I think we'll give John the benefit of the doubt, but any general comments about bonsai stores/nurseries (but not adverts for them) should really go in The Lounge.

Thanks for your kind reply. But Fiona believe me my intentions were not to advertise. I'm sorry for my act that I disturbed you and other community members. I think I'm a brand ambassador of bad luck. When I was posting this thread I was thinking about lots of appreciation from others but.....what happened???