Willow leaf ficus

This is my one and only tropical that I currently keep. My ficus Nerifolia, salicaria. This is the story how myself and this tree came to pass.
It was back in September of 2010. I was starting a new career re invented as a insurance adjuster for auto claims. I was to go to Florida for a 2 week training at the office .I sent out a message that I would be in the area and one member answered the call and I am forever grateful . Billy Rhodes thank you for your hospitality and The adventure.The best part was I had a free weekend ! So I set up with billy to go to a few locations he arranged for us to visit I had high hopes of and was not disappointed.Durastone...The owner Mr Jim Smith was avaliable and so graciously allowed us to come for a visit. It was a great learning expierence to be honored with, and to speak with the man who has the best knowledge on how to properly care for this species on this side of the continent . I was in awe at the trees at such a place as this and was hungry to see as much as I could in the little time we had avaliable. .


Jim on right and billy on left for scale of some of these trees.



Notice the air plant gtowing on the trunk

I made sure I looked at as many trees as I could.I was searching around in the avaliable trees for sale when our paths crossed. Found it,Discussed it's future, purchased it and it was time to be on our way.

Next stop was the old florida nursery in Vero Beach.




Holy yew

After Spending a few more hours looking around at more excellent examples of bonsai.I pulled my recent purchase from Durastone out of the vehicle for an un expected look, discussion, and first styling with Jim Vanlandingham, Richard Turner, Billy ,and myself.

Seth, good to hear from you again. I get as much as anyone from these little trips.
What about photos of your tree?

The tree looked good from the start very healthy, huge mass of foliage, huge mass of roots and it so happened it was the good time of the year to do work on this species.


so to work we went.

First consideration the nebari there were too many roots in the pot and so we reduced them and started unraveling the nebari. Next we choose a front and went from there. Then where some people would have stuck it in a pot and called it a day I envisioned a diffrent story for this tree.

You have a outstanding tree there!!! i sure wish i could go to JIM,S nursery from all the pictures i have seen... would like to see a update if you can post one....take care john

One Hundred of Jim Smith's best trees are now on display at Heathcote Gardens in Ft. Pierce, FL.
The trees in this post were at the nursery, some of the best trees were at Jim's home. Seth and I didn't get there on this trip.

Jim Vanlandingham (red shirt above) lived and worked at Jim Smith's nursery for a number of years.
Then he moved to Old Florida Bonsai, just a few miles away.

I took it home and did some more work on it to get some taper. Fast forward to 2 months ago. The tree was very healthy pushed out a ton of new growth and it was time for the next step in its life.



I selected one of the only pots in the style I like for this tree and was large enough to train it in.

And here it is as of today sorry pic were taken on one of the benches. I will take more as time progresses.

Time for wire.

Very nice progression. Keep us posted.
Thanks also for showing us Jim Smith's collection of great trees.
Jerry

Billy, Wireing will be done this fall when I bring it in for winter I want to let it grow freely in the mean time to regain strength.

Jerry, your welcome. I have about 2 dozen more pictures of trees fom this collection I had to choose a few for this thread and mabye another thread with all of them is in order.

Great pictures Seth, of some fantastic tree's.

I would love to see some more!