Ovens Wattle: August 2024 collection

The Ovens Wattle runs counter to my expectations about trees. This makes sense since it’s a shrub. But it’s still odd. The leaves that grow directly from the branch like the plates on a stegosaurus. The sheer volume of backbudding. I’ve no idea what this is going to be like as a bonsai. But it’s time to start finding out.

Thats the nandina on the left, the paperbark on the right, an olive poking out, and two Ovens Wattles in the middle.

The front one

Trunk in the front – thicker than my thumb, and very green.

I started cutting in, looking for the tree. This is what I ended up with.

Looking for a pot (-like thing) to call home.

Ovens Wattle: August 2024 collection — Fill the pot and seal the cuts… let’s stop there.

It’s potting soil, with a covering of clay balls.

As I said up top, Ovens Wattle is odd. If it takes to being in the root bag, then I expect the branches to grow strongly, leading to pretty strong pads. And if it ever happens, this has a very dense flower, so that should be something to see. I’m ok with spending the time to see where this goes.

The back one

The full tree, which was about four foot. But not much interest here.

That’s one of the better roots that came out, except they have a steep down angle.

I really struggled to find the tree, and cut nearly everything away.

Unless…

Or more specifically: I don’t really know how to do root over rock. I think different rocks are used – ones with more crevices. And I know that there’s a lot more preparation for the rock, using muck and glue to make proper crevices. But on the other hand, I don’t have any other use for the tree, so there’s not much downside. Experiment it is.

After finding the best angle, I wired the roots around the rock.

I soaked them for a couple of hours to see if I could get more bend.

I put a second wire around to get a curve to the roots.

Again, no idea of where this will go.