Cajunrider
Imperial Masterpiece
I found this camellia today at the nursery. It looks interesting to me. Is it worth pursuing?
Bonsai worthy?
- Thread starter Cajunrider
- Start date
bonsaichile
Omono
If it looks interesting to you, go for it!
Shinjuku
Mame
I agree. Unless you’re going to try to enter a tree in a competition, who cares what other people think about it, as long as you like it?
For example, maybe you could build a story about these two intertwined trees. Maybe you could tell your wife/child/significant other, “When I see these two trees hugging each other, it reminds me of how we hug each other and how much we love each other.” Ok, ok, I know that’s corny and a lot of guys are probably rolling their eyes at that, but for some folks, maybe something like that could be meaningful.
Or maybe that’s a good way to get your wife more interested in bonsai.
So anyway, if something sparks a bit of happiness in you, go for it!
Rid
Shohin
I’d pass
JudyB
Queen of the Nuts
I imagine you'd already have it bought if you didn't have reservations about the oddness at the base. I think that getting material like this is fine to learn a certain species, but in time you can grow to dislike those types of bases/roots. In some trees and esp shohin, it can be used to advantage, but this one is too straight after the twisting. I don't know if you could cut this down as I don't know camellia, but if you could get movement to match in the trunks you may have something. But you'd have to chop way down. On the other hand sometimes the flowers are worth a little ugly... 
Cajunrider
Imperial Masterpiece
I bought it because of the oddness at the base. I have a few upright trees already. A twisted one like this might be fun. I'm thinking about air layering the one above the square turn up and chop it way down afterward. I might even air layer the other and chop it as well.I imagine you'd already have it bought if you didn't have reservations about the oddness at the base. I think that getting material like this is fine to learn a certain species, but in time you can grow to dislike those types of bases/roots. In some trees and esp shohin, it can be used to advantage, but this one is too straight after the twisting. I don't know if you could cut this down as I don't know camellia, but if you could get movement to match in the trunks you may have something. But you'd have to chop way down. On the other hand sometimes the flowers are worth a little ugly...
JudyB
Queen of the Nuts
Yeah, not saying it can't be something, I just think that twisty bases look very awkward with straight trunks straight up from them. So your air layer and chop idea sounds like a viable plan to me. I've always wanted a camellia, I'm a sucker for flowering trees.
Cajunrider
Imperial Masterpiece
Potted and named Quấn Quýt (Knotted In Love)
Cajunrider
Imperial Masterpiece
My plan is to keep it healthy after the pot transfer (no root was disturbed). Once it finish flowering, I'll decide what to do. I hope a couple months of admiring it bring inspiration.
Joe Dupre'
Omono
It actually might be two separate trees. When repotting, you might find they could be teased apart and have two interesting trees. Or you could just let it grow as is. If I found one like it, I'd buy it myself and see how it progresses.
rockm
Spuds Moyogi
Sorry, but you're mistaking "interesting" for "worthy." or "attractive. Understanding the line between all those is learned over time after you work on crap like this for a while...Those roots are completely hopeless can't be worked around. They're butt ugly for bonsai purposes and will remain ugly for as long as you (or the plant) live.
Cajunrider
Imperial Masterpiece
In all honesty I myself don't think of it as a bonsai but I'll play with it a bit. Thanks for the honest response.
Joe Dupre'
Omono
Strictly your opinion. And my opinion is that you are mistaken. "Worthy" is for the owner to decide. Two opinions............just different.
rockm
Spuds Moyogi
Not really. Bonsai not really about the owner's opinion. It is about the viewers'. Taste is taste. This one isn't appealing it seems to more than me...just sayin...
River's Edge
Imperial Masterpiece
The title is " Bonsai Worthy" not does it appeal to some individuals. It is a great example of not suitable for Bonsai. IMHO
Leo in N E Illinois
The Professor
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There are nice examples of camellias in exhibition books from Japan. Camellia can make excellent bonsai. Usually they are larger styles, often 3 ft or more. Leaves don't reduce enough to work well at smaller sizes, except for really unusual abstract trees.
Myself, I would have passed on this material, because of the roots, for reasons Judy outlined. But you have it now, I'll be interested in seeing it's progress. The flowers are always special.
Myself, I would have passed on this material, because of the roots, for reasons Judy outlined. But you have it now, I'll be interested in seeing it's progress. The flowers are always special.
Joe Dupre'
Omono
Is not the owner the principle viewer? Who says a person has to ply his art for someone else's enjoyment and not his own? Bonsai is an art. Not all people like all art. You certainly have a right to what you like, as have I, and ESPECIALLY the owner.
j evans
Omono
If you think you will have fun and enjoy it then I would have voted yes get it. After all I assume that you most likely are doing the work because you enjoy it and your results. Good Luck!
Cajunrider
Imperial Masterpiece
I knew that it is neither attractive nor developable in the conventional sense. However, I am somehow drawn to this tree couple that survived a twisted "childhood" and grew together. I've examined it and found the twist to be accidental from the time of germination.
For this one I'm playing with it totally by feel, no rule no convention no care. It is a bonsai only in a sense that it is in a pot.
For this one I'm playing with it totally by feel, no rule no convention no care. It is a bonsai only in a sense that it is in a pot.
Potawatomi13
Imperial Masterpiece
Yes!
!
