Not a True bonsai but,

[Arcto]

I picked up this "Vanderwolf" Limber Pine this spring. A long skinny trunk with a few tuffs of needles. A very ugly, noticeable graft at the base. Poor bonsai potential. We have a large concrete pot on the patio. Normally you would put a geranium or something in it. I just didn't want a geranium. I decided to sink a chunk of lava rock in the soil. The pine was planted next to it. I'm training the trunk to follow the rock's contour. At some point I'll wire the branches. Guess I like it better than a flower. Compliments the background nicely.

 

[ValorG]

Great looking rock, I'm sure itll be a looker in the future.

 

[BunjaeKorea]

Lol a rock graft

 

[Potawatomi13]

Amazing rock looks much like bark and will make great "surrogate" trunk in time. Did this idea by chance come from Bonsai Techniques? Remember seeing something like this suggested there I believe. What possessed you to buy this tree with such a bad graft? Last I knew there was no club over your way. Has one sprung up?

 

[sorce]

You got a crick back there?

Nice!

Yeah...screw flowers!

Sorce

 

[Giga]

should be planted in the ground - then select a sacrifice branch and let that run while keeping branches you want in check and strong. I like the rock a lot!

 

[CWTurner]

I have a limber pine in my landscape and it is an aptly named tree. I would think that you could further contour the tree to the stone.
CW

 

[Arcto]

@sorce, yes, a river. @Potawatomi13, I've read more stuff than I can remember over the years. Maybe I forgot it when it was really in my subconscious all along. I picked up this pine with the idea of planting in the landscape. It was never intended as a bonsai. But I had an empty pot, a rock and a thought. No formal club here. A couple of folks with the Portland club though.

 

[CWTurner]

I would think that you could further contour the tree to the stone.

Sorry, you did a nice job there. I should have said that limber pine could be contorted to any stone.
CW

 

[Arcto]

No worries. You're right, Limber Pine is super flexible. To explain this as technically as possible... I just ran out of rope that day.