Wild Olive - Converted to literati

[Dorian Fourie]

I inherited this Wild Olive in 2014 when my father in law passed away. It was his oldest tree and estimated to be from 1940. Its whole life had been in a pot and I do not think that there was much styling done on the tree ever.

Nov 2014


There had been some new growth right in the base of the fork but I removed it as it was forming a knuckle

 

[Dorian Fourie]

In Dec 2014, I decided that I need to preserve the deadwood on the tree as I do not think that it had ever been done.

I brushed it with lime sulpher, let it dry and then brushed the dead wood with a hard bristle brush to create a more weathered look and feel.

 

[Dorian Fourie]

In Sept 2015, I was still no closer to finding a new style for the tree.



I posted this tree on another forum with an idea that I had. I wanted to grow out the canopy and create a large umbrella style tree


One of the members of the forum (Herman) drew a great image of what he saw as the future of the tree.

 

[Dorian Fourie]

In August 2016, I took the tree to a friend who is a bonsai expert and we had a long hard look at the tree. He asked me in which direction I believe the tree should go? I have always had a great admiration for Literati style trees and I believed that due to the narrow trunk and great deadwood, it could be converted into a literati. He agreed with me on this and we got to work.

First it was cutting back the branch with least movement.



All that growth gone in one cut.



We then cut back many of the other branches and cleaned up the rest of the tree.


As there were numerous weeds and Wild Garlic growing in the pot, I decided to clean out all the soil and find those horrible little bulbs and then repot the tree into new soil.

 

[Dorian Fourie]

The tree has recovered nicely after the repot and clean up.

There is loads of new growth happening and I am removing small buds all along the trunk line.



Where the cuts took place will have to be carved in the future to make it look natural.

 

[Dorian Fourie]

Now I had a look at the tree and I believe that this is the correct front. It shows off the deadwood nicely.


I will need to start wiring the upper branches downwards.

Anybody like to hand out some thoughts, advice, suggestions? It would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Djtommy]

I think you made the best decision so far.
It will probably sprout new branches where you made the big cut.
Perhaps you could grow a branch from there more in line and direction with the current trunk to get some lower foliage. Making a dropbranch from the top may not the best choice.

 

[Dorian Fourie]

Perhaps you could grow a branch from there more in lime with the current trunk and direction to get some lower foliage.

Thanks Djtommy

Is this what you were thinking?

 

[Djtommy]

Mm, i would let it grow up initially i believe
my virtuall skills are low but something along the line of this i had in mind.

 

[CWTurner]

Interesting.
I don't know olive, but bending that top down seems to make the most sense.
Looks like the leaves have elongated since the repot. Maybe that's a fertilization thing.
Also, in the earliest pics there seems to be something on the underside of the leaves. Is that an olive thing, or a pest?
CW

 

[Milly]

Looks like Hannes Fritz...?
I like your decision to remove that branch but not the idea of a dropped branch. I would like to see a very simple, open canopy.

 

[ColinFraser]

Neat trunk. Given all of the deadwood on the trunk, I'm surprised you didn't leave a bit of a Jin where the other half of the fork was removed.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

NIce work, I agree, no drop branches, this tree needs branches that rise slightly above horizontal. Its trunk is reaching for the sky, don't contradict that with branches than go below horizontal. All branches should be at least 15 to 45 degrees above horizontal.

consider letting a bud or two at the cut scars grow to escape branches, to help heal over the scars. Might not have to heal completely, just enough to get a natural roll of bark over the edges of the cuts.

Nice tree.

 

[Vin]

I agree with Leo. You've given the tree a great new direction and focus. Great work!

 

[sorce]

Nice.

Sorce

 

[Potawatomi13]

Anybody like to hand out some thoughts, advice, suggestions? It would be greatly appreciated.

If "front" shows dead wood but also greatest movement this might be better idea then just showing most dead wood.
Think happy compromise.
Also where pruning stubs remain use of knob cutter would hasten natural looking heal over and eliminate obtrusive stubs.

 

[Dorian Fourie]

there seems to be something on the underside of the leaves. Is that an olive thing, or a pest?

Thanks CW

That was a pest. Had to get rid of it but luckily all fine now.

 

[Dorian Fourie]

Looks like Hannes Fritz...?
I like your decision to remove that branch but not the idea of a dropped branch. I would like to see a very simple, open canopy.

Hi Milly

Thanks so much. Yes that is Hannes. Good friend of mine and definitely my go to guy when I need help with my bonsai.

I am leaving it now to get healthy and grow and then will look at design in Spring 2017

 

[Dorian Fourie]

I'm surprised you didn't leave a bit of a Jin where the other half of the fork was removed.

Hi Colin

Thanks so much. We actually did discuss that but we felt that once it has dried out, we will be able to carve away and make that area fit in better with the flow of the deadwood on the tree and not have jin take away from the dead wood movement.

It may have been the wrong decision but only time will tell.

 

[Dorian Fourie]

Nice.

Thanks Sorce