Acacia longifolia

The plant was purchased from a general nursery about 20 years ago. It was rather neglected but had an interesting base and trunk which was the catalyst for the purchase.
I have played around with various styling options but feel the literati style utilises the best feature of the tree which is the visually-pleasing, twisting trunk.
I have had numerous problems with borers, which have unfortunately killed off some of the branches.
The pot is a very old Japanese freeform pot which I feel, with it's irregular shape, compliments the styling of this plant really well.
It has a very attractive yellow flower spike of 5cm in Spring.
If you can keep the borers away from acacias, regularly repot on an annual basis, keep in a full sun position and provide them with regular watering, they can be successful long lived bonsai.

Backhousia myrtifolia

Grey Myrtle
This tree was purchased as a collected bonsai stock plant. When it was transferred from the original pot to a training pot one extended root was cut off and the cut off end, with roots, was planted to make a smaller bonsai. The myrtle has been in training for 2 years and has developed very well in that time. It is a rewarding native to work with as the leaves are very attractive and nicely in proportion with the plant.

Banksia integrifolia

Coastal Banksia
This banksia was purchased for $4 from a throw out bin at a nursery. The pot could not be put on the ground because the tree was ‘cascading’ and customers were looking for upright garden plants. It has been in training for 4 years. In 2004 the banksia came second at the Royal Easter Show in Sydney. At the 2005 Royal it was judged 1st in both Native and Champion Native in Show. The tree has been recently root pruned and repotted and the bonsai artist is still looking for a more suitable pot.

Banksia marginata

Silver Banksia
This tree is modelled on a Banksia growing in a garden near the cliff tops at Avalon, NSW. I was struck by its heavy lowest branch sweeping down to the ground then growing upwards at the tip. I often wondered if children playing had helped shape that tree. I have found this particular tree, at least as a young plant, does not like having its branches wired strongly down unless the tip is allowed to grow up strongly. Specimens I have grown on in the garden as bonsai material developed a mixture of upward and downward growing branches, so perhaps the garden inspiration was a natural shape after all.