Kong vs. Pall bonsai-duel

[Walter Pall]

When I was I juvenile we would go skiing with my four sisters. They were very concerned what would happen in case they broke a leg, which was common in the days before safety bindings. The concern was not so much about the pain, no it was about what would the people in the hospital say if they saw old-fashioned underwear which was not as clean as possible. So before we went skiing they had to have the time to get their underwear together.

Remembering these glorious days in the fifties I have taken great care to have my underwear and shirt and socks and so very clean today (for an exception). I also washed once more this morning.

And now Kong does not show up and I have clean underwear and have washed for nothing. In German we have this saying "now we are standing here with the neck washed". Meaning we washed it but it was for nothing. What a loss!

Anyway, one can see that competition in bonsai can be of great value. It teaches you abut life.

 

[Walter Pall]

To be fair to my sisters I have to add this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olga_Pall

So clean underwear did help. At least she had no fear of hurting herself.

 

[king kong]

11:48

OK, what a big happy group we have here. Hello Walter and thanks for making yourself available at 5:48 your time I believe. Now, would you like to enter your tree first, please be my guest? Otherwise I will begin my process at noon. I have a brief description and two (2) pictures as mentioned before. Have fun!

 

[Walter Pall]

Kong,

have I not entered my tree already?

 

[Vance Wood]

Thank you.
No trunk chopped trees no matter were it was grown, in a container or in the field.
Would you like to play next Vance?

Yes, seems like you have taken the early train out of town.

 

[king kong]

Ficus neriifolia

I selected a tree out of my collection that some of you have seen before. My mentor handed me a cutting off his famous tree and said "grow this into something you vision, don't copy mine" So here you have it.
ht. 34 inches
girth 11.5 inches
age 25-30 range

 

[Walter Pall]

I think we have to have a poll. Can you start a new thread with a poll and showing your tree. I then will also show mine and then we will see.

 

[cquinn]

First round goes to Kong. That's a knock out blow!

 

[Vance Wood]

I selected a tree out of my collection that some of you have seen before. My mentor handed me a cutting off his famous tree and said "grow this into something you vision, don't copy mine" So here you have it.
ht. 34 inches
girth 11.5 inches
age 25-30 range

Very nice tree. How long have you been working on it?

 

[JasonG]

Yes, that is a nice tree for a ficus!.... I am not a fan of the roots but everything else looks nice.


Jason

 

[HotAction]

My hat is off to KK. Very nice even if it is a ficus

 

[Marc S]

I selected a tree out of my collection that some of you have seen before. My mentor handed me a cutting off his famous tree and said "grow this into something you vision, don't copy mine" So here you have it.
ht. 34 inches
girth 11.5 inches
age 25-30 range

I love it!

 

[Victrinia Ridgeway]

I selected a tree out of my collection that some of you have seen before. My mentor handed me a cutting off his famous tree and said "grow this into something you vision, don't copy mine" So here you have it.
ht. 34 inches
girth 11.5 inches
age 25-30 range

dangggggggggggggggg....................

You rock.

 

[ghues]

KK's Ficus

KK....nice looking tree...........only clip and grow for 20 plus years???

 

[pauldogx]

That's a beautiful tree KK. That being said---I prefer Walter's.
I not a big fan of ficus in general----so maybe I'm a bit biased in that direction.
I like Walter's because it is a bit different--not common material. I do love flowering bonsai as well.

Both excellent and masterful trees-----but I score this round to Walter.

 

[Attila Soos]

Very good tree, Kong. Not a very exciting tree - for my taste - but a very well executed work.

Considering all the quality work that went into your and Walter's tree, I have to give your tree the upper hand. You have the advantage of your climate - Walter is hugely disadvantaged - but there is nothing I can do about that. So, as much as I like Walter's tres, I have to vote for Kong as the winner in this case.

Your honor is still intact... and now is the time for the paramedics to do THEIR job.

 

[greerhw]

Like the governor of California would say " Dats a girly tree" but a nice one.

Harry

 

[Gnome]

I too find myself drawn to the Ficus as an individual specimen, that does not tell the whole story however. The parameters set by K.K. were obviously to his advantage. I look forward to round two when different guidelines may apply.

Norm

 

[FourMileMarc]

Kong, that is a great piece of work. Do you have any pictures over the last 25 years documenting this tree in its creation under your care.

At what diameter does a "trunk" become a "stem"? I imagine that at several points the leader had to be cut back.

Perhaps you could define the trunk chop rule a little better to a maximum diameter for the "chop/cut/pinch".

I do not think it is fair to vote until that is defined.

Perhaps diameter rules could be respective to the tool required

fingers = 2mm
scissors = 6mm
Concave cutters and hand pruners = 1"
Loppers = 2"
Handsaw = 4"
Chainsaw = 12-36"
Two man saw = 36" - 100"


Nice tree

 

[Victrinia Ridgeway]

hahaha... that would be a different story indeed... when Walter could bring collected material to the table.

Aside from the task of keeping collected trees alive... working with collected trees is an opportunistic art. You find trees which need some modifications, but given a good eye for material, 90% of the work is done for you by dear old Mother Nature. Finding them of course, is as much a trick as keeping them alive.

Frankly, I think KK will likely get his clocked cleaned for exactly the same reason Walter will in this round... where he lives. KK can't compete with his collecting grounds, just the same as Walter can't compete with is ability to grow tropicals.


Yours in amusement,

Victrinia