European olives were first introduced to California by Franciscan friars in the late 1700s, where they were an important crop of the Spanish missions. They grow well in southern California and are easy to propagate from cuttings.
This bonsai was bought at Walter Andersen’s nursery in San Diego in July, 2011. The variety, “SanFernando”, is a small-leafed cultivar. The tree began its life at the San Gabriel nursery near Los Angeles.
The tree this afternoon.
The newly purchased tree in 2011. This picture is after repotting. I should have thinned the top growth to one or two branches at this time to prevent reverse taper.
Improving the nebari with a sacrifice branch.
Repotted into a larger pot. Attempted (unsuccessfully) an air-layer of the sacrifice branch with sphagnum moss in aluminum foil.
Air-layer removed (cut visible at base of tree).
Long growth.
Branches pruned. “Uro” from removed sacrifice branch visible at base of tree.
Good root structure, nebari.
Pruned and repotted, reverse taper visible in top third of tree.
Reverse taper at trunk split.
Pruned to begin addressing reverse taper.
More pruning a year later to reduce taper.
Large root extending above soil surface.
Long root one year later.
Removal of long root.
Tree taking shape.
Root-pruned, repotted.
New growth.
Branch pruned.
The tree this morning, before the upper left branch was removed.
beginBonsai 
Reblogged this on Wolf's Birding and Bonsai Blog.
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