Just about made it to the club display today. Packed the car to the roof with trees and stuff for the demo only to turn the key and ……nothing!!

After a few phone calls and a set of jump leads I managed to get there. It was a small display put on for a local council who were happy to pay the club handsomely for the service 🙂

I styled a small garden centre juniper for the public and trimmed back a club members Trident maple. Throw in a plate full of Chinese food (Thanks Angela) and a dancing Dragon and it was a good days craic.

New car battery required Monday morning 😦

To sit in a room with 20+ NIBS members tonight was a pleasure. At least 10 of them where beginners, although after 17 years in bonsai, I still consider myself to be one! Their enthusiasm is infectious and it’s a great way to bring into focus what really matters in bonsai -enjoyment.

Here’s a few photos from tonight. A before and after of a White Pine. It has a lot of development to go, but was a great tree to teach on.

The apex was too tall and the movement was very man made. The lower branches had extended too far and pruning was required to chase it back in and get some back budding.

This it it after a few branches and the apex were pruned.

And this is it after Roy wired it. Roy is a new member who has been doing bonsai for over 20 years but is self taught from books. This is his first venture in a club and he is enjoying asking questions. He already knew the answer, but it nice to have someone else agree 🙂

This is Roy getting a little help from Mariusz.

Mariusz brought a White Pine and a Chinese Juniper  that I wanted to pop into the back of my car to save them the long trip back to Dublin. Failed to get a photo 😦