Sep 23 2011

Off to Willowbog….

That me off to Willowbog Bonsai for the weekend 🙂

Peter has kindly offered for me to spend the weekend with him and Jean watching the Peter Warren Workshops.

One thing I can say about bonsai, it has introduced me to many good friends around the world. Many I haven’t met face to face, but hopefully, as the years go by, I will rectify that 🙂

Click below to see what I’ll be watching.

Sep 22 2011

Rearranging for Autumn Colour

I have moved a few of my trees around so I can appreciate the changing Autumn Colour.

This is the view from my living room window. I wanted to shift out the trees that were past their best, Hawthorn etc, and replace with a few that should give me a nice spread of colour over the next month or so.

Among this lot are 2 Trident Maples, 3 Japanese Maples, a Fuji Cherry, a Beech, a Raulii, A Japanese Larch, a Gingko, a Crab Apple , a Cotoneaster and a Korean Hornbeam. I think that should do the trick 🙂

I had a nice moment today when chatting to a club member. He rang to book a workshop place and in conversation he told me that after seeing my display area above, he went home and over the Summer has been putting up some reed screening to making more of an effort with his own display. I love hearing stuff like that. 🙂 I’m invited down for a look as well. Looking forward to that.

Sep 21 2011

Beginners Blog

I always like to plug other peoples blogs and I thought I would share this one with you.

Dean, also known as Halo on Wee Trees, has recently started this blog to track his bonsai exploits. His first few articles have been excellent. Keep them coming Dean. Pop over to his blog for a look by clicking the image below. I’ve also added him to my bonsai friends list on the right.

Oh, Just ignore him posing with his top off. (That should get a few ladies checking 🙂 )

Sep 21 2011

Hawthorn Update

This Hawthorn was repotted in the Spring after being the parent plant of an air layer removed last year. I gave it fee growth this year to help it establish roots. Like most of my Hawthorn here, it has come into Autumn early. Only a few tip green leaves remain on some of this seasons late shoots.

The story of how this tree was air layered can be read here. Hawthorn Air Layer

Most of the branches produced this year are now too thick and stiff to position with wire into a desirable shape. Others are in the wrong place. These, for example, are growing from the inside of a bend.

Most of these are unusable as well.

I quite liked this as a possible new front.

I removed the unwanted branches and left those that can still be of use in the design of the tree next year. The area where the air layer had been removed will need carving. It takes away from what is actually nice movement in the tree. Also, some deadwood at the base where old roots had been torn at some point in the trees past.

Now that the tree has become better established in it’s new pot, next year I will direct any new shoots early while they are still flexible. I hope to see plenty of adventurous buds appearing in the Spring.

Sep 20 2011

Carving Bits

This set of carving bits was recommended to me by one of the chaps on the Wee Trees Forum. I had been looking for something that fitted the Dremel that would allow for detailed carving work. This set had something very similar and you got 3 of them for the price that most Bonsai Suppliers were charging for one. I got them today and they look the part. Obviously you don’t need the black thing. Once I give them a go, I’ll let you know if it was worth the saving or not. Sometimes cheaper isn’t better, or so my wife says!

Here’s the link to the vendor on ebay. 4 piece multipurpose cutting kit.

Sep 20 2011

You know when you are addicted to bonsai when……

…… you stop when out walking to discuss how to improve the nebari of an fully grown beech tree!!!

Sep 19 2011

Botanic Gardens Belfast

I entered a few trees in the Autumn Fair at Botanic Gardens in Belfast over the weekend. I had time to spare today and took a few snaps.

The main glasshouse.

Spotted this large Yew in the grounds. It has been chopped back recently and was back budding well on internal branches. Interesting to see the technique working on a full sized tree. Nice nebari too.

Haven’t a clue what this tree is, being in a botanical garden, it could be anything! Loved the bark and light through the branches.

The flower show itself was well turned out. Just love the riot of colour from all the Dahlias.

That’s the biggest leek I’ve ever taken 😉

Shows like this are struggling. This one got a last minute reprieve after losing it’s funding. It may not be the best way to display bonsai, in fact, it’s probably the worst way other than setting them on the ground, but it’s a good way of reaching the public with are art.

Sep 19 2011

Stephen’s Trident Part 2

I posted back on the 4th August about Stephen’s Trident. You can read the first part of this Trident’s recovery there.

This was it after the work on the 4th August.

This is the tree today.

To be honest, I didn’t expect this amount of growth at this time of year. No doubt it will hold on to leaves well into the winter. However, it will be tucked safely away in my greenhouse. Not bad for a tree suspected to be dead 1 1/2 years ago.

Sep 18 2011

Wet Walk

Stephen and I took a chance with the rain this morning and got a little wet but still had an enjoyable dander in the woods. The usual inspirational Beech trees on view.

We could hardly see Strangford Lough with the drizzle .

Just love walking under the tree canopy in the rain. Some lovely scenes.

We spotted this Birch that had grown for years on a slab of rock. I guess it over stretched itself and the weight of the canopy pulled it over. The glade is sheltered and wind paid no part.

Had to resort to a flash!

We did get a brief flash of Sun.

Nebari addict!!

Spotted this plant, not seen it before at Scrabo walk. Anybody know what it is? Has loads of little hooks to catch you as you walk past.

We did manage to get a real telling off from a grey squirrel! The most aggressive one I have ever seen.

Sep 18 2011

Root Much!

This is a little Cork bark Elm that I’m holding for Willowbog Bonsai with a view to slipping it into my shohin collection. I’m going to hold it to ransom until Peter offeres me discount 😉

I lifted it up today as I was shuffling a few trees around. This was what I found trying to root into grit underneath. I had lifted the tree about 2 weeks ago and no root was present. A lot of trees putting on late root growth, or maybe this is normal?