Macro Man

My friend Stephen was with  me last week photographing a few trees for  our records. He could help getting out his hew macro lens for a few close up.DSC_0145

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Woodland Flowers

From recent walk

Sunday Soaking

After some last minute discussion Stephen and I decided to go ahead and have our Sunday walk today. Probably a wrong decision as it rained solid the whole time. I had decided to try and keep the camera in the bag out of the rain but as usual I saw a few things that made it worth lifting out.

This was the view over Belfast Lough, drizzle and misty at the same time.

I spotted this little coastal Cottage that looked like a throw back to years gone by. How it’s managed to survive tucked in between some mega mansions, I don’t know!

I then spotted a Grey Heron in the water along the coast. Normally a shy bird, this one seemed content to stand and watch us.

I sneaked a little closer and changed to a zoom lens and grabbed a few quick shots.

Stephen then let my dogs go and Smudge did a sterling job of chasing it off to a distant perch.

Some lovely coastal Wild Flowers in the rain. Sea Thrift is a favourite of mine for walks and as a accent plant.

Bluebells are out

Part of the World War 2 Defenses for German Bombers targeting Belfast docks. This gun commanded a great position from Grey’s Point overlooking Belfast Lough.

Maybe it was worth a walk in the rain anyway 🙂

 

 

 

World Bonsai Day

Refine your fertilizing this year!

Yet more words of wisdom from Mr Hagedorn. Excellent post and something that I have been trying to do for the last few years. The old wisdom of fertilization for all trees in Spring as new growth appears is utter tosh. I can already see a massive difference in my maples.

crataegus's avatarMichael Hagedorn

Nothing like a dogmatic title for good dramatics, right? I should add an ‘Or Else!’ but I don’t have the heart for it. Nevertheless, we should be duly chastised for broadcasting fertilizer as if it were an unmitigated good.

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Whatever that guy is using should obviously be applied with discretion-

For bonsai, generally we don’t need axes to control growth. And for fertilizing bonsai, we can make this one basic distinction:

  • Begin fertilizing a young, unrefined tree when it begins growing early in the spring
  • Wait a bit with an older, refined tree—usually begin fertilizing when it’s just hardening off it’s spring growth

This makes two assumptions:

  • For the young tree, you wish to develop the trunk size and continue it’s youthful vigor…to fatten trunk, develop branching, get big joyful growth, have loud cellular parties
  • For the old tree, you wish to retain an ‘old tree’ feeling…to have thin twigs…

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Hurry Up Hostas

Thanks to a bit of swapping this year I have lots of new mini Hostas, I just wish they would get a move on so I can see what they are like! This last week has seen a bit warmer weather and they are now starting to respond well.