Nov 8 2012

Shohin Maple Colour Change

24th October

3rd November

Nov 7 2012

Sakka Ten Exhibition Links

I’ve been prowling the internet hungrily seeking photos from the Sakka Ten Exhibition.

No need any more, enough photos and videos here on their Facebook page to keep even the neediest enthusiast happy! Even me 🙂

Escallonia Alteration

Again, another tree discussed with Peter Warren. This time it’s my Escallonia. I’ve been playing around with angles to pick a front and I asked Peter for his advice.

He suggested removing a branch at the front to show off some more of the character of the tree. I’m planning on some carving refinement on this tree this month and now I can actually get access 🙂

This was it sans leaf as Peter saw it.

And after branch removal.

I think I prefer a slight change of angle now with the branch away.

This is a virtual of it repotted but with the pot shrunk slightly!

The live vein at the front will probably shrink a little now that the branch has been removed. Escallonia are like Junipers in that they have a very defined route between a branch and it’s roots. I did leave a little shoot at the base of the removed branch to see if that is enough of a sap draw to keep the vein alive and see if the sap will transfer over into the main vein to it’s right.

Nov 6 2012

Hawthorn Virtual Pot

Another tree discussed with Mr Warren was this Hawthorn Raft/Twin Trunk. The biggest issue with the tree was the two apexes at the same height. Peter suggested a change of angle and an eventual change of pot into a shell pot, roots permitting. This allows for different apex heights.

As it sits in a pot now.

The proposed new angle

Something like this in the end.

Give it a pot yourself 🙂

Nov 5 2012

Rhododendron Virtual Pot

One of the trees Peter W. looked at on his visit here was this Rhododendron Blue Diamond. I posted about the changes made here.

Peter suggested a pot change, this one was always just a stop gap until I could get something more suitable. He suggested a bag pot and I had a quick virtual play around with a few that might be suitable just to see how it looks.

This is how it looks now.

Virtual Pot 1 Glazed Pot

Virtual Pot 2 Matt pot

Virtual Pot 3 Something a little different

Virtual Pot 4 Something a very different, tried it but no!

Give it a pot yourself 🙂

Nov 4 2012

Peter Warren Workshop Critiques

On the Sunday of Peter Warren’s visit to Northern Ireland we had a smaller workshop for 4 people. This allowed us to look at a few more trees than usual at the start of the session. Not all of these trees were worked on in the workshop. The owners were happy to seek advice and get ideas to allow them to carry out the work at a later time.

However the information given by Peter was well worth listening too. These first two trees are a case in point. Peter talks through two Itogawa Junipers and has a wealth of knowledge to share.

Information regarding the types of growth on the junipers was fascinating and also how much foliage it is safe to remove. You see many junipers styled at clubs and at events and often wonder how they respond afterwards to having 60-70% of the foliage removed in one sitting. I feel Peter’s approach, using knowledge gained in 6 years of training in Japan, makes a lot of sense. You might not get a refined looking bonsai at the end of the session, but it will develope quicker in the long run and be a better tree for it.

Don’t take my word for it, listen to Peter.

Nov 3 2012

Fujikawa International School of Bonsai

I suppose this counts as advertising but some of the guys at Fujikawa have been very kind to me, commenting on my blog and sharing photos. I therefore have no qualms about sharing this with everyone.

I’ll be honest, the main reason I’m sharing it is the fact that’s it’s such a bloody good video 🙂 Love the music and the video speaks for itself about the atmosphere at the nursery. No need for any voice over promotion. I only wish I was in a position to go back to school myself!!!!

Nov 3 2012

Naked Beech

This is my beech back on the 20th October.

Once the leaves turn brown I like to strip them off to assess this years growth and appreciate the natural image over the Winter.

Nov 2 2012

Kyusyu Exhibition

Felt I had to share these photos taken at a recent Exhibition in Kyusyu, Japan. At least I think that’s where it was! I have been allowed to share these from Yumiko’s blog, I presume it’s a local show. Love the cloth colour for the tables, trees really stand out.