I’ve just updated the Case Study Page looking at my Escallonia transition from 2001 to today.
Did a little work on it today. This is the before and after.
Kusamono
I put this kusamono together a few years back. It was my first attempt at a mixed planting as opposed to the usual one pot one plant accent. It’s actually starting to mature nicely, shame about the pot now. That’s a little bit of Irish mud rock in there.
Reach For The Sky
Two of my little ones with the sky as a backdrop.
My little Rowan
and a little root over rock Cotoneaster
Beech Buds
My Beech has finally got around to opening.
Rare Sighting
On yesterday’s walk I was going to keep the camera in the case. I was suffering with a bit of a hangover and wasn’t in the mood. I said to Stephen that it would take something unusual for me to it out.
A short time later a Bull Finch popped up onto a nearby beech tree. They are a rare sighting here and don’t sit long as they are a shy bird. I even had to change the lens first and was surprised when it sat long enough for me to get a few shots!
As I had the camera out, I took a few more.
A badger set under the roots of a beech tree.
A buzzards seemed to be following us around.
If you look closely you can even see the hailstones that made it take to a perch.
Sometimes being a parent isn’t easy!
Willow
Taking off from Ards Airport, small planes only.
Arse about Face #2
This was another tree discussed with Robert. Again this Hawthorn raft was looked at from the back as a possible different front. Robert felt that even thought the base was just as nice, the back gave more depth to the composition.
The Front.
The back.
A few flowers this year as well.
Oldest Settlement in Ireland… Probably
I had to drive to Nendrum Monastic Site the other day for a thing in work. My trusty camera is never too far away.
This place dates back to the 7th century when they built this settlement on an Island in Strangford Lough. In 1999 they found the remains of 2 tidal Mills during a dig. It’s a bit out of the way but a lovely spot to visit.
This is a few photos of the road down to the site.
Some info on the site.
The remains of the round tower.
View out towards Skettrick Island.
The Ballydorn Lightship, now the home of Down Cruising Club
The remains of Skettrick Castle.
The remains of the sun dial on the Church. The time was wrong 🙂
The Church
The Tower again, or what’s left of it!
This is what the Tidal Mill used to look like
This is where they were found.
Hope you enjoyed your trip back in time 😉
The Return of Janet
Both the tree and and sister 🙂
To explain, I dug this Juniper from my sisters garden back in 1995 when see emigrated to Perth, Australia. The tree has become one of my ‘never part with’ bonsai for that reason. Today, Janet returns home for a holiday and I’m pretty sure she’ll check to see if this is still here 🙂
Dundrum Coastal Path
Managed to stop here for a few minutes the other day just to unwind. My wife Allison can be seen taking in the view on what was a very warm but hazy day. It would appear that only the locals know about this spot. One of these days I’ll have to walk the length of it for a better look.
Also spotted an apple in flower along the path.
Saruyama, ‘Trev’, Lewis, Whatever!!
Was just reading Mr Warren’s [Trev’s] latest Blog post. Well, a good portion of it was lifted from Colin Lewis but who am I to complain because I’m putting both of them here 🙂
Both gentlemen make a very interesting point about Bonsai Obesity.
Well worth a read , makes you think.
Bonsai Eejit 