Juniper Cascade reworking

Michael came over to my place yesterday to finish off some work we were doing to his cascade Juniper. This tree had been neglected for a few years and a few branches were weak and one had died due to a strimmer incident!

This is it before any work.

The main task to complete was to get the branch structure sorted. There where a few poor branches that needed attention. The tip of the cascade was very weak and straight and this was removed and replaced by the branch above. I also wanted to compact the apex and bring it over the base of the tree more. No fine wiring was carried out. We where not looking to create a finished image. The continued recovery of the health of the tree was more important.

Michael’s not new to bonsai and was keen for his own ideas and views to discussed. This became a great tree to talk through. In many place branches require back budding and in a few other spots we need extension growth. This is the tree after our work.

A shari startiung at the base can be taken the length of the trunk connecting with a few other deadwood areas.

Depending on health and if a suitable pot can be found, it may be repotted into a more suitable pot next year. Here is a pot virtual.

and with foliage added. Perhaps a tad heavy but you get the idea.

Before, after and virtual all together.

Ed Bonsai Blog

I’m always looking for another decent bonsai blog to follow and I thought I would share this one with you. Click on the image below to visit the blog of Ed van der Reek. I have also added this to my favourite blogs list in my sidebar.

 You can also visit Ed’s Website HERE

A stage further…

I posted this Korean Hornbeam last week and as you can see, it’s moved on in its Autumn colour. It should be stripped by the end of next week and ready for Winter protection.

Chuhin Maple Winter Image

It took a while but my little Chuhin Japanese Maple is now finally without leaves. Here it is before being tucked away for the Winter under cover. I’ll maybe do a a series of pics showing it throughout 2011 over the weekend.

Visit to Willowbog Video

I finally got around to putting together some of my photos from Willowbog into a slideshow.

Thick and Fast…

They are coming thick and fast, hot on the heals of episode 19, comes episode 20 looking at the creation of deadwood on a shohin Juniper and a Japanese Red Pine.

Latest Bjorvala Bonsai Video

Episode 19, all credit to the chaps, top quality videos with top quality content.

Stephen’s Autumn colour Larch

Another one of Stephen’s trees that I photographed on Sunday. It needs a total rewiring this Winter as many branches have started to rise with the Strong growth. Note the very unusual base. Interesting story behind this tree but I’ll leave that for Stephen to tell in his own time. He’s threatening to start his own blog before the end of the year 🙂

Yew Work Schedule

I’m hoping to give this Yew it’s first styling this week. It has been grown from a cutting and spent 7 years in open ground and two in this pot. That’s ten years to get it to this point for first styling. I have done some basic carving on a few stumps and have thinned the foliage out last year so that the tree is prepared and ready for seeing wire for the first time. I only plan to do the basic structural work and hopefully someone will buy it next year and take it to the next stage.

Naked Japanese Maple Raft

Stephen’s new Japanese Maple Raft. We eventually got to see it sans leaf on Sunday. I plucked off the last 4 leaves 🙂

A lot of clearing out required but I was happy to see some decent ramification with close inter-nodal length in there. Bodes well for the future with the right care.