May 9 2011

A little bit every day

Jamie commented on one of my posts yesterday and asked if I worked on trees every day. I replied that it felt like it at the moment and that it mostly depended on my work getting in the way.

This got me thinking about what is required to keep on top of a collection. I’m the first to admit that I have far too much sitting about the place and sometimes my better trees miss out on that next step of refinement. I find the best way to stay on top is to do that little task every day. I’ll water everything and then look for something to do that fits the time I have available.

Today I trimmed back a Cork Bark Chinese Elm, trimmed a few extension shoots from my Korean Hornbeam, shortened in the second flush of shoots on a hawthorn and took a few photos of my Cotoneaster in Flower.

Here’s a few photos from today.

Hornbeam after trim

Cork Bark before trim

After trim

Nebari

Hawthorn Raft trimmed.

I must admit that this blog has highlighted just how much I actually do on a daily basis! 🙂

May 9 2011

Bonsai Heaven?

I think I could spend about 3 years walking around this room alone. What an experience it must be to attend Kokofu Ten in Japan. One day……

Kokofu Ten Green Club 2010

May 8 2011

Air Layerings

This afternoon I did a few air layers. One to improve a tree, one to increase stock and one just for the hell of it to see if it works.

I started off on my root over rock Cotoneaster. The apex of the tree is contrived with a very obvious man made bend. I plan to bring up a lower branch to create a new apex and change the front slightly. As it’s an unusual variety of Cotoneaster I decided to layer off the apex to create a little Mame version. I may even put it on a rock too. Here’s the photos.

Tree before I started, slightly over grown.

Apex to be removed, a bit of an 'S' bend

Two branches removed to allow space for layer.

Bark stripped and ready for moss

Narrow roll of Cling Film used to hold moss in place

Layer in place

I then added a layer to a Crab Apple that I bought in a garden Centre sale for £5. I hope to get 3-4 off this one over the next few years. No photos of that one.

Finally I added a layer to an Oak that was field grown but is relatively poor material as it stands. I hope to do one this year and another next year, finally leaving the straight trunk with decent nebari. This will be planted in the ground and used to create a broom style tree. Here’s a few pics.

May 8 2011

Spruced up

I helped out a new club member yesterday with a few of his trees. One of them was this twin trunk Spruce. We talked about the variety and how to encourage back budding. I gave Stan a quick run through on wiring and handed over to him. He would appear to be a fast learner 🙂

Here’s the before and after photos.

May 8 2011

Accents

A few more. They still need to fill out but they are starting to look the part.

Wild Strawberry

May 8 2011

Scrap metal

I ended up with a nice pile of scrap metal yesterday after taking the wire off these two. Both were wired during the Autumn/Winter and they were right at the limit of cutting in. I usually get a bit longer that this but this year seems to be a good one for putting on girth, at least that’s what the bathroom scales are telling me!!

May 7 2011

Trident Defoliation

This Trident Maple was the first Maple to come into leaf in my collection this year. It has been in my cold green house and opened at the start of March. It was repotted this year and is growing vigorously. The leaf has hardened off and extension growth is appearing all over the tree.

Some may think I’m early in defoliating it but I’m happy to bring it forward with such a strong tree. I’ve had this tree for 12 years and it never ceases to amaze me with its vigour. I had Stan, a new club member with me today for 5 hours working on trees and he gave me a hand plucking leaves.

May 7 2011

Bonsai Focus

I just love it when the latest edition of Bonsai Focus hits the door mat 🙂

The latest copy arrived this morning but It’ll have to wait until tomorrow for a proper look see.

May 6 2011

Feeding Time

Today I fed my trees. Time for the neighbours to close their windows and bring the washing in 🙂

This is what I use.

I use Green Dream for my better trees as it is nearly invisible on the pots. Results of this have been pleasing this year so far. This is the first year I used it.

The rest of the raw and semi styled material gets the Chicken Pellets. A bit smelly but cheap and effective. I’ve been using them for years now and when you have a lot of trees sitting about, this helps keep the price of feeding down.

I also use the Seaweed Extract as an in between feed, watering it onto the trees. I sometimes forget to do it but I’m making a conscious effort this year to get it right.

I used a lot of Bio Gold on my better trees last year. This is the best stuff on the market but it way over priced in my opinion. Here’s hoping Green Dream is a dream.

May 5 2011

Bronze Sculptures

I have been admiring the bronze Sculptures being used in recent shows and have been thinking about making a purchase. I just love these ones by Henk Fresen.