I’ve been watching and waiting patiently for my Beech to finally get around to opening. Today’s glorious weather must have helped. It is now showing the first signs of green leaves.
Photo Session
Today I went to my mate Stephen’s house to take a few record photos of his trees. Here’s a few that looked particularly nice. A big thank you to Stephen who donated a few trees to my son Matthew who is showing an interest in bonsai. If you are reading this Jamie, between Stephen and myself, there’s a few trees in this for you too 🙂
This was the set up for the photos.
And this is where I talked Stephen into posing with his Deshojo for scale purposes. You would think he’d look happier with a tree like that beside him 🙂
Sequoia Sempervirens
I had a notion years ago of making a Sequoia Bonsai. Mad do I here you say? Probably. I got my hands on a small one and decided that to have any chance, it needed to be big. I popped it into open ground for 8 years and forgot all about it. About two years ago we had to clear the ground and there it was in all it’s glory, throwing down a challenge. I put it into a big black pot and put it in the corner for 2 years.
Yesterday I decided it was do or die time. I always had the notion of trying to style it similar to how they grow in nature, a tall formal upright with sweeping branches. It was a mass of branches and all I wanted to do to get things rolling was, thin it out, and place primary branches.
Here’s the tree before I started.
After a little thinning out.
And after placement of primary branches.
I know that I’m looking at years and years of hardship in trying to get this rapid grower to behave the way I want it too. I always like to have a few weird ones in the collection. I think this qualifies.
Here are a few that I looked at online for ideas.
Little Nasties
A quick inspection of a few trees has brought these issues to my attention.
First up are woolly aphids on a Scots Pine. Only on one pine at the moment but I have given it a spray. I think this is the earliest I have ever had them on any tree in my garden.
A few trees were showing signs of mildew. A crab Apple and a Wild Pear.
All have now been treated. I keep a few spray bottles of insecticide and fungicide at hand for some spot spraying. On the bright side, I checked all my Maples and there wasn’t a black fly/aphid in sight 🙂
Walk in the Woods
My usual Sunday offering. This morning was a walk up to Scrabo Tower in Ards overlooking Strangford Lough. Views of The Mourne Mountains, and even Scotland can be seen. Some nice Spring flowers appearing amongst the nebari of beautiful Beech Trees.
Scrabo Tower
Mourne Mountains
Hawthorn
Elm Forest Update
Here’s an update on the Elm Forest Planting shown here Cork Bark Elm Group
I lifted out of the poly tunnel yesterday for an inspection and tidy up. It’s been growing rapidly in the tunnel and many unwanted shoots have appeared.
I gave it a weeding and trim. A few branches got a light wiring to place them in the right position. If it continues to grow like this it’ll fill out before the end of the year!! Here’s the result of yesterdays work.
Budding Raulii
This will be my first Spring working with this species. This tree was given to me last year as a thank you for holiday care.
It is similar to a Hornbeam but you can see noticeable differences on closer inspection. Yesterday I had a look at the opening buds with a view to pinching out the tip growth. They can extend quite a bit and I want to stop this and produce back budding. I did shorten many of the branches during the Winter but stopped short for two reasons. 1- It was repotted and 2- it’s a new variety to me and I’m unsure how it’ll respond. I can now see some major back budding due to the Winter pruning and will re-evaluate how far to take it back. Some branches are too long without ramification. I took 15 minutes and plucked out what shoots I could get. Some are further behind and the process will need to be repeated next week.
I look forward to making this tree my own. The large carving wound needs work and want to improve branch structure.
This is a bud before pinching out the centre. A few have what look like flowers appearing. I’ll have to wait and see.
Evidence of pinching on the bench.
This is some of the back budding close to the tips. However major pruning is producing adventurous buds on old wood so this might be removed altogether to help fill inner branches with buds.
Welcome Garden Visitor
I just love this time of the year when the bees start to make their visits to my garden. The big attraction over the last week or so has been my Crab Apples and Rhododendron. Caught this one between visits this afternoon.
Display Benches
I spent a few minutes in the garden today shifting trees about from one place to another. I decided to lift a few out of the Poly Tunnel and move a few more down to my display area beside my living room window. This is what I can see now as I type.
Tall Larch
Not the most imaginative name to give it but it’s what I’ve called it for years. I spotted it on the bench this afternoon with the sun just hitting the foliage. Camera in hand I popped out for a few snaps.
Bonsai Eejit 