This arrived on my doormat this morning.

It’s my copy of Harry Harrington’s new Bonsai Book, ‘Bonsai Inspirations’.

I have hundreds of bonsai books and magazines in my collection and was doubtful if adding another was required. Having known Harry from the old IBC years ago and being a lover and user of his website http://www.bonsai4me.com, I decided to give it a look.

This proved to be a wise move. It is like no other bonsai book in my collection and shows Harry’s trees progressing over the last 10+ years. Chapters on developing and creating bonsai from Yamadori, garden plants, and semi established bonsai are very well thought out and the use of hundreds of colour photographs makes this a beautiful book to read. Well worth the money. Order your copy here. www.bonsai4me.com

I took a walk today with the dogs and my new camera. I always keep my eyes open for trees that catch my eye and I intend to put them on here. They don’t have to be spectacular, just looking for interesting shapes and natural images to follow. I never have much time to play about with camera setting, just point and shoot. My two walking partners don’t like to wait around.

Just about made it to the club display today. Packed the car to the roof with trees and stuff for the demo only to turn the key and ……nothing!!

After a few phone calls and a set of jump leads I managed to get there. It was a small display put on for a local council who were happy to pay the club handsomely for the service 🙂

I styled a small garden centre juniper for the public and trimmed back a club members Trident maple. Throw in a plate full of Chinese food (Thanks Angela) and a dancing Dragon and it was a good days craic.

New car battery required Monday morning 😦

To sit in a room with 20+ NIBS members tonight was a pleasure. At least 10 of them where beginners, although after 17 years in bonsai, I still consider myself to be one! Their enthusiasm is infectious and it’s a great way to bring into focus what really matters in bonsai -enjoyment.

Here’s a few photos from tonight. A before and after of a White Pine. It has a lot of development to go, but was a great tree to teach on.

The apex was too tall and the movement was very man made. The lower branches had extended too far and pruning was required to chase it back in and get some back budding.

This it it after a few branches and the apex were pruned.

And this is it after Roy wired it. Roy is a new member who has been doing bonsai for over 20 years but is self taught from books. This is his first venture in a club and he is enjoying asking questions. He already knew the answer, but it nice to have someone else agree 🙂

This is Roy getting a little help from Mariusz.

Mariusz brought a White Pine and a Chinese Juniper  that I wanted to pop into the back of my car to save them the long trip back to Dublin. Failed to get a photo 😦

It’s our Club meeting tonight and I’m expecting to be absolutely flat out helping beginners with their trees. The beauty of this is that I also learn from their trees too.

Tomorrow we’re putting on a display in Carrickfergus for Chinese New Year and I’ve to do two talks on ‘Bonsai History’ and ‘creating your own bonsai’. Busy bonsai weekend about to start… Photos to follow.

Over the last year I have become a fan of following bonsai blogs. I have decided to jump in and give one a go for myself.

I have tried over the years to keep records of my bonsai and usually forget to keep them updated or loose the information when the computer crashes! It dawned on me that a better way would be to keep those records here in the online world were others can also view and share my experiences, successes and mistakes.

I’m learning about wordpress as I go along, so bear with me as I pull this page together over the next week or two.

Ian

aka bonsai eejit